The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1874-06-05
Grants Insult 70 the Germans.

President Grant has shown his feelings
towards the Germans by his action In re-
gard to Engineer Cluss. lie mas zone
nothing in the whole course OF MS admin
istratiOu 80 thoroughly indicative of pur-
nose n be absolute in his possession and
exercise of power, and to regard nothing
but personal motives and the suggestions
Of his own caprice in appointments and re-
movals. Under any other administration
such an act would be pronounced delib-
crate and inexcusable outrage, not alone
upon the officer whose disgrace has been
attempted at the same time with his re-
moval, but upon public sentiment and COM
mon justice.
Here was Mr.. Cluss, witness on the
stand before q committee Of investigation.
His testimony implicated in fraudulent
transactions men who are known to be
President Grants intimate friends and as
sOciates. He had always hitherto borne q
good character as an honest citizen and a
faithful officer. He testified before COM
mittee made up of the friends of the per-
sons compromised by his statements; he
was subjected to merciless ross-examin-
alton by attorneys noted for bullying pro-
pensities, who had in their assault upon
him not only the silent sympathies but the
active aid aud cooperation of members OF
the committee who were sitting as judges
in the case. With no adequate motive fol
telling untruths, and an absolute certainty
of being discovered if he did, he seems tC
have narrated true and straightforward
story 1t was very damaging to the friend,
of President Grant in the Board of Pub
lie Works. These friends, instead of wait
ing, as honest men could well afford to do
to the conclusion Of the testimony and the
report OF the committee, met together, anC
in a boiling rage passed resolutions de
nouncing Mr.. Cluss as a perjurer, and de-
manding of the President his removal
This upon the face of it was not the trans.
action OF men actuated by sense Of jus
tice or conscious Of their own integrity.
But what does the President do? Doe,
he give Mr.. Cluss chance TO be heard
Does he wait till he has official knowledge
of Mr.. Cluss S testimony? Does he wal
till the committee has reported? Does n,
wait, indeed, until that gentleman has de
scended from the witness stand? Not
bit. Upon this infamous charge by mel
who themselves were accused Of crime
with nothing but their word in contradic
ton of Mr.. Cluss's sworn testimony, an(
before the witness had left the stand, tn
President approves their accusation of per
Jury, indorses it as substantiated, remove
from office the gentleman who has had tn
temerity to accuse his friends of fraud, AM
in his haste Of acquiescence in their de
mand violates an express statute law in tin
appointment Of a successor.
This is the President who so long refu
ed TO comply with the request of the re
spectacle people Of New York for the re
moval Of Mr. Thomas Murphy, and VIII,
retained Secretary Richardson in office un
Oil he could make him a Judge, becaus
he did not propose to answer public clamo
or remove an officer under charges. Tn
testimony in the District Of Columbia in
vestigation has satisfied all thinking, I'm
prejudiced men that there was rascality
fraud and corruption in the administrator
of District affairs The Administrator
organs, with the exception of one or tw
in Washington which shared the plumber
do not deny it. But the President an
proves charge Of perjury against a ger
tleman who has testified in the case, sin
ply because the District Ring assert tina
he testified falsely, and bundles him ont G
office without so much as hearing. Tai
about personal government This is per
sonal government Of the most irresponsible
and INSCRIPTIONS sort But the discussion
Of it Is as calm and dispassionate as thougI
it was Of no earthly consequence that Pres
ident Grant should give official indorse
ment to charge of perjury at the deman
Of personal friends who are themselves nc
cused of crime