Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1871-1872, 1872-07-26

many from expressing their real opinions concerning
eeat services has rendered in the field Of war me
honOrs he has the aures he has gathered shall not
continue him the head Of the civil government OF
thing 70 do There are battles be fought, and no
strong places to be taken and it becomes duty
shall do SO with frankness but not without moderation
THE PRESIDENTS SPLENDID OPPORTUNITY.
Gen. Grant into Office under circumstances of
extraordinary promise. He had, as Generalln-Chef,
directed the closing operations of the His success
hal cenered upon him the gratitude and esteem OF the
ya people ana IN granting TO the defeated ice on gem
their respect and confidence There was scarcely man
willingly listened when admonshing them to submit 70
the 70 IN COCO Iasa
rights Of their neighbors, however humble, and to
sented by the G order e things such admonons
% Me- y have ne Ga to
their best and most patriotic impulses TO quiet their
their rights citizens to make them feel that they
were not to be the stepehildren Of the Repubic to
neatraliznE their old neaFtSurnings and an@csties
TO their country, ana restoring the longlost
cordially Of feeling between the different parts Ct the
nate other respects he had never been identified
reseneSts, we're foreign to hm lie owed his eieva
@ to e no nn rs set Ct ~ to wh ne a might
borne aloft the shoulder of faction while the
spectful in the appreciation Of the services he had
rendered No President would have had less ditii-
of narrow-minded selfish partisan rule, in dis
eye to the true interests of the public service and in
eeyating the whole tone and temper of political
life. When he assembled the Presidential chair 1t may
cordial offer Of their condence and willing aid in ali he
W not e m gsOq PHo whc Wo
R n@ have his been call ready might have Te
it to gather the very flower Of political wisdom and
virtue around the council board Of Cabinet to aid his
his favor was such that from the very ranks OF the OPP
nation stood ready to applaud every movement in the
right direction To support an Administration conducted
would have been not only the duty but the delight OF
been readily forgiven. The evidence Of pure motives
and honest efforts would have easily sie9ced factions
ment man had more power for good.
HIS wRETCHED FAILURE.
No President, perhaps Washington himself,
elected under aterng auguries, and there prob
ably whose performances stand in more glazing
his opportunities There is nothing apt to
discerning minds easily its charms
We fond Of believing that man who has successful
ly commanded army must be able TO govern nation,
but that universally Of talent is but rarely met with.
| a harsh dg1nent for Gen Grant his faiIings
in common with some OF the greatest captains in his,
that he has been able fully 10 appreciate the diff
ties aHd Responsibilities of civil administration. doubt
whether il has ever become quite clear to his mind what
the Presidency means In our system of Government.
When that high office presented to him he took
Which, after his military exploits he might make him
| self comfortable His mind have been but
disturbed the duties and perpexng prob
lens he was 70 take IN ha1d. Ii may appear
friends Col Forney informed the public he should
then have stipulated for second term the ground
financial view of the case indeed quite unusual but
if he did not look on the Presidency
ton he naturally desired that IL should not be losing
business. and some OF his friends who have readily
ment i'll favor Of his reelection. His first duty was
to form his Cabinet, The eXigeneies of the times
urgently demanded he should pick his constitutional
ad iser from the abest and most enlightened
selection himself When the Cabinet was announced it
was first given to personal friend by way Of comp,
ment soon to be exchanged for less responsible and
| more comfortable position. The gentleman appointed
Secretary Of the Treasury discovered to be
Wealthy burgher Of Philadelphia he said 81 himself that
he did not know what he was appointed for, and had
of this troublesome business for which he had neither
| were made Men who 10y their independent spirit and
enlightened sense of duty threatened to become trouble
some had to make for others whose accession to
the Cabinet made that great Council of state still
wonderful 1t is impossible to draw from the traditions
of the Government from the xgenees Of the
principle or theory OF political character upon
But however little in its composition the great interests
true to the idea consulted his own con-
sitons OF the government whom he desired TO please
and who pleased him with their company. He looked
upon it as his personal affair, which concerned nobody
| PERSONAL GOVERNMENT.
| A painful but still reluctant apprehension was then
dawning upon the minds of that the conduct Of
this great Government had fallen into the hands tri
fer. The distribution of offices in order. and
the President began at shower the sweets OF his
friends He had probably never heard Of nePotism aud
undoubtedly the last man to feel the indecency Of
his conduct. Regarding the Presidency accom-
pTp sG not ee w he as should not Et E
crease his own comfort with the offices of the
scandaIous to men who had given nm valuable
presents with high and responsible ignities He simply
liked to please those who had pleased him. That was
all He found it unreasonable, therefore, that in the
Should stand in his way He surely believed that the
ia h apd yStf mo ene o bar etbe d 6
IND II % that the man to WON the
distinctions and when he found an Old and wise statute
Secretary Of the Treasury and the Tenare-of once
act troubled him in distributing the patronage
laws That the repeal OF such laws night lead very
stood in his way and that was enough for MIN Soon
after his accession TO power he his mind not &c
anxiopsy looked for but to project Of his owi-the
anee as the Incorporation with political system OF
tropical a county With an utterly heterogeneou,
consideration. 1t is believed that the Secretary
sie 6a the to eene 1 al the the i
matte affairs of the Government was unceremonioIsIy
set aside. The Pre- sident commenced personal negoi
alton with Baez. the ruler Of santo Domingo which he
ordinary character Of this pr9eeedng did not trouble
f. an Of ass de T ass better made
sort Of personal treaty between the potentates
tn Of re o the e the to dbg %
This dsSaceful engagement would revOlted
the sensibtes of any President having the dignity
his high office and the honor of the nation at heart But
President Grant far from disappearing it that
instead of marking that aidedecanp with his dspleas
he continued to employ him in confidential missions
for the same object Nay, in compliance with the stpu
latons of agreement he actually did descend to the role
of lobbyist have him in that capacity myself
| How could President lower himself far Why, il
nobody else wanted Santo Domingo he did, he employed
the means most oongeuial TO his practical mind.
| POWER UsURPED.
He went further Baez the other party the arrange
ment. being in danger of being driven from power