American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1874-03-21
Five Years Of Grant.


1t Is Ave years ago to day since Ulysses
8. Grant entered upon his career as Presi-
dent of the United States. Five years is
not long period, but in this age OF the
world SO rapid is the development of ideas
and the succession of events that half a
decade is of more importance than half q
century was in the olden time. The pres
ent incumbent of the Executive chair has
therefore had larger opportunity to
stamp his individuality upon the nation
and its institutions than the most of those
predecessors who have completed two Of
Acial terms. And 1t is the nature and
tendency of this individuality which we
desire To make the subject of remark.
President Grant assumed his high pO
sition under the most favorable auspices.
He had been the hero of great war, and
the successes achieved in the field were so
marked in character and SO fruitful In
great results that 1t seemed both natural
and proper to crown him with the SUI
premest honors of the Republic. His nom-
nation was considered by all parties as
equivalent TO election; the opposition
ticket was predestined to defeat from the
beginning, and the verdict Of the ballot
box was cheerfdlly acquiesced in by the
whole people. His political friends felt
that he fully merited the splendid reward
bestowed, and his political opponents gen.
orally believed that the interests of the
country would be secure in the hands of
. man who had done so much to save it.
and who had every possible incentive to
faithfully and conscientiously discharge
the vast responsibilities laid upon him.
The fact that he was no politician was of
eyes of many. They argued-and very
reasonably. too-that q man of common
sense and common honesty, when brought
face 10 face with duties of which he was
practically ignorant would be likely to
err, il at all, ON the side of safety. He
might. it was thought, be guided too
closely BY established precedent and inn
memorial usage; follow too rigidly the
example of those who had gone before
him, and so sacrifice q brilliant Admins
tration for the sake Of having consistent
and irreproachable one. 1t was supposed,
Of course, by all that he would take
special care to surround himself with
able, experienced and upright counselors
who possessed the entire confidence of the
people, 20 that his own acknowledged de-
aciencies could be supplied by their
abundant wisdom Thus heralded by
popular good will and popular faith, by
earnest hopes and bright expectations, by
everything which could stimulate noble
effort and inspire purity Of purpose, Pres
ident Grant began his course.
Looking back over these i've years, and
studying their record by the light of calm
reason and impartial justice, one thing at
least must be sdmitted1that they have no
counterpart in national history. Whether
We examine our foreign or domestic pol
icy; ur civil service 1t home or abroad
the principle, or lack of principle, which
has governed the greatest a. well a. the
smallest appointments; the relations be-
tween the President and Congress, Or BE-
tween the President and the people; or
the general style, tenor and point
of the Executive Department-there is
which to compare them We have had
other Presidents Who were ignorant, but
never . President who apparently
was satisfied to remain ignorant; other
Presidents who did not know, but never
ono who did not care; other Presidents
who mixed incongruous elements In their
Cabinets, but never one who al
lowed everything else in his Cab
met except brains; other Presi-
omces to relatives and personal friends,
but never one who assumed that his re-
lations and his favorites had an lnaliena-
BILE and undeniable right 70 Office; Presi-
dents who dispensed patronage carelessly,
but never one who dispensed itimpudent
ly and shamelessly; Presidents who now
and then transgressed the organic law.
y
get there was any law above his own in
clination; Presidents who grew poor
while in Office, but never one who 20 man.
aged his affairs a. to rapidly grow rich |;
Presidents who were too easily swayed by
public opinion, but never ono who treated
public opinion with absolute and uncon-
cealed contempt; Presidents who failed
to comprehend the dignity Of the place
they filed, but never one who used that
vnv~ fH NJ Hn
property; Presidents who did nothing to
elevate the standard of public morality,
but never one who has systematically de
graded and debauched it.
II the influences set in motion during
the last i've years, and which will doubt
les remain unchanged during the next
three, would cease with the rnmoval of
their originator, the injury Inflicted
might be serious but not wholly repa-
rahle. II Is painfully certain, however,
that in q country like this Of ours mis-
government of the sort We are now en-
during leaves behind it . heritage of evil
consequences which never can be wholly
shaken of. In . Republic much more
readily and rapidly than in q Monarchy
abuses harden into unwritten laws, and
the processes Of corruption become, as it
tutions which it is their mission
TO destroy. President Grant has
not merely demoralized the Govern
ment to far greater extent than all of his
predecessors combined, but he has
pushed that decentralization to . point
where hereafter it will, so to speak, run
itself Things which surprised and dis
gusted rs i've years ago excite neither
surprise nor disgust now, simply because
we are accustomed to them. The wrong,
the infamy is there, but we do not see it
or feel 1t Is we once did. The popular
conscience has been scared, the popular
sensibilities have been blunted, the pop
ular respect for Justice and decency has
been weakened, and we are fairly started
upon path which may land US where we
can find no space for repentance, though
we seek 1t carefully and with tears."-St.
Louis Republican. March 4.
The New Rebellion.
tFrom the Chicago Tfibune.]
There il firing all along the line In the