New-York tribune., 1872-07-29
ABSENT FROM DUTY.

How much actual loss the people may have
suffered from President Grants well known
propensity to prefer his private amusements
TO the discharge of his official duty we need not
trouble ourselves to inquire. If he has con-
sttutional inability to understand the func-
tions of civil administration if he mars affairs
of state when he tries to give them his per-
sonal direction if he believes the whole duty
of a President to be the manipulation OF the
patronage in the interest of his own reelection,
the indirect damage of his absence from Wash
ington may not be appreciable IN dollars and
from one point of view it may seem cheaper
to have him amusing himself on revenue cut
ters or at the gift cottage by the sea-shore
than making mschievOus appointments ana
scandalous removals at the seat OF govern
ment. But when he applies for reengage-
ment we are bound to ask whether ne mas
honestly done his best to perform his duty, ana
to make his subordinates perform theirs. we
nrint this morning a shameful record of neg
ioct The nnbic can see in this catalogue of
;rp,otinps excursions hither and thither on
the national vessels, with gay parties OF LADIES'
and gentlemen and politicians and other Ia
yorites who are not gentlemen, railway jour
news as the guest of Mr.. James Fisk, Jr, ana
Summer loungings at Long Branch in the COM
pany of Mr.. Tom Murphy, just how the Presi-
dent passes the time which he is expected 10
devote to the business of the nation and they
can see also how his example has affected the
heads of the various executive departments.
Tn fact there is at all times and in all
branches of the Administration habit of fire.
ouently running away while for about six
months of the year the Capitol is practically
deserted
The world does not stand still in Sum-
mer. Government must be carried on, and
if it can be done by clerks why should
we have any President at all The Presi-
dent of the United States and the MEM
bers of his Cabinet are not entitled to the
relaxations and amusements which rich men
allow themselves in private life. When they
entered Office they did not accept gift from
the nation, but they took upon themselves a
serious trust, and they made virtual promise
to fulfill that trust at whatever sacrifice of per-
sonal convenience. Hence, when they leave
the Administration TO "run itself" " they are
guilty of gross negligence; when they are abb
sent from duty, as they so frequently are
under the present regime, for weeks and
months at time, they commit breach Of
trust for which the people ought to hold them
severely responsible.
TBut the truth is Gen. Grant has never looked
upon the Presidency as trust. He has never
considered that there are duties attached to the
Office he has taken only the pay and the per-
duistes. He came home from the war crowned
with laurel and hailed by the acclamations of a
grateful people, and though he had not enough
Imagination to be spoiled by so much ap-
plause, his narrow and somewhat blunt intel
lect was soon affected by the generosity Of his
admirers. They offered him houses, and purses,
and bull-pups, and he took them all as tributes
that he had fairly earned; and when they
offered him the White House and the title Of
President he took those too, in the same way,
lust as WellingtOn-we thank Mr.. COnklng
for the parallel-may have taken his dukedom
and the manor of Strathfeldsaye.) SO Grant
has always regarded the Presidency as per-
sonal gift involving no great responsibility and
exacting no more labor than it pleased him to
expend. "The responsibilities of the situation"
said he, in his inaugural address, " | accept
"without fear" A greater man might have
trembled at the task before him but to Gen.
Grant the prospect was one of four years
bonors and emoluments.-wit a second term
looming in the distance TO make the first one
pay.