The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1876-03-14
BELKNAP'S FALL AND THE RE-
PUBLICAN PARTY.
From the N Y. Herald, March 5th.l

FROM the N i. Herald, March 9TH.
General Grant is responsible
for the condition of affairs which
bears fruit in the downfall of
his Minister. We can trace the
whole tree of corruption back to
his idea that the Presidency
was a personal possession and
not a trust. The theory Of rep
resentative government in Eng
land and the United States until
the time of Grant was that the
Cabinet should be a council of
statesmen representing the par
ty, men experienced in the du-
ties of administration who pos
sessed the confidence of the peo-
pie, and whose accession to
Office would satisfy the demands
of the party. By this means the
government was kept near to the
people. Cabinet officers felt
that Their promotion in the party
and their chances of advance
ment before the country depend
ed upon their devotion to the
public welfare. TWAS not mere
~ a chief they served but a par
ty and the country. The Presi-
dent brought into his Office the
dangerous and extraordinary
idea that he was to command the
country as he commanded the
army. 1t was a personal Office.
Republication became Grant
ism. The fuction of the repub-
lican party ceased when it elect
ed him President, just as in
Bonaparte's times the fuction of
the French people ceased when
they voted a PLEBIscITUM. He
gave Offices to supporters as Ma
poleon was wont to give his
crosses Of honor to reward per-
sonal services. Having laid down
his pernicious principle he first
called to his Cabinet men who
had been his cronies and who
had made a pleasant personal
impression upon him. Then he
quartered his relatives and fat
terers upon the public Treasury
wherever he could find room for
them-from Kremer, who was
made a Minister, down to the
Dent who, we believe, still owns
a swindling trade store in New
Mexico. Having done this, and
to strengthen himself with the
only power he had to fear, the
Senate. he began at once to de
bauch it with patronage. Sena
tors vera shamelessly tribed
until the whole republican ma.
.jority was debauched with pow.
er and place. Every republican,
Senator became a creature OF
the President. Wherever WE
look in the country We find the
federal Offices filled with the
friends and tlatterers of Senators
The roll call in New York is lit
tie more than the roll call of tn.
| friends of Mr.. Conklinr. IT
Pennsylvania we have no one il
Office who cannot swear allegi
ance to the tribe. of Cameron
So down the whole blue book W,
have a list of the offices which
have been used by a despoti,
and arbitrary President to de
grade the Senate.
This degraded republican Senate
and every Senator has the Presi
dents patronage in his pocket lik,
a brihe, became the coarse, duml
accomplishing register OF his will
1t is only worthy to be ranked will
the Senates of the latter Roman EN-
pire. When the President at th,
outset of his administration asked
the Senate to allow him to violate
law to 0blige friend, there was Onl,
one Senator, the lamented and illus
trions Sumner, who dared to say il
his place that the dignity of Law
was even higher than the within Of :
President OF the United States. Til,
example was soon forgotten. Ever,
creature Grant sent into the Senat,
was confirmed. The only time whe,
independence was shown was whel
the President forgot to oblige som,
Senator like the Garnet. bapppr West