Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1876-04-20

| iIduu duu COFTuptiOu, uescrlDeQ Dy eli
William Papys and Lord Macauley, by
which England was so long dishonor-
ed, and on account of which the Eng
lish people were opposed by crushing
and memorable taxation. In his en-
counter with these difficulties, Gen
eral Grant has not been fortunate.
His Cabinet, as a whole, was not
wisely chosen /; and when vacancies
occurred, his original mistakes were
not corrected. The late Vice Presi-
dent Wilson appealed often and earn
estly to the President in favor of
elevating and strengthening his ad-
ministration, by associating with Gov
ernor Fish, Cabinet Ministers of large
experisnce, recogoized ia ent and pro-
nounced integrity. But al such APP
peals were disregsrded. The fnan-
cial department Of the Government,
through the crisis requiring the exer-
else Of the highest intelligence and the
most inffexible integrity, was placed
in the hands of an utterly incompe-
tent man. Nor while evidence Of Mr.
| Richardson's incapacity were mani
fest and multiplied would General
Grant listen, until for this and other
obstinate rofusals to regard the pop
ular will, his eyes were opened by
the disastrous defeats sustained by
the Republican party in 1874. But
even that ominous lesson failed to
awaken the President to just and
full sense of his high responsibility.
Other and equally vital reforms were
demanded and refused. Early in the
first year of General Grants Admin
istration Governor Cox, of Ohio, re
tired from the Interior Department
for some reason unknown to the peo-
pie. Nothing was then or has been
since alleged against him. His sue
cessor, Mr. Delano, came into office
with a good character and clean re-
cord both of which, however, were
Richardson, the President refused to
listen to the numerous and damaging
accusations against Mr.. Delano. For
many months after that gentleman
felt constrained to tender his resigna-
ton, the President perversely refused
or neglected to accept it, and only
yielded to an indignant popular de-
maud, seconded by the other members
of the Cabinet. | do not care to
dwell upon recent and still more
startling official delinquencies.
There is little or no compensation
| 81, -, Of hot follot,
Secreatry of War found discreditable
examples for his misconduct, in the
wholesale traffic in offices by the Eng
lish Ministers of war during the
reigas of the Georges These delin-
quencies constitute, in the aggregate,
a burthen under the weight Of which
no Administration can stand. Hap
PLY, however, the Republican party
is stronger than it's ADMINISTRATION But
it must not incumber itself with the
obloquy that attaches to official mis-
conduct. 1t cannot afford to defend
or excuse the error of the President,
or of frauds of his appointees. In re-
turn for the great service rendered to-
the Government and the Union, in
putting down fearful rebellion, and
overthrowing an institution which oc-
casioned it, the people will go far and
do much to sustain and perpetuate
Republican rule. Public confidence
in the meantime must not be too
severely tried, or too heavily taxed.
Men are fallible, and may, as they
often do, fall but principles are in
destruotible The Republican party
will survive the overthrow of its un
worthy representatives, provided
always that the party is prompt and
thorough in its publications. We
should be quick to discern, and as
ready to rebuke the dishonesty of Of
ficials in our own party as in the party
of our opponents. In this way only
can Republicans hope to maintain
their ascendency for mach more is
expected Of US than of our opponents.
I see no reason, if our ablest and
best men should be nominated for
President and Vice President, to
doubt the success of the Republican
ticket in the approaching election. |
rely as confidently upon the inherent
weakness of the Democracy as upon
the inherent strength of our own party.
While, in the past, much has been
done to weaken the Republican party,
It's opponents have only taken spas
modic advantages. Governor Tilden
inaugurated his administration by a
bold and praseworthy demonstration
against ring of canal contractors
by whom the State had been system
aticaily defrauded for twenty years of
at least so per cent. of the millions
appropriated for the repairs, improve
ments and enlargement of our canal.
For this he deserved and received
the hearty approval of all men. But
by turning the result of an lnvestiga-
ton designed to punish fraud and to
protect the State Treasury, into
party channel to advance, as is alleg
ed and believed, personal aspirations,
he las lost the opportunity not only
of making himself stronger than his
party, but of rising to an elevation
which blends partisanship with pat
! T1otlSm.
Nor has the Democracy pro6ted
bv the circumstances which gave it
an ascendency in the preset House of
Representatives. They were indebt-
ed for that success to the faults and
follies of the administration. And in
that success what seemed strength
was proved weakness. Rebellion,
though subdued in the field, exists in
the heart of efferson Davis, and such
of his follow ers as find their way into
| Congress. Their hatred, their exac-
tons and their aggressions will prove
as offensive now, as they were defiant
during the last years of the existence
of slavery. Democracy, therefore,
| in coalescing with the party of Jeffer-
son Davis, can only hope for success
through the faulty or blindness of
the Republican National Convention.
| w