American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1874-02-21


OF every quill and feather;
And now they think To make it good
by taxin us the greater,
When they had orter all be shot
clean from the realms q Natur
Grant Looking for Third Term-Re-
publican DISCRIMINATION.
When Vice-President Wilson was here
for few days, recently, he had frank
talk with General Grant, and told him n
so many words that unless the whole
course of his Administration was changed
at once and the eXcrescences cut of the
Republican party would be worse beaten
in 1876 than Greeley was in 1872. This
is almost the text of the admonition as
subsequently, repeated by Mr.. Wilson
himself
The President did not much admire the
candor of this declaration, and naturally
sought TO cast the odium and responsible
ity of the internal strifes upon others.
Still he was made to realize that most of
the trouble was laid at his doors, especial
ly in regard TO Louisiana and the ap-
pointments that had provoked such gen
eral discomfort in the country.
One effect of this plain interchange of
opinions was the announcement that the
President would send a special message
to Congress, receding from some of his
former errors in regard to Louisiana, and
shaping new policy after the good ex-
ample suddenly set in Texas. This
paroxysm of reform, however, did not
last long; and the promised message is
another contribution to that warm locality
which is said to be paved with good in
tentions. The Presidents zeal soon
cooled, as he prefers his ease and in
creased pay to any reward of favorable
opinion that might follow an effort such
as was hoped for.
General Grant has relapsed into his old
ways and feels little if any interest in
public affairs. He trusts TO his luck and
takes the chances. Knowing that rivals
are at work for the succession, he encour-
ages their jealousy of each other, with a
dim hope that something may turn up to
make him political necessity again.
Looking to that remote possibility, he
has been holding conferences with the
Confederate raider, Mosby, whom he re-
CARDS as power capable of consolidating
the Southern vote behind him as so much
independent capital for third term.
This delusion will probably not pass
away until General Grant finds himself out
in the cold, like John Tyler, with cor
poral's guard TO represent the Administra-
ton.
In separating from the President and
| shouting so loudly again the familiar
war cry in Louisiana, Mr.. Morton has
been governed by two motives, one per
sonal and the other political, which are
little understood by the public, and have
much significance, considering his posi-
| ton and power as leader.
After the two failures to make an ac-
| ceptable Chief Justice it occurred to
some of the Presidential aspirants that
Mr.. Morton might be removed from the
| field of competition by being shelved in
this honorable place. 1t is known that
his family favored the suggestion because
| his health is evidently wearing fast under
the constant mental and physical strain
disease. And he himself exhibited no
| reluctance when the idea was thrown out
| as a feeler.
This movement originated in quarters
which seemed TO be a guaranty for its
success, and it obtained currency in the
newspapers at the time when the Presi
dents mind was unsettled as to an ulti
| mate choice. Under these circumstances
the appointment of Mr.. Waite produced
no ordinary sensation here, for it not only
upset the programme, but left Mr.. Nor
ton in the attitude of one who had been
publicly canvassed for the vacancy. and
had been even approached on the subject
without ever having had the opportunity
to say that he had declined the honor
OF course he was mortified, piqued and
| resentful at this treatment, in view of his
former relations to the President and his
acknowledged authority in the party
The proposed compliment was converted
into an insult, which Mr. Morton has not
forgiven and is not likely to forget. And
this personal fact has taken a political
direction, which may involve serious re
suits, because the Senator from Indians
has boldly antagonized the policy advo
Gated by Mr.. Carpenter, which, when first
conceived, certainly found favor at the
White House.
The Republicans are divided ard left
| without any positive, matured or fixed
policy. On the vital question of finance
which now engrosses the largest share O
| attention, they are worse than mixed one
faction being for the biggest initiation, an
other for a more moderate system of bal
looming, and third for return to specie
payments at some day in the distant flu
ture, when this generation shall have
ceased to feel any further interest in tina
fiscal problem.
So, too, on the tariff There is the or
ganized force of monopolists, backed by
wealth and possession, against the clam
Orous advocates OF low duties and no du
ties, who, however, take the sop thrown
to them and accept the situation. In re
gard to retrenchment and economy, tn,
Western Republicans sputter through tn
Congressional Record, pare away the trifle
and allow the existing laws" which au
thorize all the extravaganza to stand I'm
touched, waiting for the panic to pas
away that prodigality may have fresl
start.
The civil service is only a contrivanc,
to keep up costly commission, by which
MIR. Shellabarger and his colleagues ma,
draw large salaries and fasten a new bu
reau on the Treasury, just as if there wcr'
not more than enough of these unsightly
excrescences already, which like SO man,
tumors are sucking out the substance o
the body polite.
On every other subject of public i'm
pertance there is visible similar distrac
ton in the Republican ranks in Congress
All sentiment of union and harmony ha
passed away. A crisis is upon the party
in which every conspicuous man is look
; ing out for himself, casting up the chance
and preparing for a new order of things
which all know to be inevitable-Wash
ington (F'eb. 81 Cor. N. y. Sun.
, A Talk About Food.