The Cairo daily bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1870-1872, 1872-06-05

der the president. 1t 10 evident that any
resolution calling for II, moved by sena-
tor not known to be for his reelection,
would meet with opposition, and an effort
to vindicate republican institutions would
be denounced as an assault ::on the presi-
dent. But newspapers have placed
enough beyond question for judgment on
this extraordinary case, although thus far
there has been no attempt to appreciate 1t
in the light Of history. One list makes
the number Of beneHciares as many as
forty-two. 1t will not be questioned that
there is at least bakers dozen in
this category, thirteen relations of the
president billeted on the country not one
of whom, but for this relationship, would
have been brought forward. The whole
constituting a case of nepo,ism not I'M
worthy of the worst government, whose
office Is family possession. Beyond the
list of thirteen are other revelations
showing that this strange abuse did not
stop with the presidents relatives, but
that his relations obtained appointments
for Others in their circle, SO that every re.
lation became the center of influence
while the presidential family extended
indefinitely. Mr.. Sumner here quoted
from American authorities on ncpo.
tism, and said that but one President
Adams) had ever appointed relatives to
office, and that public sentiment condemn,
ed these appointments.
Mr.. Sumner then answered the apollo
gists of the President. and continued, as.
suming that in case OF positive merit.
designating citizen for n particular post
the president might appoint q relation, it
would only be where merit was 80 shin
ing, that his absence would be noticed. AT
least il must be such as to make u citizen
candidate without regard to family. But
no such merit is attributed to the benet-
Charles ,of our President, some of whom
have done little but bring scandal upon
the public service. AT least one Is tainted
with fraud, and another with commits
! sion of the Republic abroad, has been
guilty of indiscretions inconsistent with
his trust. Appointed originally in open
defiance Of Republican principles, they
have been retained in office after their un.
fitness became painfully conspicuous. BY
testimony before Congressional commit.
tee, one Of these, a brother-in-law, was inn
plicated in bribery and corruption. |, is
, said that al last, after considerable delay.
the president has consented TO his removal
d GIFT-TAKING.
Here leave for the present thi. enor-
nous pretension Of nepotism, swollen 10
= slephaHtidsis. which nobody can defend
} | pass to gif-taking, which, with our
president, has assumed an unprecedented
form. Sometimes public men, even OF
J our country have taken gifts, but il is
} not known that any president has before
) repaid the patron with Office For "a pub
, lie man to take gifts is reprehensible. For
. President to select cabinet Of coun-
, sellers and other officers among those
! from whom he has taken gifts, is an an.
amoly in republican annals. An ancient
{ patriarch feared the Greeks bringing gifts
? and these words have become a proverb
5 But there are Greeks bearing gifts else
= where than at Troy.
: A public man can traffic with such
o only at his peril. The prayer should
: be said Lead US not into temptation
4 The president VIGOROUSLY has taken gifts
e while in the public service-some at least
, after he had been elected presidents until
$ the Galena tanner of few hundred dollars
Q year, to borrow the word of my col
n league, one of his supporters, is now rich
a in houses, lands and stock, above his salary,
0 being probably the richest president since
George Washington. He has appointed to
: his cabinet Greeks bearing gifts with
/. out seeming to see the indecorum, if not
4 the indecency Of the transaction. At least
: two if not three Of these Greeks" having
i no known position in the republican party,
or influence in the country, have boon SO.
= lected ms councillors in the national affairs
and heads Of grea, departments of the
government Nor does the case of the
first secretary of state, appointed as a
compliment, differ in character from the
other three. The president, feeling under
b, personal obligation 20 Mr.. Washburne for
important support, gave him "a compile
u mentary nomination, with the understand
:, ing that after confirmation he should
= forthwith resign. l can not forget the in
: dignant comment Of the late Mr.. Fessen-
. den AS we passed out of the senate chamber
! immediately after the confirmation.
who said he, sever heard before of u
man nominated secretary Of state merely
: as a compliment
But this is only another case of the
public subordnated TO personal considers.
tions. Not only in the cabinet, but in
other offices, there is reason to believe that
the president has been under the influence
of patrons. Why was he SO blind as to place
Thomas Murphy in the custom house of
New York, which with all its capacity as
a political engine, was handed over to this
agent, whose want of recognition in the
republican party was unbalanced by the
presidential favor, and whose gifts have
become notorious. AND, when the dcmard
for his removal was irresistible, the presi-
dent accepted his resignation with an ef-
fusion Of sentiment natural toward q
patron, but without justification in the
character Of the retiring officer.
have now completed the survey of two
typical instances Of nepoism and gift
taking, officially compensated, in which
we are compelled to see the president. In
these things he shows himself. There is
no portrait drawn by either critic or enc
my. 1t is the original, who stands forth
saying; Behold tt generosity practice
to my relations at the expense of the public
service" In the open exhibition we see
how the presidency, instead of a trust, has
become perquisite. That the president
that can do such things and not recognize
ut once the error he has committed, shows
the super-eminence Of egotism under
which the constitution, international law,
and municipal law, to say nothing Of re-
publican government, in its primary
principles are all subordinated to the
presidential willard this is personal gov.
ernment. Add an insensibilty to the
honest convictions Of others, and you have
II characteristics incident Of this preten-
| sion.
Lawyers cite what are called leading
cases. a few Of these show the presden-
tial will in constant operation, with little
| regard To preced,nt or reasop an M IN ho