The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1875-07-15
The Long Branch Capital.

In defiance of law, which requires his pres
ence at Washington, and of propriety, which
forbids prolonged absence from the post of
duty: the President has carried out his we'll
known purpose of giving quasi official char
acter to his residence at Long Branch. A few
days ago Count Corti, the late Italian Minister
to the United States, was compelled to 60 from
the capital to the seaside, accompanied by
Mr. Cadwallader, the First Assistant Secretary
of State, in order to present his letters of re-
CALL
Thus one of the highest functions of the
Executive was performed far away from the
seat of Government, for no better reason than
because the President would not disturb his
ease by discharging that duty at the place de-
signated by law, and where every such act is
supposed to be executed. This incident is but
another of the many violent innovations on
the honored practices of the Government
which have marked the reckless career of
Grantisnl.
1t is the first example in our history of the
President receiving the representative of for
eign power formally, divested of all official
surroundings and remote from the capital. No
| king in Europe would venture to trife with
the attributes of his Office in this shameful
way, or to treat foreign minister with the
gross indignity shown to Count Corti, in COM
pelling him to leave Washington and follow
| thS President to a summer resort wholly un-
known to the law as an Executive residence.
Besides the personal qualification which
Grant derives from being at Long Branch,
with nothing to do except to enjoy the society
and share in the tastes of COZ ,enial compan-
ions, he takes very good care to combine busi-
ness with pleasure, and to make his stay there
source of profit to himself and his immedi-
ate circle of friends.
| In addition to the cottage which was pre-
sented to him by seven or eight gentlemen
owning large property at Long Branch, Grant
has become the owner of a second cottage,
now rented for the summer. He knows quite
as we'll as the hotel keepers and real estate
proprietors do, that the presence OF any Presi-
dent there will necessarily attract throng of
visitors and give certain degree of attraction
to the spot in the eyes of the curious and snob-
bish.
It follows naturally that the value of prop
erty is enhanced by this cause, just as crowd
is attracted to Barnum's by some sensational
novelty. Co.. Porter and Measurer Babcock,
who ..ele so poor five years ago that they and
others messed together at Washington for the
sake of economy, are the owners OF cottages
near the President. So is the poet laureate of
the Administration, George W. Childs, A. NJ,
proprietor of the Philadelphia Ledger. So are
many others known to fame.
The parties holding these interests at Long
Branch can very we'll afford to give Grant
house, and to stock his cellars every summer
with the best wines, liquors, and cigars, upon
condition that he will 60 there and give it the
reputation of being summer capital. Thou
sands of ofice-holders and others having pub
lie or private business with the President, and
multtudes of sight seers, will flock there, who
otherwise might never have gone near it..
So four months of the years for which the
people are required to pay double the salary Of
any former President, and four times the emol-
uments, are in this way turned to profitable
account by Grant and his friends. The Presi-
Dental office is thus converted into show and
a speculation.-M y Sun.