The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1872-06-20

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Leave me while you love me-thisis surely best
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Sumner on Grant.
Indictment of Grant for Jobbery, Nepo
tisIi, Gift-taking, Bribery, Usurpation
4 and Incompetency- The Warnings o
Hfstory. - =. e :
We have heretofore alluded to the
great speech of Senator Sumner, re.
viewing the administration of Grant
] aud now give the substance of it as
reported by telegraph:
Mr.. Sumner said he had heard Of
Hamlin's affiiction, and regretted it
He observed, however, that Carpen-
ter, author of the French Arms report
was now in his seat, and therefore he
| would proceed. I7 $40
! Mr.. Sumner opened his speech with
the announcement that he was mem.
Der of the Republican party, and one
OF the straightest of the sect. He had
never failed to sustain its candidates
and advance its principles. Not with
out regret could he see it suffer, nor
without a pang could he see it changed
from its original character, for such
change is death. Therefore he asked,
with no common feeling, that the peril
which Inenacesit may pass away. He
stood by its cradle, and was not will
| ing to follow its hearse. 4 ,lsaFsEf
2 He here proceeded to detail the rise
and progress of the party, and his con-
nection with it, as a party necessary
and permanent, and always on the
ascending plane but alas how
changed. Once, principle was in
scribed on its victorious banners, and
not q name only. 1t is not difficult to
indicate when the disastrous change,
exaitiDg the will of one man above all
else, became manifest. Already it had
began TO show itself in personal pre-
when the President, elected by the
Republican party, precipitated upon
the country an ill-cOnsidered and ILL
omeDed scheme for the annexation of
a portion of San Domingo, in pursu-
ance of a treaty negotiated by one of
his.own household, it was pressed for
months by every means and appliance
of power. Reluctant. Senators were
subsidized for support. While tread
ing under foot the Constitution in one
of it's. most distinctive Republican
principles, the President seized the
warpowers of the Nation, instituted
foreign Intervention, aud capped the
climax of usurpatIon by means of Yio-
lence TO The Black hepub1kc of Hayti,
thus adding manifest outrage of in
ternational law to manifest outrage
to the Constitution. Mr.. Sumner
would gladly leave this matter to the
judgment already recorded were it
not put in issue again by the extraor-
sdinary efforts radiating on every line
of Office to place its author for second
term of the Presidency; and since ST.
lence gives consent, all these efforts
are his efforts. They become more
noteworthy when it is considered
that the name of the candidate thus
pressed has become a sign of discord
and not concord, dividing instead of
uniting the Republican party, SO that
these extraordinary efforts tend di-
rectly to the disruption of the party,
all of which he witnesses, and again
by his silence ratlfies. "Let the party
split" says the President; &" will not
renounce my chance of a second
term."
- The extent of this personal pressure
and subordination of party to the will
ofan individual compels MS to consider
his pretensions. These too are on
issue. "On what meat doth this our
Cesar feed" that he should assume SO
much2 No honor for victory in the
world can justify disobedience to the
Constitution and to law; nor can 1t
afford the least apology for any per-
sonaf immunity, privilege or license
in the Presidential office. A Presi-
dent must turn into King before it
can be said of him that he can do no
wrong. He is responsible always as
President He is the foremost SER
want of law, bound to obey its slight
est mandate. AS the elect of the peo-
pie, he owes not only an example of
willing obedience, but also of fidelity
and industry in the discharge of his
conspicuous Office, with an abnega-
ton of all self-seeking. Nothing for
self, but all for country.
And now, as we regard the career
of this candidate, we find to olY
amazement how little it aecords with
this simple requirement. Bring it to
the touchstone, and it falls. Not only
are Constitution and law disregarded,
but the Presidential office itself is
treated as little better than a play
thing and perquisite; when not the
former, then the latter. Here details
are ample, showing how from the be-
ginning this exalted trust has dropped
to be personal Indulgence, where
palace cars, fast horses, and seaside
loiterings figure more than duties
hoW personal aims and objects have
been more prominent thap public in
terests; how the Presidential Office
has been Hsed TO advance his own
family on scale Of pepOtism, dwarf
ing everything of the kind in our his
tory, and hardly equaled in the corr
has most prevailed; how in the same
those frop whom he had received
country repay his personal obliga-
tions how personal devotion to him
self, rather than public or party SER
vice, has been made the standard of
favor; how the vast appointing power
conferred by the Constitution for the
general welfare has been employed at
his will to promote hie schemes, to
reward his friends, to punish his OPP
pom ents, to advance his election to
second term how all these assump-
tions have matured in personal gov
ernment, semi-military in character,
and breathing military spirit-being
0 species of CPsarism or personsllsm
abhorrent to Republican institutions,
when subservient to the President is
the supreme law; how in maintain
ing this subserviency he has operated
by system of combinations, having
their orbits about him, SO that like
the planet Saturn he is surrounded by
rings.
Nor does the similitude end here