New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-06-04

sOldiers have been more conspicuous imam
| Gustavus AdOlphus and Frederick, some
! times called the Great; but we learn that
both have failed ANONYMOUSLY in thet
domestic policy, and showed themselves az
short-sighted in the arts of peace as they
were sagaciOus in the arts of war
The Judgment of Marlborough is pointed
While pOrtraying him as the greatest con-
ouerOr of the age" "herO Of a hundred
fights, "vjctor of Blenheim and ROmulus,"
the same philosophical writer describes him
as man not only of the most idle and
frivolous pursuits, but so miserably lgnor-
ant that his deficiency made him the ridi-
Guile of his contemporaries, while his poll
tics were compounded of selfshness and
treachery. Nor was Wellington an excep-
ton. Though shining In the field without
a rival, and remarkable for integrity of
purpose and unflinching honesty and high
moral feeling, the cOnquerOr of Waterloo is
described as nevertheless utterly unequal
to the complicated eXigencies of political
ife." Such are the examples of history.
Each with its warning. 1t would be hard
to find anything in the native endowments
or in the training of our chieftain to make
him an illustrious exception at least,
nothing of this kind is recorded.
Was nature more generous with him than
with Marlborough or Wellington, or was his
experience of life better preparation than
theirs? And yet they failed, except in war.
1t is not known that our chieftan had an
experience as a civilian until he became
President; nor does any partisan attribute
to him that double culture which, in an
tiQuity, made the same man a soldier and
statesman. 1t has been often said that he
took no note Of public affairs, never voting
but once in his life, and then for James Blu
chanan. After leaving West Point he be-
came a captain i'll the army, but soon aban-
dOned the service to reappear at later day
as successful General. There is no reason
to believe THAT he employed the interme-
date period in any way calculated to i'm
prove him as a statesman. He was earning
a few hundred dollars a year by tanning
hides in Galena
By the war he passed to be President;
and such was his preparations to govern
the great republic, making it an example to
mankind. Something also must be at
tributable to individual character, and
here express no opinion of my own. |
shall allow another to speak in solemn
words, echoed from the tomb. On reach
ing Washington, at the opening of Con-
gress in December, 1869, | was panied to
hear that Mr.. Stanton, lately Secretary of
War, was in failing health. Full Of graft
tude for his past services, and with senti-
ment of friendship, quickened by common
political sympathies, | lost no time in see
ing him, and repeated my visits until his
death. near the close of the same month
My last visit was marked by cOmmunica-
ton never TO be forgotten. As | entered
his room, where | found him reclining on
sofa, propped up by pillows, he reached
reply to ray inquiry, How are your" he
said, ''Waiting for my furlOugh." Then at
once, with singular solemnity, he said. Il
have something to say to YOU"
When | was seated, he said, without a
word of introduction, II know General
Grant better than any one in the country
can know him. 1t was my duty to-day
when | saw him, and when / did not see
him, and now l will tell you what l know.
He can't govern this country" The in
tensity of his manner and the pOsitiveness
of his judgment surprised me; for, though
knew that he did not place the President
very high IN general capacity, / was not
prepared for a Judgment so strong. At last,
after some delay occupied in meditating his
remarkable statement | observed, "What
you say is very broad" 1T is as true as it
is broad be replied. Promptly l added,
You are tardy. Why did you wait till
his nomination. He said he was not con-
suited, and had no opportunity of express
ing his opinion ON it, beside being much Oc-
cupied at the time with his duties as score
tary and his contest with the President
by saying, You took part in the
Presidential election, and made a success
sion of speeches for him in Ohio and Penn
sylvania." Il spoke" said he, "but l never
introduced the name of Grant. l spoke for
the Republican party and the Republican
cause"
Insisting upon reelection, the President
inquiry, and puts himself on the
election did not menace the tranquility of
the country, it is important that the per-
s0nal pretensiOns he has set up should be
exposed, that no President hereafter may
venture upon such ways, and no Senator
presume to defend them. The case is clear
as noon. day. In opening this catalogue /
select two typical instances, for nepOtism
and gift-taking, officially incOmpensated,
each absolutely indefensible in the head of
a republic, most pernicious in example, and
showing beyond question that the surpass-
ing egotism which changed the Presidential
office into a personal instrumentality not
unlike the trunk of an elephant for all
things, small as well as great, from prOvi- |
sion tor a relative to pressing treaty on
reluctant Senate, or forcing his relation on |
a reluctant people. Between these two |
typical instances. | hesitate which to place |
foremost.
But since the nepotism of the President |
s ruling passion, revealing primary in |
stances IN his nature, since it is maintained |
Jy him in utter Inconsistencies of it's Of |
ensive character. Since, instead of blushing |
or it as an unhappy mistake, he continues |
% uphold it; since it has been openly de- |
ended by Senators on this floor, and since |
10 true patriot, anxious for republican in |
titutiOns can doubt but that it ought to be |
lriven with Kisses and scOrn from all prOba- |
)ility of repetition, begin with this IN
doubted abuse. There has been no call of |
Congress for report of relations holding |
,ffice-on stipend or mOney-making oppOr- |
unity under the President. 1t is evident /
hat any resolution calling for it, moved by /
senator's not known to be for his reelection,
would meet with opposition; and an eff |
Ort to vindicate republican institutions
would be denounced as an assault on the
but newspapers have placed
nOugh beyond question for judgment on
his extraordinary case, although thus far
here has been no attempt to appreciate it
n the light of history. One list makes the
lumber of benefciaries as many as thirty
wO.
1t will not be questioned that there is at
EAST bakers dozen in the category. Thir-
cen relations of the President billeted on
he country, not one of whom but for this
would have been brought for
Yard. the whole constituting a case of
epotism not unworthy of the worst gov
rnments whose office is a family posses
ion. Beyond this list of thirteen there are
ther revelations, showing that this strange
.buse did not stop with the Presidents rela-
ives, but that these relations obtained APP
continents for others in their circle, so
hat every relation became centre of in.
uence, while the Presidential family ex-
ended indefinitely. Mr.. Sumner here
uoted from the American authorities on
epotism, and said that but one President
dams, had ever appointed relatives to
flee. and that nuhI;c 49,. - i ,,,,,5 |