The Rock Island daily Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1872-1873, 1873-11-14
Frand and nFnilnra

What has Mr. Grants administration
done for the country % enttle it TO our
gratitude or our respect Where are the
conspicuous monuments Of great deeds,
either at home or abroad Where are
the evidences of its cOmprehensiyeness of
its sagacity, Of its power?
Are these evidences Of its success IN be
found in its management of the finances
To-day there is a great, a pervading, and a
deadly paralysis upon our business. The
resources OF the country are boundless, and
yet our workshops are idle. There is star
walton In the midst Of a plenty that is alb
sOlutely without limit The banks are
struggling with vast difficulties, and dis
trust pervades every department of com
merce We are people dying with thirst
in the very midst Of cool fresh water so
vast in its dimensions that it loses itself in
the horizon. We are starving while all
about us are the materials of feast suf.
hciently plenteous 10 supply the wants ola
world, Our currency is deprecated our
business men are alarmed our fnanciers
at the head of affairs are weak violating
and indecisiye. Our bonds are not nego-
table in foreign markets; and with a
country behind it, whose wealth is without
limit, the administration is unable to sell
our securities, or even to stop the increase
of the public debt.
Are the evidences Of the success of this
administration to be found in the high
character, the unconquerabe integrity,
the efficiency of its employees? There
never was an area in the history Of our
government when there existed onc-hali
the corruption and lack Of ability charac.
teristic Of the presidency Of L. 5. Grant.
Dishonesty is the rule, integrity the excep-
ton. The Caseys, Harpers, Leets, Stock
iugs, and the like are the representative
agents of the administration. The Jay
Cooke and Cleweses are the financial sym
bols of its value Nepotsm and corrup
ton are Sound hand III hand, from tn,
black mailers Of the custOm-house to tn,
petty thieves in the post offices Congress
men have voted themselves back pay, anC
forward pay, and Grant himself has beef
the foremost figure in this raid on tn
treasure of the people The scandalou
operations of the Credit Mobilier organiza
tons have included the purchase of me-
who are high IN the counsels and the con
fidences Of the federal head while tn
chief executive has not hesitated To accep
rich gifts, 10 engage in jobs, like that {
ers 10 the furtherance of discreditabl
gambling movements In Wall street.
l. il in the wise Craftsmanship Of thi
administration that we find evidences
its worth? The south is not yet paciiie(
Indeed every effort has been made towar
irritation instead of paclfication, and th
whole south is manipulated solely with r,
ference to future elections, The rich pull
lie domain has fallen into the hands Ut
few overgrown corporations. In every d
rection, financial, commercial, and lande
mOnopolies have sprung into existence, an
have been fOstered by the administrative
until they constitute an oppressive oil.
archy, which rules the country TarIf
have been doubled and quadruplod, unit
the country is forced TO pay four or ii,
times as much for an article as it won
were il permitted to buy where it pleas,
ia the markets of the world.
Is it To our foreign policy that VIC mu
look for a vlndication Of the ability of NJ
Grant2 If So where shall we find VIII,
is wanted? We we're overreached at G.
neva, we have been snubbed by Canad
persistently insulted by Mexico, disgrace
at Vienna, and outraged through the mu
der and imprisonment Of our citizens /
Cula. There is not capital in EuroI
where our representatives have risen abON
medlocFity, and there are dozen whcl
they have sunk tO the level Of vulgar pa
venues, or that OF cheodliers d iRdustrI
IRON Manitoba n Mexico, aud from Il
baltic sea to the Mediterranean, we Loo
i ~ VAN Ior single evidence Of an exhii