Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1872-08-15

slavery, pledged expressly to limit its
area by preventing its extension and
establishing principle that would
necessarily have eyentuated in its eXtir-
patton. The dominant party in the
South anticipated the logic of its his
tory, and sought to forestal and pre-
vent the peaceful issues Of its policy by
the destruction of the whole fabric and
system of our national government, and
they identified the existence of the ma
ton with that of the party which was
alone pledged to its defense. 1t over
came the enemies of both, suppressed
the rebellion, snbdued the war, con-
quered peace, emancipated the slaves,
enfranchised the freedmen, restored
civil government, renewed its authority
at home, and revived for it the respect
of the world.
Whatever may be its fate at the hand
of the present generation, the Republi-
can party will be gratefully remember
ed many generations to come. The rec
ord of its achievements in behalf of
civil and political liberty is imperish-
ably written in the fundamental laws
of the republic, will bear perennial
fruits of national blessings, peace, and
prosperity.
The good qualities of past perform
ances are undoubtedly persuasive evi-
dences and pledges of future good, and
though not conclusive of the obliga-
ton to continue the enjoyment of pow
er, make out a case for continued con-
fidence until the contrary is clearly
shown, and a certainly better substi-
tute is produced. Let us examine, then,
the grounds on which its title to the
popular esteem is contested, and the
validity of the claims preferred by the
contestant.
CHARACTER OF THE ADMINISTRATION.
Gen. Grant, in appointments to office,
has undoubtedly been governed by the
usual party rule. He has bestowed his
patronage upon his personal and pOliti-
cal friends and the supporters of his
party. In this respect certainly he has
not sinned above others, nor without
precedent. In the character of his ap-
pOintments, it is no more than fair to
say that he has not fallen below the
standard of his predecessors. 1t is no
compliment, however, to say that in
making this average leave out the adj
ministration of Andrew johnson. Not
to have rescued the country from the
depredatiOns of his followers would in
deed have been sufficient condemnation.
But make the comparison with the best
former administrations and the morals
of Gen. Grants official selections will
not suffer. The business of the various
departments at home and abroad, with
not more than the usual exceptions,
has been conducted with integrity,
prOmptness, and skill. The postal SER
vice has been performed with regulari-
ty and economy, and with continual i'm
prOvement. The revenues have been
diligently collected and faithfully ac-
counted for. The military and naval
service has been conducted without ex-
travagance. The Indian policy has been
great improvement in fine direction of
benevOlence and justice, and has saved
the country from the disgrace and eX-
penditures Of war. Our diplomacy, in
spite of every threatened miscarriage,
has eliminated in the greatest example
of peaceful settlements of difficult in
.ternational controversies by arbitration
the world has ever seen. There have
been fewer jobs and less embezzlement
than during any administration since
the days of Jackson, having relation to
the difference in the circumstances of
the country.
That he has made mistakes, no one
will deny. He has not always selected
the best who were to be had, and has in
some instances made appointments of
those who were positively unfit and un-
worthy; sometimes perhaps through
errors of judgment on his own part,
and Oftener, most likely, through the
pernicious influence of importunate and
greedy Congressman.
In the appointment of several to i'm
portant stations because they were his
relatives, and in others to be Influenced
by irresponsible persons because they
were of his own family; and in accept
ing pecuniary presents, when, if not
President, it was expected he would be,
he has, l regret to be constrained to
say, not set the most elevated example,
and has offended against what seems to
be a correct, though sensitive, public
taste; though the detriment to the pub
lie service, from these instances, if any
has occurred, think has been greatly
exaggerated to his prejudice. The gen.
eral conduct of his administration, so
far as his executive duties have been
involved, in my estimation, has been
personally pure, and characterized in
the main-I am obliged to make one ex-
ceptiOn, in the case of San Domingo
which ! can not defend-by regard
for the constitution and the law, by
wisdom, prudence, and a conscientious
desire to promote the public interest.
He is neither King Stork, as Mr.. Sum-
ner would have us believe, nor the King
Log, painted by Mr.. Schurz; neither
Caesar nor Sardanapalus.
GREELEY ADMINISTRATIONS.
And now, what have we on the other
hand? The Democratic party in the
disguise Of Greeley and Brown and the
Cincinnati platform.
"The voice is Jacobs voice, but the
hands are the hands of Esau.'
And what is the mess of pottage for
which we are asked to sell our birth
right?
What rational expectation of any re-
form in the public service is to be found
in the success of this unnatural and un-
principled coalition? Let every citizen
pause and reflect and answer for him
self that question.
The Democratic party, we may be as
sured, has changed, not its nature, but
its situation. If it succeeds in electing
Mr.. Greeley TO the Presidency. IL is nm