The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-03-25
.go, an Office from which he was lately dismissed

cago an Office from which he was lately dismissed
for incapacity. Ae4 f |
81. He used the powerful influence of the adj
ministration to cause the passage of the habeas
corpus and force bill. measure fagrantly uncon-
stltutional, and, subsequent events have shown,
without the excuse Of necessity or expediency. Il
decency by retaining Mr. Delano in Office long after
the grossest scandals had been proved against him
and his subordinates in the alagement OF indian
affairs; and when at last compelled by ine dread on
losing an important election TO dismiss him ne |
gave him strong testimonial OF character ana ex
pressed his regret at parting with him.
80. In the prosecution of the whiskey thieves he
gave his countenance not to the honest officials |
doing their duty, but to the political gamblers and
with discovery.
| 40, When an honest but overzealous prosecuting
/ officer uttered words in the heat of argument at
which the president chose TO take offence, instead
of pardoning his words on the score OF bis honest
zeal for the public interesthe ordered MS smlssai
| al He kept near him in the most intimate ON
cial relations two men, Bsbcock and Luckey, when
both under grave suspicion OF compheHy III
| a. He restored Babcock to his place after trial
which did not in the general opinion clear ms
character of the gravest suspicious OF lnhdellty 10
public trusts and when the president in his own
| examination was compelled TO admit that lmpor-
tant papers had been concealed from MIN by MS
43, In his sworn testimony in defence Of General
Babcock he had the nsOence to say that he revoked
fine order of Mr. Bristow changing the supervisors
at his own WILL without consulting the. secretary,
and as though he was dictator.
~.
pnblic decency, unmoved by the fact that state
after state has been lost by the party which elected
him, because of his misconduct, he only few days
ago flung new defiance at the people by accept
ing, the moment it rendered, and with regret,
the resignation Of Mr.. Belknap, whose crimes had
already been made known to him.
: Is it extravagant, in view Of the acts we
= have recited above, to say that General
2 Grant has aimed, from the time he took
3 the presidential Office to the present day,
a to establish a personal government?
Other presidents have rewarded political
. services, but he has reserved his tavors
i exclusively for his personal adherents.
y Other presidents have made mistakes; but
e he alone has, in contempt of public opin-
Z ion, adhered to wrong policy after Its
= disapproval by his party and the public
j. became known. Other presidents have
quoted the constitution to excuse thell
d performance of acts distastetui to them
!, he alone has violated the constitution anc
t, set aside the laws at his own will. Other
e presidents before him have been charged
a with partisan use of public interests; bu
IN he alone has coolly robbed the treasury by
a. n moiety frauds and by the displacement o
1t trust funds abroad to reward his persona
d. adaerents. From the very beginning o
" his presidential career he has displayed Oh
u every possible occasion and in every posi-
r. BILE way his insolent contempt for law, TO
is congress and for his constitutional advis
is ers his reckless misuse OF the public ser
10 vice to further the private fortunes OF hi
as relatives and personal adherents, regardless
he of their fitness and honesty; his unscrupu
IN IN Gus and indecent greed for money; his IL
ability to understand constitutional limit;
ma ma tions; his disregard of the civil power an
20 propensity to act with the military pOwe
nd and iii the arbitrary methods OF dictator
nj nj Our aim has been TO show by the prime
ri pal acts Of his administration, reclte
nd above, not that General Grant is the wOr:
be president the country has eyer had, bl
nd that he is animated by a spirit differeI
he from that of any Of his predecessors; tn;
no. his acts have a purpose different trol
,ptt theirs; that they are not the blunders OF
ed weak or ignorant man, but that they oil
he close during long period, dellbera
"s and conscious purpose to use the powers
ner government for his own personal aggrano
ia cement, regardless Of the will of the pe0p
nm or the sacredness Of the constitution al
nld laws. AID it Is a remarkable CORRIDOR
No. ton of this view that, like all men of de
of pOtic tendencies and designs, he SURROUND
Jaw himself only with fiatterers and with tho
'S0 whose corrupt designs make them h
o ready tools He grows constantly mo
h 1iSl inpatient of contradiction: In his mes
ages he scolds congress, and in priva
aw, conversation he and his intimates do L
and scruplc to express their anger and anna
ment at those who oppose his will. 1t
1ua r- notorious that members Of congress who
nsi, not agree with him find scant welcome
feet the White House, and that he will I
h rn listen to advice or remOnstrance even irl
for the leaders Of his party. Opposition
-. his will he does not hesitate to punish
,rvil the most peremptory manner.