The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-02-25
An Exploded Theory Of Govsrnmens.

An Exploded Theory OF GovsrnmenS.
People have not forgotten the peculiar
theory of government which originated
during the war, which was zealously advo-
ted while the war lasted, by the leaders
and organs of the Republican party, and
which is still maintained by that not very
numerous class who think the war is still
in progress. This theory assumed that all
the functions as we'll as the majesty of the
government were lodged In the person of
the president; that in some mysterious
way, unknown to the constitution and COM
nonsense, the chief magistrate had alb
sorbed within himself the legislative and
judicial departments, in addition to execu-
tive; that he was in short, an absolute
monarch to whom his subjects 1.-THE people,
were not only bound to render prompt
obedience, but profoundest reverence. 1t
is not more than twelve or fourteen years
: since in this city of st. Louis old citizens OF
unblemished character were arrested with
out process of law and thrown into prison,
charged with having spoken disrespect-
fully Of the president" that is, the gov
eminent" 1t was a species OF treason then
to criticise the conduct OF the man whom
the popular vote had invested with tenn
porary authority and nothing but speedy
overthrow of the rebellion prevented this
psrnicious principle from being firmly es-
tabEshed as part and parcel of our politi
cal system. Even now there are some
salvish souls who claim that the occupant
Of the White House rules by sort of d.
vine right, and that he is, to all intents
and purposes, the Alpha and Omega of
national authority. For the benefit of
these persons, who are never quite hap
by without a padlocked collar round their
necks, and to show the criminal folly of a
doctrine which was once made the excuse
for grievous oppression, we desire to brief
ly set forth the rather curious and high
ly instructive relations of the government
and the president at the present time.
The whisky ring was combination to
defraud the government. For years it
prosecuted its lniquitious schemes uncheck-
ed, robbing the public treasury of millions
and debauching the public service to an
extent which the country is only now just
beginning to realize. At last, by the
merest accident, thoroughly able and en-
ergetic man was appointed secretary of the
treasury. He soon discovered the ex-
istence of the ring, and without hesitation
or delay undertook its exposure and des-
truction. In this difficult and unpleasant
task he supposed he was representing the
government, he knew he was working for
the governments interests, and he expect
ed the hearty sympathy and support of
that government official who had taken a
solemn oath to execute the law of the land
without fear or favor. But from first to
last he has had to work alone. The
president, instead of standing side by side
with the secretary, and aiding and en-
couraging him in every possible way-as
he was in honor and duty bound to do
has thrown cold water upon the whole
business. While it seemed doubtful
whether one of the ringsters could be
caught, he said ''let no guilty person
escape but as soon as it appeared prob
able that all the ringsters would be caught,
he lapsed into sullen silence, and manifest
cd extreme disgust at the prospect of be-
ing taken at his word On frivolous
pretext he removed government attorney
who had distinguished himself too muct
iu preventing guilty person from escap
ing, and since then it has been well under
stood in administration circles that there
is painful lack of harmony between tht
president and the secretary; or, 10 othe
words, that the government as represent
cd by Grant, and the government a
represented by Bristow, are decided.
antagonistic The administration organs
quick to interpret the motion
Of the hand which filings them bones hav
opened in full cry against the pub
lie servant whose sole offence is his effort
to punish public robbers. And so W
have the strange spectacle of the govern
ment divided against itself-the persona
part dong all it can to embarrass tn
operations of that part which is endeayor
ing to protect the rights and property O
the people. just before the case now o.
trial began, the attorney general of th
United States wrote letter calculated t
prevent certain government witnesse
from testifying-precisely such letter a
suited the purposes of the RUG. Whe
called to account for it he says it was writ
ten at the Gictation of the president, en-
that the latter wanted the language mad
even stronger than it was! The govern
ment is prosecuting Gen. Babcocl before
United States court, and the president c
the United States, the head of the govern
ment, not only .testi6es strongly in his favo
as he has right to debut causes it t
be known everywhere and by everybod
that he believes Babcock an innocent an
injured man-which lie has no right to d.
Thus it comes to pass that the theory {
the government which prevailed durin
the war has been cffectually and finally eS
poded by the significant divorce PR
dueed through the whisky trials; an
thus, too, it comes to pass that the onl
force really fighting the whisky thieve
to-day is Benjamin ii. Bristow an
Bluford Wilson at Washington, an
District Attorney Dyer and his assistant
in st. Louis. The rest of the govern
ment" is either neutral or reinforcing th