National Republican., 1876-05-25

ways according to his views of duty. BE
SET ms to retain the confidence of the peo-
pie of his great State for whose industrial
interests lie has done SO much in far
greater degree than the author Of "Thsna-
topsis" does that of the people of New
York. And yet the people of Pennsyl-
vania are not lacking in honesty and intel
ligence. Mr.. Bryant may be the centre of
a select circle of highly cultivated and re-
fined egotists, who consider themselves the
embodiment of all accumulated wisdom
and purity, both literary and political; but
the fact that they affect to despise all or
ganized political efforts which do not
spring from their dictation, and stig
matize them as "machine politics" when
they do not take the shape of 'Free trade
Leagues, is evidence that they are with
out any considerable following among the
masses Still these political malcontents in
sist upon finding fault with each move of
the Administration and of the Republican
party, as if they had a large interest in
them. And they are not satisfied with
criticising the policy pursued, but descend
to disgusting and disgraceful personalities,
of which the following from the EceniHg
Post of Yesterday, regarding the appoint
ment of Mr.. J. D. Cameron to be Secretary
of War, is fair specimen:
1--WE do not care to press personal criticism
upon Mr.. j. Donald Cameron, who is about to
undertake the duties of the War Department.
1t is true that he was born in q bad political
atmosphere. His father, Simon Cameron,
probably illustrates in himself and his long
life in a more striking, versatile and compre-
hensiYe way than any other man all that is
most Objectionable to citizens who desire
above every other thing purity in the admin
istration of the Government. To set down in
the briefest way the facts which prove this
assertion would take more time and space
than we can now afford. 1t is not necessary
TO set them down. Nobody disputes the as
sertion. We do not believe that Simon Came
ron himself would take the trouble to deny 1t.
Very likely he is proud of the facts, and If he
told the truth would probably say, IF there is
one thing more satisfactory to me than any
other thing, 10 is that there is no nonsense OF
political "honesty" or "independence" about
me- We should not be surprised if the last
act of his life was publication of an autobi-
ography containing a minute account of his
political swindles, and the means by which
they have been carried out"
THIS sort of Phariseeism on the part of
"Achans" in the Republican camp, and of
guerrillas and deserters who hang upon
its outskirts, is becoming nauseating to
the old and tried Republicans who have
borne the brunt of the battles in the days
that tried mems souls. 1t comes with bad
grace from old Mr.. Bryant, as he fingers
over tie grave. 1mpugning the motiSA
of a cotemporary politician is bad sign in
those who are about finishing their course
in this life. Mr.. Bryant need not trouble
himself about Mr.. Cameron's autobiogra-
ply. There is nothing in his record that
justiies the belief that he designs competI-
tion with the poet editor in the field of
literature. II he were so inclined, he
could print some facts which would put
even Mr.. Bryant to the blush for his
unjust criticisms upon the action of
Mr.. Cameron when the latter occupied
the position in Mr.. Lincoln's Cabinet to
which Mr.. Donald Cameron has just been
appointed. There is q sort of poetic JUS
llCC LII luC Va IAC oOu w o pOSl-
ton from which the father was unjustly
and, as subsequents events proved, unwisely
hurried in 1862, in obedience to public
clamor, for which Mr.. Bryant and his free
trading friends were largely responsible.
Mr.. Cameren's alleged ofense was the
making of contracts for arms and NUM-
tions deliverable throughout two years.
The hotheads Of the Post stripe were in |
dignant because they averred that the war |
would be ended in six months, and the sup |
plies would not be needed. Mr.. Stanton |
succeeded Mr.. Cameron, and cancelled a
large number of his contracts; but the
sequel shows that he was afterwards |
obliged to buy more arms of the same par
ties, and at prices less advantageous to |
the Government, deliverable also at more |
remote periods than was required by the |
which he had cancelled. Thus |
the sagacity and foresight of Mr.. Cameron |
was fully vindIcated. But has MIR. Bryant |
ever made the proper dmende? Or has |
Mr.. Cameron ever taken the trouble, either |
in his place in the Senate or through the |
press, to call attention to these facts? Has |
he ever made any vain glorious boasts of |
his superior wisdom? Did he then repu-
diate his party or the President, because |
they would not see through his visual |
No; he was content to suffer under |
the imputation of wrong doing from selfish |
motives, and trust to time for vindication. |
That time is coming.