Liberal Republican. [volume] (Dallas, Or.) 1872-1???, 1873-01-25

PPo" VA ouy CduoiuaLc
against the President seem unfaithful>
ness to the party. Under ordinary cir.
cumstances no member of the party
could expect to. succeed in a contest
with the head of the Administration
for the party nomination. Snch con-
fict inside the party in the face of
a powerful enemy, would expose It to
defeat. Therefore the party shuns such
O contest, and is led into q spirit of
intolerance toward competing aspirauts
and their supporters In the nature
Of things, while the President desires
denomination, it is practically inpossi.
BILE for any to compete with him, at
least until he has had the second term
which. in our traditions, is due to a
good President And besides all this
multitude 10 the Republican party
had that blind confidence in Grant
which the mass always have In their
leader in successful war. and that staed>
fast allegiance which grows out
of such relation, extended from mill
airy to to political triumph. Thus the
fact of the denomination is accounted
for, although there is iu the Republi.
can party, not excepting even those
public men who seem to be personal
adherents OF Grant, wide spread feels
ing of discomfort with him, and among
all the thinking classes feeling that
we need an elevation Of the character
Of the Administration The removal
OF outer pressure Of the election battle
will llberate this feeling aud give it re-
bounding energy Of expression which
it will be necessary for the President
TO heed, and which would be wise in
h'm to anticipate by giving signs that
he is alive to public scnsibilities. 1t is
necessary for free public journals which
desire tho success of the Administra,
ton should speak plainly on these mat
ters for the japanese Mika1o is not
more completely cut off from all hear
ing of unfavorable opinions of his
conduct on the part of his personal
supporters than is General Grant, The
power which a President possesses, aud
the fact that through his patronage he
holds the political fate of every Ad-
ministration Congressman in his hands
would to a great extent prevent any
President from hearing the truth from
those about him but it is we'll known
that this evil is increased by the dispo-
sition of President Grant, which
iuclnes him to regard with aversion
any one who speaks to him OF faults of
conduct.
IT may be that the character of the
Executive branch will rank with that
of the Legislative; but it ought to be
much above it. The Presidents broad.
er constituency, longer term of office,
and vast powers to control the party,
enable him TO take higher stand aud
to direct public opinion. The Member
of Congress travels, as Napoleon said
of an army. on bis stomach. He is
continually looking to his base; On
his chief coucern is stop the mouths of
supporters with Offices, to work the ma
chinery for his reelection. But the
President is lifted above these condi.
tions. He can have tone which will
make the Influence of the Administra.
ton elevating iu all branches of the
Government. If his tone is low, his
influence 10 powerful, to degrade the
and the entire public ser-
vice. He is responsible not only for
his administrative acts, but for his ex-
ample. It is not enough that he lets
things take their course. IF he be
not qualified to have on affirmative
policy in affairs. he may at least make
the executive Department an example
Of strict integrity of high sense of
duty, of a rigid sentiment of honor,
and of good manners, which are kin
to good morals.
It was unfortunate that Grant came
into office with the conspicuous gifts of
citizens to the successful General who
ia the line Of precedents was the com