The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1872-04-12
A PRONOUNCED RADICAL ON
PRESIDENT GRANT.

-0NJ ~ ~''~
independent, has all his life been .
Radical Of the most pronounced and
extreme character. He is man how
ever, who does not hesitate to speak
his mind freely, and who. though once
a strong supporter OF Grant, sees little
in the present attitude or conduct Of
our chief magistrate to admire or
commend. Speaking Of Grants neg
lected opportunity III late Issue of
his paper, he says:
Perhaps no President ever had a
better opportunity for the display OF
Administrative abilities and high
order Of patriotism than Grant has to-
day. We leave the matter of states
manship entirely aside. According TO
his own theory, he is merely the admin
istratiye head OF the Government. He
lays no claim to the character of a
statesman. Note even his most extrav.
agant admirers in their their most ex-
cited eulogies claim that he possesses
that high quality Of mind. that com
prebensiyeness of view, that intuitive
penetration into causes and forecasting
of events, and grasp of circumstances
which enter into our idea OF states
manship. He is merely the executive
head Of the Government. But as
such he has to-day the most splendid
opportunity ever offered an Ameri-
can Chief Magistrate TO signalize his
Administration by acts which would
render it famous forever.
The present Administration inher-
tied vast amount of corruption
The machinery of the government had
been used very largely to fill the pock-
cts of peculators, and secure positions
for ambitious politicians. The pres
ent Administration changed the men,
but retained the mechanism. We
see the results. The public service is
dAnoralizcd. Stupendous frauds
have been discovered in many places.
The taint Of corruption covers every
department of the government
There is scarcely an office-hoIder in
the United States but is haloed with
suspicion of dishonesty. Every new
investigation unearths new mine OF
guilt, and discloses more of the vast
system OF fraud and villainy which
nets the whole country with its rami.
fications, and is rapidly rotting away
the foundations OF national honesty
The people of all parties begin to
comprehend the significance of the
facts and the real dangers to which
our institutions are exposed. They
demand reform. Their determination
has shaken Tammany into the dust
1t has compelled a reluctant commit
tee to look into an equally offensive
mass of corruption i'll our Custom
House, and though they tried their
utmost not to see anything in particu
lar, they were compelled 20 turn theil
faces away in disgust. The same dis
graceful and dangerous facts exists
everywhere, and everywhere CRY
aloud for reform. Reform is the only
hope of the Government, of the coun
try. And if reform is not speedily
organized and carried energetically
into every department of the public
service, that service will sink below
contempt, and office-holder and robbel
will be universally regarded as syn
onymousterms.
Old party issues are dead. There
are not sound planks enough in any
OF the old party platforms for decen,
man to stand upon to-day. The ont
real issue before the country to-day
is, Shall ,ce hare an honest Gorer7a
menss All other questions are en-
tered in that penetrating, burning in
terrogation. Things as they are. OF
things as they ought to be, that is the
sharp alternative. Corruptionist OIL
Reformer, which shall bear sway?
Gen. Grant has the opportunity Of
putting himself at the head of grand
popular demonstration in favor of re
form, demonstration which shall
shake this continent with its magnifi
cent tread and benificent effects. He
can put his Administrator directly il
the van of the greatest popular enthu
siasm this nation has known since the
uprising at the beginning of the war
The way is open. He can forestal
the action of any man or body of mer
by a right earnest policy of his own
He can make Republican and Refor
mer stand for one and the same thing
and SO preserve unbroken the unity o
a party identified with all the great
achievements and heroic memories o
war. by his own determined actl
pledging that party to the most earn
est, determined, radical measures o
reform. He can sweep the States
so clean at the next election that tn,
scattering votes will not be worth th'
counting, if he will shake himself clear
from all completely with or responsi
bility for the men who are suspected
of plumber and peculation. and max,
his Administration utterly honest
| Will he do this Alas, we see not tn,
remotest hint that he comprehend
the situation. and every step of inves
tigation that he has taken has alread,
been taken against his will. Hi
friends are beginning to be looket
upon as the public enemies, and ever,
day he seems more and more de
termined to let things run on in tn
old grooves toward destruction. An,
still the occasion waits for the for th
Man"
A handsome young gentlema,
walked into the Adams express ofic'
the other day. and desired to express
q package of letters to q lady. t.
| whom he dasired In return them.