The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-11-26
Plain Talk to President Grant.

The election Of Grant is therefore
the choice of the lesser evil. 1t is not an TN
qualified Endorsement of his conduct, nor a
declaration of popular contentment with the
present status for another four years. On
the contrary, his reelection liberateSa reform
sentiment, which was repressed by the neces-
stiles of the election contest. The sense of
having been placed ut disadvantage before
the enemy by the shortcomings Of the Adj
minStration will give the reform demand an
energy it did not have before. The wounds
of the battle will give an unwontcd sharp.
ness to criticism in the Administration party.
Whatever load the supporters of the Presi.
dent have had to carry i'll the fight will now
he freely cast upon him, and his conduct will
be subjected to Il severity of Judgment which
will be something new to our party expert,
There is in the Republican party, not ex.
cepting even those public men who seem to
be personal adhereuts of Grant, wide.
spread feeling of discomfort with him, and
among all the thinking classes feeling that
we need an elevation of the character of the
Administration. The removal Of the outer
pressure Of the election battle will Hberate
this feeling and give it rebounding energy
of expression which it will be necessary fol
the President to heed, and which it would
be wise in him to anticipate by giving signs
that he is alive to the public sensibilities. Ii
is necessary; that free public Journals which
desire the success of the Administrator
should speak plainly on these matters, for the
Japanese Mikado is not more completely cut
of from all hearing of unfaYorable opinions
of his conduct on the part of his personal
supporters than is President Grant. The
power which President possesses, and the
fact that through his patronage ne holds the
political fate OF every Administration con-
gresham in his hand, would, to great
the truth from those about him; but it is
we'll known that this evil is increased by
the disposition of President Grant, which
inclines him to regard with aversion any who
speak to him of faults of conduct. -
1t was unfortunate that Grant came into Office
with the conspicuous gifts Of citizens to the
successful general who In the. line OF prece'
dents was the coming President. When he
showed an inclination to cell the Givers to
high places In the Government, It gave the
opposition O weapon against him. When he
took share in the gilt that. citizens were
contributing to General Sherman, and In hi:
eagerness involved himself in the scandal
with Mayor Bowen, be compromised bis per
sonal dignity, and exhibited qualities unbe'
coming to his station. ltisnota great draft
upon the public purse, nor; a creation OF dan.
gerous family Influence, when the President
appoints dozen or more of his relations to
office but it is bad example and shows q
low view Of the presidential Office. But far
worse than this Was the scandal of 4 Presi-
dents brother-in-law at the capital, follow.
ing the profession Of agent for claims. against
the government, carry ing his family influence
into the subordinate executive: depart.
ments where such claims are Judged, and
actuaily-as he testified before congrcs
slonal commlttee-appealing cases from the
departments to the President, and appearing
| before him to argue them. In effect thi (
was the sale ofthe Presidents influence against
the ends OF justice BY his brother-in-lay
The summer absences of the President from
the capital are matters of no great moment
la inc affairs OF Government, and his frequent
Junketng excursions could be excused bul
for his procllvlty for peculiar kind Of en-.
teriaIners, who bring him and the presiden.
tial office into disrepute and expose him 10 be
made the instrument of designs upon the
Government. When the gold conspiracy to
make private speculation at the cost o;
widespread ruin of the innocent burst upon
the public on the memorable Black Friday
the public mind was shocked by the intellt
gence that the President had been caught in
the tolls Of the conspirators, and had been
made to do their bidding By writing letter
to Secretary Boutwell, advising him against
increasing his sales of gold. The effect was
not miligated by the fact that the con.
spiratora Ind entangled the Presidents
family in the plot. The public part
IL excused him with, the charitable
plea tilat he was deceived by the sharpers
Goeld mud Fisk |; but there was a genera
feeling TINT the President of the United
sst,Ge, should not have made companions o