, 1872-12-21

yatiou Of the character Of the Administration,
The removal Of the outer pressure Of the cleo
ton battle will Iberate this feeling and gyo it
rebounding energy OF expression which it "
| be necessary for the President to heed. and
which il would be wlso in him to anticipate by
giving signs that 10 is alive to the public seoci-
bilities. It is necessary th2t free public jour
nails 0hich desire the success OF tie Alalnistra-
ton should speak plainly on these matters; for
the japanese AiEAdo is not more completely cut
of from all learing Of unfayo1able opinions OF
his conduct on the part Of his persoDal support
e1s than is President Grant The power which
President possesses, and the fact that through
his patronage be holds the political fee OF every
Administration Congressman in his hand, would
to great extent prevent any President from
hearing the truth from those about him; but it
is well known that this evil is increased by the
disposition Of President Grant, which inc1inea
him to regard with aversion any Tho speak to
him Of faults Of conduct.
It may be that tho character Of the Executive
branch will rank NTH that Of tho Legislatiye
but it ought to be much above it. Tho Presi-
dents broader constituency, longer term OF Of
fec, and vast power to control the party enable
him to take = higher stand aud to direct public
opinion The Member OF Congress travels, IS
Napoleon sald OF an army. on his stomach He
is continually looking to his base, and his chief
concern is to stop the mouths of his supporters
with Offices, and to work tho machinery for his
Reelection. But the President Is lifted abore
these conditions. rs can hsye tone which
will make the influence OF the Administration
e1evating in all braches Of Governmant. II
his tons is Low, his influence Is powerful
to degrade the Legislature and the entire pub
lie service. He is responsible not only for
his administrative acts, but for his example.
It is not enough that he let's things take their
course. II le be not qualified to haEa an affirm
ytive policy in affairs, he may at least make the
Executive Department an example Of strict in
tegrity, Of high sense Of duty, OF rigid senti-
ment Of honor, and Of good manners, which are
akin to good morals.
It WAS unfortunate that Grunt came into cfica
with the conspicuous gifts OF citizens to the sue
cessful General who in tie line Of precedents
was tho coming President. When he showed an
inclination to call the gvers to high places in tho
Government it gave the opposition weapon
that citizens were contributing to General Sher-
man, and in his eagerness involved himself in
tho scandal with Mayor Bowen, he compromised
his Personal dignity, and exhibited qualities m
becoming to his station.
It is not great draft upon the public purse,
nor 3 creation Of dangerous family influence.
when the President appoints dozen or more Of
his relation to office but 1t is bud example.
and shows a low view Of the Presidential Office.
But fur worse than this WIS tho scandal of
Presidents brother-iu-law at the Capital, follow
ing the profession Of agent for claims against
the Government, carrying lis family influence
into the subordinate Executive departments
where such claims are Judged md actual1y-a5
ho testi6ed before Congressional Committee
appealing cases from tho Departments to tho
Presidents, and appearing before him to argue
them In effect, this was tho sale of the Prosi-
dents influence against tho ends Of iustice b7
his bIother~;n-iaw.
The summer absences Of tho President from
the Capisal arc Inattors of no grea. moment IN.
the affairs OF Government, aad his frequent
{unketing a ; exeursona sau,;t could be excused,
lar kind Of entertainers who bring
him and the Presidential Office into disra-
pute, and expose him to be made the instrument
Of designs upon the Government. When the
the cost OF widespread ruin Of the innocent
burst upon the public on tho memorable Black
Friday, the public mind was shocked by the in
telligence TINT the President had been caught in
the tolls OF the conspi1ators, and bad been ,nado
to do their bidding by writing , letter to secrc-
tary Boutwell, advising him against Increasing
his sales OF gold Tho effect Was not r,;tga.cd
by the fact that the conspi-atoc3 had entaag!ct
the Presidents family in the plot. Tie public
partly excused him with the charitable pic. tss:a
he WIS deceived by the sharpers GouiI and
Fisk; but there general fsaling t;.s. tho
President Of the United STATES should not ha;o
uado companions Of men 30 notorious 81 La!,1ic
robbers, nor received kosplta1itieJ AID o.ler
fayora from them.
The American people Go rot fear that tho
Presidents surrounding himself with military
a:tendands means q design to sub7ert TIC Gov
ernment; but jealousy OF military surroundings
and manners belongs to free Institutions and to
the spirit Of froe people, and tie disregard OF
this shows lack OF Perception Of popul1c sonti-
ment, or contempt for il.
It is true that Congress is laggard and re1nct-
anS in the work Of Civil Service Itoforn; but the
President has not tho trammels that bind Con-
gressmen. He can WELD prevailing influence
IN promoting tbs headed legislation. He ca5sss
put the methods Of reform into practice, By re-
capable and faithful officer to ma1o
place for 9 partisan retainer, without =
waiting FOR legislation- But while be ask5
the ulode Of appointments to the civil service,
he presents to tho country such a scandal as tho
New York Custom House, with it's disreputah1e
official service and its unofficial leries upon the
merchants, regulated by his own hand.
It is t1uo that when the President caused our
case to be presented to the Geneva Tribunal
with our consequential injuries extended to the
cost Of the war, he went no further than tho =
speech Of Mr. Sumner anu the almost Unanimous
vote OF the Senate and the general acceptance
OF the country, sud that his late competitor wen
beyond this with wild proposition that our
claims should be made the ground for demand
ing the cession OF Canada but it cannot ba for
gotten that between these events the Presi-
pent's ostensib1e reason for the paremptory dis
1nissal Of Mr. Motley was that he stated to the
British Minister the case Of our Injuries too
strongly, although II came lar short OF the case
presented at Geneva.
The Republican party did notscek statesman
for President when it chose General Grant; for
it could not have expected g. statesman in him.
It chose him because tho glory reflected on him
in the popular view by Che military triumph
gave him political availability which would be
useful, and which if not secured by it might bo
turned against it. 1t would, therefore, ba IN
reasonable to demand Of him & positive and
leading policy OF craftsmanship. But it had
n n nj -
duty, dignity, regard for Law, and high SELF
respect which would have . benedcent ialIuence
on the other branches Of Government aud on
the whole Executive service. Yet there is q y
impression that General Grant takes
low view Of the Presidential Office; that he
looks upon it as personal affair; that be makes
3 calculation OF what is due him from the yaiuo
Of the Office lie gave up to take this; and that
he regards it Us 4 reward OF merit.
AL these things and others have made the le-
Dor OF the recent contest much greater to the