The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1872-06-06
BOOK AND FOR u-,,1>-
THE SUMNER SPEECH.

norant OF the present Adminisfration
would infer that its head is a Boreia.
Bourbon or Guelph of the worst
type. He is compared to the yiIest
representatives of those infamous
families, with no intimation that he
is any less d!spicable than they. 1t
seems hardly possible that the author
of this atrocious speech is the same
Charles Sumner that stood so man.
fully by the slave. ....
Inc explanation is suggested, in
the repeated complaint he makes.
that he and those for whom he smoke
have not been taken into the conn
ellis Of the President, and that he
himself was deposed from the Chair
manship Of the Senate Committee on
Foreign Affairs. He several times
alludes to the subject, each time with
increased bitterness. That deposi-
ton explains in full the whole tri-
ade.
The most notable feature Of the
speech Is the utter absence of so
much as an attempt to prove corrup
ton on the part CT the President
or OF his appolntees. The speaker
asserted that dangerous precedents
had been set. To more clearly ap-
preciate the situation, apply the
principle involved to every day bus
mess affairs. Suppose a stock holder
IN some large corporation, say u
railroad company, wished to prevent
the reelection of the President of
the concern; he would endeavor to
prove to his fellow stock. holders that
the affairs of the company were suf-
terlng either through inefficiency or
dishonesty. Charges of that kind
would command respect, and call
tor ali investigation; but if, in this
case, 1T were alleged that some ofthe
subordinate officials of the company
were related, by blood or marriage,
TO the President, and some of the
suoordinates had, previous to the
Presidents election, done him a per
sonal favor, would these allegations
have weight? The answer would
be: What oft Now there are some
fifty thousand appointees to Federal
offices, 1t is estimated, and Mr.. Sum
ner thinks a bakers dozen of the
persons filling those places are rela-
ted to the president. He further
charges that three of his appointees
had made him presents before his
eiecnon. What of it? When Mr..
Seward was Secretary of State, his
son was his first assistant. No BODY
ever found fault with this appoint
ment. President Grant has one
brother. He holds no office. and
never has. Have any of the men
whose appointment Sumner com
plains OF ever proved unworthy their
trusts? The Senator does not
charge 1t, neither is it true, except
IN one case. The holder of minor
office in Chicago, who was a cousin
OF the President, fell under suspicion
OF dishonesty. His case was report
ed at headquarters, and he was
promptly dismissed the service.
mat man was member of the Gin
cinnatl Convention. ANY sensible
, person would say that the directors
OF stock company had made fools
+, OF themselves who should turn off a
) PRESIDENT or Superintendent, under
o whom the affairs of the company
were emlnently prosperous, on any
such charges as those preferred by
g Charles Sumner against General
!. Grant. According to the Senator's
q own showing, the personal and fam
!, lily appointees are not one in a thon-
q sand 1t is a monstrous libel to
, compare the Presidents family, ap.
:. Polntees To the nepotism of the Bor-
gas. The Papal nepotism turned
the treasures of Italy and of the Rom
ish hierarchy into the family officers,
, and made all Christondom tributary
to the kinfolks Of the Pope. Be-
tween such abuse of power and the
y patronage system of our President,
= there Is no more resemblance than
+ between midnight and midday. II
any unfit man has been kept in Office
. on family ground, the enemies of the
o Administration would have charged
!; 1t. The absence of any such charge
n Is deeply significant, and warrants
the conclusion that no such case ex-
=. lists.
; Sumner has a great deal to say
about San Domingo. Why rake
d that up? The Senate decided
g against annexation, and that en-
o ded the matter. The President has
> made no attempt to secure the an
g nexation in spite OF the Senate
b True to his promise to have no poll
d ey of his own, he dropped the mat
II ter wholly and at once. He doubt
/ less still thinks it is an acquisition
It very desirable; but he recognize:
p the right of the Senate to difel
|, from him, and the fnality of its de
n cision.
6 1t lily becomes Charles Sumne
II to complain of the President for &C
e cepting presents. Those gifts wer,
n all made before his election. Gen
), eral Grant, not President Grant, &C
d cepted them. But Mr.. Sumner
e own skirts are not as clean. Duriny
l. nearly a decade he was chairman O
d the Committee on Foreign Affairs
Every diplomatic appointment wa
g reported upon by him, and practic
1t ally his authority in that departme en-
Q of patronage was almost equal t
that of the President and the Secre
tary of State. Did he observ,
I the rule against accepting present
i which he lays down for the Presi
s dent, and insists upon so strenuously
l By no means. His house is fairl
numbered with the gifts receive
3 from our Representatives abroad
I They overflow every room, from tn
wihe-vault to the actic. Some c
these are of great value in com
mercial point of view. The gift-ta
king Senator should have remem
bered the glass house adage. lie
I him pull the beam out of his owl
eye before making such fuss abou
the imaginary mote in the Pres
? dents eye.--Chicago journal.