Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1876-04-21

practical sagacity has been so often indicated
by results. When he writes about American
politics, Mr.. Weed writes of what he knows
all about for no man has had more TO do
with them, in his day, than he; and when
he declares that at no period in his life has
he ever been $50 anxious about good govern
ment, for in no period of our History has
reform in this respect been so much needed"
and that only BY the nomination Of our
ablest and best men can Republican aseen-
deney be maintained, his words are not to be
lightly needed Mr.. Weed has recently sent
to his old paper, the Albany Ersning Jour
nal, his views of the political situation He
says
We came out Of the war with England, in
1915, honorably, but crippled and impover-
isned. Except that the Generalization was
far less fearful, we were as badly of then as
when the war of the rebellion terminated.
But in three years, with wise and good men
at the helm and on the lookout, the Ship Of
State. with full and flowing canvas, had
taken G new departure on long and pros
porous voyage. A protective tariff, with an
| economical and honest administration OF the
government under James Madison, James
Monroe and John Quincy Adams. brought
palmy DAYS, with increasing wealth 10 the
people and strength 10 the country. Uiti-
matel7, by an ill-omened union between Dem
ocracy and Slavery, these measures and poll
cies were repudiated. Then ensued twenty
years Of misrule. eliminating finally in Il
rebellion which wiped out both Democracy
and Slavery. This great result. however,
cost much more than the blood and treasure
shed and expended IL Its accomplishment.
The complete triumph over rebellion did not
''trammel up its consequences. We are
suffering from wounds now less endurabie
than those inflicted during the war, while
We are threatened with Others in the form OF
claims" from rebellious States, which Will
/ if recognized, bring the Government to in
eyitable bankruptcy. In the hope Of forcin.
these reasonable claims through Congress,
rebellion afhiiates with Democracy. And
thus the issue f1r the approaching Presiden-
/ tia canvass Is made up.
The elections OF 1874 resulted in the re
| turn Of Northern Democrats and Southern
/ Rebels enough to constitute majority IN the
/ House Of Representatives These elements
/ fraternized and the use they made Of their
power in casting IL shadow before" teaches
3 lesson not likely TO he forgotten. A prom
| inent and Jealous Traitor. whose hatred 10
/ the Mon prompted him to give the name Of
/ Nh Lincoln assassin 10 his son. was Er-
| pointed Secretary 80 the Standing Committee
] I'D hfaura
/ twelve manned | Mon Soldiers were removed
/ TO make places for g many Rehel politicians
I " 18th such 8 beginning, supplemented hv
/ the speeches OF Rebel Generals Gordon and
/ Hill. II l. evident that the followers OF JET
I iers0u DAVIS expect to recover. ny p0litica
strategy. what they lost by 3 resort TO arms
Forewgrncd. therefore. Of the character
| and intentions OF their adversary the friends
| Of the mon ought and / doubt not. vii
| forearm themselves for the contest In view
I Of the importance Of that contest and Of the
intensity Of feeling and effort which it viii
I awaken, Il behooye- the Republican party
shak Ing If a. Iucum1rances. 10 seek and oc-
cupy IL ligaes, vantage ground IL cannot
be denied, nor can VT afford . conceal the
fact. that the present administration ha-
failed 10 justify the expeditions Of the poo
pie, or even o. realize the hopes % it, best
friends
There were difficulties. however, 10 Gen
era. Grant wav. which ~ amount Of Wis
dom c0uid avoid The "cauker- % O.
.ong way had eaten INTO the heart % ,as Ia
ton Decentralization. public and private.
had become almost universal. Guy country
was doomed 20 pas through ardeal- % fraud
and corruption. described hv Sir William
peuvs au1 Lord Macaulay. bv wnic1 Ing
laud was So long dishcn0rec and on account
Of which the English people were Oppressed
ty crushing anu lnexlrlole taxation. 10 his
encounter vi;h these difficulties. General
Grant has not been fortunate HIS cabinet.
D. whole. was not wisely chosen and
when vacancies occurred BE original mis-
take We're not corrected. The late \ Zee
Pres deni W i.s1n appealed often and earnestly
T. the President IL favor of eievaiinE and
strengthening his Administration, hy asso-
eating WITH Governor Fish. Cabinet Minis
ter- OF large experience. recognized talent
and pronounced integrity Bat al such al
TFa-s were disregarde-. The financial de-
par,meut Of the Government. through G
crisis requiring the exercise OF the highest
intelligence anc the mos; iufe15.e inje-rl-
". Wa placed into the hands u an utterly
inc1mpeteu; man. Nlr while evidences 81
Nj Richardson's incapacity were NANTES;
and multiplied woulc General Grant listen,
until ior this and other obstinate reiusals
10 regard the popular VII, his eyes were
opened nv the disastrous defeats sustained
ty the Republican party 10 ls74 But even
that 0uinOu, lesson failed 70 awaken the
President 10 8 Just and ial sense OF bis high
responsibility. Other and equally vital re-
forms were demanded and refused Early 10
the tr~; wears Of General Grants admins
t-suon, Governor Cox, Of Ohio, retired from
the Interior Department flr some reason IN
known 70 the people. Nothing was then OF
has been since alleged a-ains, him HIS
successor. Ny. De.ano. came into office wiki
i good character and clean record both
Of which, however, were soon lost Bat a.
II the case OF Mr. Richardson. the President
refused 70 listen 70 TIE numerous and dam
aging accusations against Mr Delano For
many months after that gentleman felt con
STRAIN TO tender his resignation. the Presi-
dent perverselv refused or neglected 10 &C I
cept ~, and only yielded TO al indignant
popular demand. seconded By other mem
hers Of his Cabinet. ! do not care 10
dwell upon recent and still more startling
oficial de.inquencies. There is little or no /
mpensaii0u il the circumstance that our .
fallen Secretary % War found discredItAble .
examples for ms misconduct in the whole /
sale traffic II Offices by the English Ministers .
Of War during the reigns Of the Georges. /
These dellnQuencies constitute, in the az
gregate. burden under the weight OF which I
DO Administration can stand. Happily how
ever, the Republican party Is stronger than
it, Administration. But 1t must not incum-
Der Itself with the 3bIoquy that attaches 10
Official misconduct Il cannot afford 10 de
fend OF excuse the errors Of the President,
or the frauds Of his appoiutees. In return
for the great service rendered TO the Gov
ernmeni and the Union, in putting down
fearful Rebellion, and overthrowing an in
stitution which occasioned it. the people
will 60 far and do much TO sustain and
perpetuate Republican rule Public con
hdence ID the meantime mus not be too
severely tried, or too heavily taxed. Men
are fallIble, and may, a. they often do, tall
but principles are indestrueuble. The Re
publican party will survive the overthrow
Of it. unworthy Representatives, provided
always that the party l. prompt and
in it. publications. We should
be quick 10 discern, and a ready to re-
buke the dishonesty Of officials in our own
patty as in the party OF our opponents In
this way only can Republicans hope 70 main
tain their Ascendancy for much more Is
expected Of US than Of our opponents.
see no reason, If our ablest and best
men should be nominated for President and
ice President. to doubt the success Of the
Republican ticket in the approaching elee-
ton. | rely as confidently upon the in
lerent weakness OF the Democracy as upon
he inherent strength q our own party.
Rebellion, though subdued in the field exists
u the heart Of jefferson Davis, and such Of
ais follower as find their way into Con-
,ress. Their hatred. their exactions and
heir aggressinns will prove as offensive now
Is they were defiant during the last years OF
he existence of slavery. Democracy, there
mo in pnq lescir- with the parfv of Letter