Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1873-06-26
The President.

The President.
Correspondence of the New York Sun.
WASHINGTON, May 27.-The President
is off again, this time for Harrisburg, for
little .refreshment with the Cameron
tribe, who flatter his vanity, pander to
iufrmities, and sympatkize with his re-
fined tastes. Congress adjourned some
thing more than two months ago, and this
is the fourth absence for mere personal
qualification. :. During that time the whole
country has been kept anxious about the
disturbed condition Of Louisiana, and the
guerrilla warfare Of the Modocs, in which
some of the best and brayest Of our SOL
diers. have fallen. But neither Of these
causes affected the President. He turned
his back upon them as annoying cares,
which should be- thrust aside for: lndiyid-
ual pleasure. !: INTACT; General Grant can
not be brought to take any interest in, or
feel the. least concern for the stern duties
of his great Office. He has never yet re.
allied, even approximately, the, nature OF
the trnstsN AichShe holds, and1willneyer
learn to Appreciate them, because the has
neither the capacity nor the inclination
which is indispensable. The Presidenry,
to his view, is an honor anda pension for
military services. He treats it in tb"t
sense, striving to convert the place into
the most profit, and to use the power in
personal rewards.
Daiiy dntYthoughtfsl attention, care
fnl.eeiatihy and ,sapetyising vigilance are
al 6istastelul to his ordinary mind and to
the habits of an indoltnt life which he has "a
cultivated since coming TO the White
House. With limited knowledge Of pub
lie affairs, no taste for study. aversion for
books, and dislike Of the society of supe-
riorsnler, it is wholly impossible that he
cam have any just nlea OF his responsiblli-
ties. AS necessary consequence, the
great business OF the Government falls in
to the hands OF Cabinet who are uI,
without exception, The mere instruments
Of his will. He selected mediocrity that
he might not be ovcrtopped, and would
be obeyed And he has not yet been dis
appointed. From Hamilton Fish, up or
down, there is not man i'll the concern
with the slightest elevation Of character,
with anv breadth of intelligence, with q
particle of true American feeling. or with
out stain OH the Office which he occupies.
The foreign policy OF this country is really
directed by Bancroft Davis and Caleb
Gushing, one of whom stands branded as
bribe taker, and the otner is advertised,
like tie ships Of former time, as always
up for Cowes and q market The re
cent proclamation in regard 10 louisiana
is properly countersigned by ]. c. E. Da
Wis, the bribe taker as actin. Secretary OF
State. lie put together the audacious
(alseLooJs of which that official document
is composed, and II was iis that man
should attest it,whose regard for truth
is only measured by .the price which that
article will fetch in open market.
1t is supposed that common decency,
in the absence of higher motive, would
have prompted the President, since his
salary has been doubled to manifest, at
least in the external forms, some little re
gard for his public duties. The contrary
effect has. been produced. He is more
negligent, Indifferent and defiant OF public
opinion now than at any previous time.
It would seem that he takes pains to pub
Hsh his contempt Of all propriety by will
full disregard Of every just expectation
and luucketing journeys that have been
attended with disgraceful scandal wherev-
he has gone. The accounts furnished the
S4aa, from various points in the West,
where the President was seen in a depfor:
able condition, are strictly true, as is well
known- here 1t is sad to say, but there
! is no use of Disgusting fact which Is
notorious, that the habit Of intemperance
which compelled Captain Grant to retire
from the army, and which clung to hin
long afterwards, and which, to his credit
be It said, he partially conquered at one
time, has returned upon him with oil the
force Of a revied passion. He is drinking
hard, constantly, and in the worst way, 80
as to excite :thegrapest fears Of his family
and friends. While Gen. Dent was at the
White House he was always vigilant to
prevent exposures of this vice. Close
familv ties were superadded to personal
devotion in concealing it from general OBJ
servation. Butrecently no such friendly
guardianship has been exercised, all re-
straint appears to have been thrown; off
and hundreds Of people: have been: apwal
ing witnesses Of General GRANTS degreda
ton in public places. His frequent ab;
scnces from the Capital are explained
chiefly by desire for this glo's lnlul'
oance among boon companions, from some
Q; the checks that still exist here. and re
moved from eyes that are saddened BY
such distressing exhibitions. His OWE
household and his immediate friends are
naturally most concerned about the result
of habit which he apparently lacks the
moral courage to resist He belongs te
that unfortunate class of drinkers whc
are maddened with inordinate thirst foa
the first taste, and never stop until sunk
in disgusting stupor. BY. nature stolie
and obstinate, this passion overcomes any
sense. Of self-respeet, so thafofcial dignity
| is cast asidefora morbid indulgence, which
takes.nnnote,of time, or.plaGe. ~
This in6rnlty has long-been we'll knowr
| to many Of Gen. Grants chief supporters
He had ,made it visible pns one Sabbath
especiahyNto various congregations leaving
their placesof: worship, inNtfIis scity:f !ano
| Others wsre.on3y. top fanibar with repeat:
/ ed proofs of his weakness. The facts coulc
not lie hidden, so the Christian statesmen
| and temperance leaders Of the Wilson ane
Colfax school, who assumed chatge Of al
the moral ideas, get together and put hip
| on probation. They then certified thai
he was the victim Of calumny, while somi
of.them in private admitted what every
body knew, but thoughtsit too;hte to Te'
treat. And. if the Credit Mobilier hac
! netblastea the reputation ofthese eantine
knaves. who made hypocrisy trade. they
would s:cheerfuliy certify himencc more
though knowing that he has broken pledge
| after pledge, is confirmed in the habits o
periodicaLinto1ieatioh. and is fast fumhsne
mo the ruts of 3 daily drnnkard. Thi'
| is hard to saw of the Chief Magistrate, bu