American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1872-04-13
A Glance ut Grants Record.

tive chair, he was really less known to
the mass of the people than perhaps any
other man who had ever filled that cXalt-
ed position. His career previous to the
war had not been such as to attract
public att ention, or even to develop the
leading features of his character to his
most intimate personal friends, and dur
ing the war he was not called upon to
express any opinion, or take any decided
action outside the line OF military duty,
which could afford the slightest clue to
those cardinal principles that would be
likely to govern his conduct as the ruler
of a great nation. The most successful
soldier of his day, he had also been the
most reticent, and the party which elect
ed him could give no good reason for its
choice except availability. Not only that
party, but the opposition. We're inclined
to give fair and impartial trial to one
who had seved the country faithfully in
the hour of EXTREMIST need; and both
hoped-we may say, believed-that he
would discharge his duties in such a
manner as to add to the brilliant reputa-
ton won in the field the purcr and more
lasting glories of civil life. The fact of
his having in earlier years entertained con-
sentative views, though taking no partic-
ular interest in political affairs, and that
neither before nor after election had he
intimated definite policy of his own,
was also accepted as favorable indica-
ton for the new Administration, and he
began his official term under auspices
which might well. satisfy the proudest
ambition
Thirty-s six months have elapsed since
then, and we now have ample material upon
which to base an accurate estimate OF the
President whose denomination is fore
gone conclusion. That with this material
clearly displayed before them, the leaders
of the Radical party are determined to
secure a denomination for him, is certain
ly not cheerful commentary upon the
nature and tendency of popular govern.
ment; and the intelligent and patriotic
citizen may discover reason for grave
solicitude in the movements designed to
advance the fortunes of one who has
already received more hOnoHs than he has
either deserved or improved. Let us
glance briefly at the salient points in the
Presidential record of Grant, and dis
cover, if we can, their true intent and
meaning, and what they foreshadow in
the future.
Next to possessing first-class ability
ones self, is the talent of finding and
utilizing first-class ability in others; but
if President Grant has this talent, he has
never shown it in the selection ofhis Con
honorable exceptions, the members of his
requently-changed Cabinet have hardly
been second-rate men, and in several in
stances far below medIocrity. Such
Attorney Generals as Alderman and Will
Hams, such Secretaries of the Navy as
Borie and Robson, are worse than ridi-
culous when there are scores of persons
of the same political complexion having
equal claims, equal honesty, and ten
times as much brain-power. 1t would
seem as if the Chief-Magistrate were
into his council lest the owner of it should
overshadow himself; but whatever the
cause, none can deny that he has drawn
together, as a whole, the weakest group
of men as Cabinet-Ministerst the Republic
has seen since its foundation. Should
he be reelected, these men will either
be retained or a new set of similar calibre
introduced there is no prospect of I'M
prOvement in this direction.
Next in importance to the Heads of De-
are those who represent the
dignity and guard the interests of the ma
ton abroad; and here President Grant
has been quite as unfortunate-if we may
use SO mild word. Setting aside Jay,
to Austria; Washburne, Minister
to France; Bancroft, Minister to Ger
many; Marsh, Minister to Italy; belong,
Minister to Japan, and perhaps one or
two more who have acquitted themselves
respectably-and what is the total weight
of our diplomatic corps? 1t scarcely
rises above the level of insignificance,
and in several instances sinks beneath
contempt. Schenck advertising himself
as Director of a mining company, while
Minister at the Court of st. James;
Sickles leaving his post at a most critical
period of Spanish affairs, in order to OBJ
tain a FAT fee as a railway lawyer and lob
byist; Cramer insulting his colleagues
and banished from decent society in Co
penhagen; Boxer writing bad poetry at
Settles calculating the
profits of Ku-KluX witness at Lima;
and dozen more of like stripe in high
and low places-these are the individuals
whom the President has thought tit to
elevate at the expense of the national
reputation and national self-respect.
Should he be reelected, we shall have
four years more of them, or their coun-
terparts.
1t is scarcely necessary to dilate upon
the quality of the rank and file of Grants
home appointments; many of them have
spoken for themselves before courts of in
quiry and committees of investigation,
and in the long list OF defaulters, pecu-
lators and corruptiOnists whose plumber
ings are a matter of history. And never,
under this or any other government, has
there been such a shameless exhibition of
nepOtism as is witnessed in the present
Administration. The ties of blood or of
have been able to override the
plainest demands of public necessity; and
on the score of relationship men of no.
torious incapacity have been assigned to
positions of responsibility, and though
their unfitness by actual
have, in no single instance,
been removed. If this Administration is
the standard of our civil ser
vice will remain where it is, and the dis
grace of nepotism be intensified rather
than diminished.
President Grants regard for right and
justice in small things is illustrated by his
pardon of Bowen, convicted of bigamy,
and his championship of Murphy, the
impudent and INSCRIPTIONS Collector of
New York and the naval protectoratc
of San Domingo and the military support
given Holden in North Carolina show
how much right and justice influence
him in great things.
The abuses we have enumerated, to
which additions might be made dd infn-
itun, are now before the people for in
dorsement or condemnation. The re-
election of President Grant will be viz
tual approval and ratification of all his
acts iii the past, and an encouragement
for their repetition. 1t will establish the
which he has inaugurated
which sap the foundation of
political morality and free government
and these once firmly fixed, the ultimate
ruin of the nation cannot long be delayed.
The danger which threatens is masked by
no disguise-it is as clear as the MONDAY
sun 1t remains for us to say whether
that danger shall beavoided or embraced.