Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1876-03-18
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MARCH IS, 1875
JACKSON

we consider the colossal frauds, the public
knaVery and theft, the successful dema-
goguery, and the ignorance of the true
principles of government which has have
characterized the present administration,
we are forced to the conclusion that this is
the golden age Of rascality. Self agran-
disement and brilliant swindling have
been reduced to such perfection, and Il
now ut such premium as to make US 2''-
signats the whole as one Of the fine arts;
an invention of this, the Centennial year
of our National existence. It is not the dis
honesty of subordinate officials that is so
alarming, but the tidal wave of corrup-
ton washes the foot Of the walls of our
national capitol, and those who sit with
in, forgetting their own and their cOun-
try's honor, slake their aVariciOus thirst
in its waters. President Grant, the idol
of the Republican party, who emerged
from obseurity during turbulent season
"a mere waif brought to the surface,
while the waves OF revolution swept with
fury over the land, ''ascended to military
rank, and achieved military success, by
grim obstinacy and the lavish use of
greenbacks and human lives" AS Pres
ident of the United States he has been
eonsummate failure. As a contemporary
strongly expresses it, ''the cabinet cho-
sen and maintained by President Grant
has been the worst, and in some respects
the most ridiculous, known ia modern
times. 1t has included: Creswell, the
hero of the Chorpening contract, and 9TH
err jobs. Williams, the Attorney General
from Oregon, whose use of the public
money, in providing his wife with pri-
vate landaulet, and misapplieation of the
funds of his department for electiOneer-
ing purposes in the Southern States, COM
PEELED the people to demand his resigna-
ton. DelanO, who was forced to retire
by unrefuted charges of corruption, in
connection with the Indian supplies
Boutwell,, the Groton grocer, and as ad-
dle-pated a meddler with finance as we
read of. Richardson, Boutwell's scam
dalous successor, who was rewarded for
his compelled resignation by an appoint
ment as Judge of the Court of Claims. Bo-
RE, the good natured old Frenchman.
who found himself too much out of his
depth and comfort to stick in the Navy
Department, even to please Grant. Rob
eson, who. succeeded Borie, and whose
Observation-Disclosures of the Navy, and Ma
Vy-yards, has Occasioned u continued Sc
ries of ugly charges and constant public
discomfort. Chandler, of Michigan, and
the immaculate Belknap, neither OF whom
need any introduction to our readers
Bristow and Pierrepont are still on trial,
and it is now disclosed that the only hon
est man ever found in Grants cabinet was
Cox, of Ohio, whose integrity brot' him in
to disrepute with the brethren, and he re-
signed in disgust. With such coterie
of official politicasters before us, can any
rightminded man, it matters not to what
political creed he may belong, be so false
to himself, and the cause of right, as to
sustain such men, and party with such
representatives in power? Our national
honor, which was so zealously guarded by
patriotic hands and true hearts for years
has become the scott of the thrones of Eu-
rope. Why, then, some one may ask,
has party which has sinned so griev.
Ously, received the endorsement of a ma
jority of the people? We answer thai
the Northern Republican mind has be-
come so thoroughly inOculated and alb
sorbed with the hatred of all that is en-
braced in the word secession" as to
lose sight of all other questions. This
is fact that cannot be controversial
There are many Republicans in the
North, who vote the Radical ticket, not
because they love the doctrines of the par
ty, not because they are ignorant of the
disgrace into which the present admins
tration has plunged the country, but a
still, small voice whispers secession, -
and the 'fbloody shirt is triumphant
How then is this evil to be averted? and
this question introduces, in our opinion,
the true policy of the Democratic party
in the approaching campaign. Let the
Democrats prepare for an aggressive
movement, let them continue to discover
corruption in the enemies camp, let mi
nor questions, and all differences concer-
ming the financial problem be swallowed
up in the grand idea of giving the enemy
a Waterloo defeat. Let the wholesale
swindling and gigantic frauds of the Re
publican party be brought to light, anG
the aggregate will furnish a document
in the coming election which must anC
will have an influence for good. 1t is Al
least consoling that there is enough hon,
esty lefte>to tear the mask from scoun-
drels who have lived upon the substance
of a tax-ridden people. The often quoted
but true maxim, eternal vigilance is
the price of liberty should still be the
watchword. Let the masses remember
this watchword at the ballot box, let
them displace dishonest officials, and save
our national honor, at home and abroad,
from further shame. The press and the
ballot box are the weapons of the people,
the press to arouse public opinion-''that
power behind the throne, greater than
the THRONE" and the ballot box, ga
weapoR-though it fall as silently as the
snow flake upon the sea-that executes 3
freeman's will as lightning does the will
of God"