Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-07-23

Mr.. ScHURz ON PRESIDENT GRANT-In
the course of his speech at the Liberal Repub-
lican meeting in ST. Louis, last night, Mr.. Carl
Schurz referring to President Grant said
II should prefer not to speak of him, did he
not stand as the embodiment and personifca-
ton Of the pernicous system which derives
from his individuality its peculiar character.
Gratitude for his military services and respect
for his office have long restrained many from
expressing their real opinions concerning him.
[ shall be the last man to forget or to carp at
the great services he has rendered ia the field
of war
''The honors he has won, the laures he has
gathered shall not be touched but now he is
civil officer, aud he asks us to continue him
at the head of the civil government With
this question his laurels have nothing to do.
When he asceuded the presidential chair, it
may be said the whole people surrounded him
with cordial offers Ut their confidence, aud will
ing to aid in all he might do to give the coun-
try good government. There was not a
statesman in the republic who would not have
been ready, nay proud, to serve him at his
call. He might have reinforced his supporters
from the ranks of the opposition. Accidental
mistakes would have been readily forgotten !;
evidence OF pure motives and honest efforts
would have easily silcnced factlous clamors. But
| his career as President warrants the conclusion
that he has never been able fully to appreciate
the difference between military command and
the complete duties and responslhlite, OF civil
administration. [ doubt whether it las ever
become quite clear to his mind what the presi-
dency means in our system Of g1vernlnent.-
! When that high Office was presented to him
he took it as sort of national reward, an ac-
commodation, a place in which, after his mill
tary exploits, he might make himself comfort
able. His mind scems to have been but little
disturbed by the great duties aud problems he
Was to take in hand 1t was soon discovered
that for his future success he needed organized
partizan support 1t was easily had. Re-
quired alliances formed themselves by natural
gravitation. Soon We found him surrounded
| by political anagers-Camerous, Chandlers,
Mortous, ConkIiugs Buffers, &c, ready to do
his work if he would do theirs. 1t was mat
ter of congeuiaity. The interests of the Presi-
dent and of such political chetains identified
themselves without difficulty, aiding with exc
cutve influence in controlling States for them
selves, and they giving their aid in controlling
the party for him. Que baud washed the
other This was gradually brought into sys
tenn, all cooperation being welcome even
such as that of Clayton, in Arkansas. Then
that peculiar party despotlsm grew up which
ostraciSed everybody who refused to obey its
commands 1t gave birth to a new sort Of
party orthodoxy, whose first tenet was that
| President Grant must be re elected. Opposition
to Grant constituted hig treason agant party
| for which there was no quarter. The Senator
dwelt on this theme at great length, using the
strongest aud severest language that has yet
beeu aimed at the President and his supporters.
After referring to the Presidents nepotism his
appointment of Tom Murphy, his fonduess for
personal pleasure, and that he had actually seen
foreign ministers in the Capitol Of the nation,
looking for the government ofthe United States,
the Senator added, will not wrong President
Grant. He is by no means monster of nquity.
He is simply man who makes use Of his high
official position to suit his own convenience
in his closet a designing usurper, gloomily
bordering how he may subvert the free institu
tons of the republic; neither does he ponder
how he may preserve them. lie does not
ponder at all. He simply wants to carry
point; when, and as in the San Domingo case.
the constitution happens to stand IN his way
he just walks over it. He does not mean to
break down the authority Of the laws; he simply
wants them not to hamper him in his doipgs
He does not mean Systematically to outrage the
public sense of deceucy by nepotism and low
associations, to corrupt the service and degrade
our political life; he only wants to make his
relations aud favortes comfortable, to associate
with men who are congenia to him, and to take
the best care OF his interest he can. He is not
incapable of occasionally doing good things.
He prefers good appointments to bad ones, other
things being equal. He undoubtedly desires that
affairs should 90 well, his own welfare included.
Such is the character ofhis personal govern
ment He should be doing it too much honor
by calling it Csesarism 1t is not inspired by any
grand, lofty and long-headed ambition. 1t is
ABSOLUTELY barren of ideas and originality, bare
of striking achievements, void Of noble SEN
timents and inspiring example. It's simply
dull, heavy, stupid and stubborn in its selfish
| ness.
CIVIL SERVICE REFoRM--Seuator Carl
Schurz made an elaborate and very able speech
at St. Louis, last ught, in which he reviewed
the course of President Grant and his admins
traton with great severity In the course OF
his speech Mr. Schurz read the following letter
from Mr. Greeley, giving his views very fully
upon the question Of civil service refdrm>
New York, July 5 1S72.-My Dear Sir:
10 ,,1t;no oplU rnacbnd mo