Pioche daily record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1872-1876, 1876-04-04
A BoOrLEss TASK,


Aproltlrss inquiry is being made by
the House Of Representatives into the
number and nature OF the official acts
performed by tho President at places
other than the national capital. There
is no doubt whatever that President
Grant set very bad example when he
absented himself as he did for leng thened
periods from Washington. 1t showed
very distinctly that the incumbent Of the
Presidential Chair regarded his great
Office, not as sacred trust, but merely
as a means OF gratifying bis personal
wishes for cmolument and distinction.
While that may be conceded il Is now
too near the close Of his term to ritter
away the time Of the National Legisla.
ture IN making inquisits ~ 10 what the
President did at Long Branch, st. Louis
or other places. He did just what he
pleased for the time icing. In reply to
structures and censures II was commended
by his followers that il was right and bis
privilege to crafty his own notions.
Having done SO and enjoyed himself. to
the top Of his bent IL ia useless to again
rake up the matter. 1t is probably o
good thing for the country in one point
Of view. for the recklessness evinced by
the utter disregard Of public opinion
has done much toward exercising the
specter OF tho "third term" II the
President had shown high.souled dignity
In putting aside mere mercenary benefits
for himself and the long array Of his
kith and kin; II no had consulted with
scrupulous care and respected the tradi-
tons Of his illustrious Office; il be
had shown IN earnest and constant de-
sire to enforce tho laws impartially
and not convert them to the furtherance
OF merely partisan or personal purposes,
General Grant would at this moment
have stood before the country as n candi.
date. whom the Republican party must
have nominated and the people would
probably have reelected. From such a
disaster. for disaster II would have been
to have broken the sacred tradition OF
which the foundation was laid by the
immortal Washington; from such q dis.
aster the country was saved by the fla
grant errors committed by the Preside emit.
Those errors. il is more than likely, we're
most Of them concocted at the favorite
cottage by the sea. In the luxurious re-.
treat, though fully provided by tho jovial
Murphy. under less sedato and decorous
influences than are supposed to prevail
at Cabinet meetings at Washington. it Is
very possible that the Santa Domingo
scheme. the appointment Of whole
souled fellow.liks Shepherd, or the
sights to be thrown ut impraciicables
like Sumner or Schurz or Greeley wero
discussed and determined. These SYM
posiums thus enjoyed at distance from
the seat OF Government were, after all,
beneficial to tho country, and caused i'm.
prudent officials to fall into mistakes
which demonstrated either their inca.
pacity or unfaithfulness. Therefore. oil
things considered. Congress does not do
well to bestow time on trifes which,
though in themselves reprehensible, their
effects have ceased to exercise any influ-
ence on national affairs. In few years.
II Murphy lives SO long, that astute wire
puller will be celebrating with himself
as to whether after all the presentation
of the cottage by the sea was good in
vestment.