Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1872-06-04
The President and the People.
tgrom the Albany Erenlng Journal }

ton? 10 what respect has the ADJ
ministrAtion failed TO answer the ex-
pectations and rightful demands of
the people? Upon what ground can
any sincere Republican renounce his
support of the President, or justify
the political desertion which that act
involves?
We are not insensible of the criti-
cisms which have been pronounced
We do not disguise the fact that the
President has made some mistakes.
But IN full view of all the errors
which have been enumerated, and al!
that ingenious criticism can suggest,
we ask again what one affords any
warrant CT distrust or furnishes any
ground for infdeIity to the old ban-
ner ? The distinguishing feature of
these structures is that not one of them
touches the general work Of the Ad-
ministration or affects any general in
terest Of the people. They relate al
most solely to matters which alone
concern the small class that thrive
upon active politics. Blot out every
one OF these mistakes or grounds of
criticism, make the records of the
Administration just such ia all re-
spects as the carping critics would
have it, and still the vital interests
Of the people would have been sub.
served no better than they are now
In word, whatever may be said
of them in other particulars, the mis-
takes of the Administration have
neither endangered a Republican
principle nor impaired the public
service.
Take these criticisms more in de-
tail. II is said that the President
has appointed relatives TO Office
But this is a common charge against
Presidents 1t was especially hurled
at Madison, one Of the most worthy
and excellent in the whole line Of
Executives If Grant appoints rela-
lives he shows in the recent instance
Of Casey that he can remove them
on occasion. At the worst, it is u
question Of taste, and whether there
are two or dozen in place matters
not to the public interests. 1t is said
next that the President made an I'M
fortunate appointment Tor Collector,
BE that as il may, he was not an un
worthy officer. He was faithful in
the discharge OF his duties. The
people suffered nothing from his des-
ignation. 1t is said again that the
President has dscri minated in the
use Of patronage. Granting it for
thesake Of the argument, what princ'-
pie is hazarded or what public good
is sacrificed 1t may be wise polt-
zeal management or it may not be,
bur how does it touch the interests
Of the mass of the people If this be
made the ground of opposition, is it
not degrading the whole subject of
politics from matter of principles
to q matter OF spoils ? 1t is said
further that the President has some
unworthy counselors around him
Is it expected to improve this by
electing Mr.. Greeley, with the reti-
nue. OF corrupt hangers-on who play
on his credulity and vanity? If the
President listens to unworthy coun-
selors it would show itself in his is,
and what acts botray it
When wo have named those points
wo have covered almost the entire
range of criticism. Take them at
their worst, what reason do they Of
fer why any honest Republican should
swerve in his allegiance? The man
who makes politics a mere trade
may find in the course Of patronage
the ground for discomfort. But the
mass Of The people care nothing Tor
this matter They are neither help
eli nor harmed by it, There is not
one Of The structures against the
President which furnishes any rea-
son why they should be estranged
from bin. And when, on the other
hand, we come to that part of the
administrative work which really af-
fecls the interests of the people,
which rises above mere personalities
to the realm Of public policy end
principle,it is in all respects eminent
iy sa tiefactory. Here criticism may
be defed, and it ia this which deter-
mines the voice OF public opinion.
The Administr alton has dif'ased
every where a sense OF security aud
safety. Not only has the debt been
paid, the taxes reduced, the public
credit improved, and the popular
burdens relieved, but steady, uni-
form, stable policy has been pursued,
which enables all business men to
caIcu ate the future. They can cons
fidentially anchor TO the Administers
sion. They feel that Grant is a safe
and prudent President They know
he is amenable to public opinion
They know that he has not only Civ
en- US domestic tranquility and secur-
rity, but be has saved US from being
embroiled in foreign difficulties =
With an impetuous President, we
might easily have been Involved in
disturbing complications with Spain
through the Cuban revolution
With less discreet Executive, the
English controversy might have as
sumed threatening aspect. The
grand controlling merit Of Grants
Administrations is that it not only
enforces every principle upon which
he was elected, but that it gives the
country an assurance of safety which
is Of incsleulable value to the great
business and industrial interests
It's faults, on the other hand, are We
NAL and insignificant, and all sober
minded men in making mp their judg-
ment will rightly estimate these
things.