Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1885-07-23
The Power Behind the Throne.

subjects are oyerdone in newspaper
writing as usual thing. we feel that IT
IS the better course to eschew the SUBJ
ject as much as possible during the
brief intervals between campaigns and
bring before our readers other matters
that arc of fully as much Importance.
So much is said during a campaign, and
withal so well said, that any pursuit of
the subject Immediately thereafter pals
on the taste and ELECTS ennui in place
sc interest. We would not now recur
to the subject except to give our deduc-
tions from four months of careful OBJ
seryation of the policy of the new Dem
ocratic administration. We have seen
appointed to office, in this brief inter-
val, men who have always voted the
Republican tickes Qike Postmaster
Pearson of New York; and who have no
following in Democratic quarters. and
we have also seen appointed the bitter
est, most unrepentant copperheads and
AAB|iSs Ao AlCC 10 hAOWh ny IL
fruits, the only method of judging an
administration is by its appointments;
and what are the deductions to be
drawn from this seemingly erratic and
picturesque policy? We can only evolve
the following conclusions
II is known that Samuel j. Tilden is
the power behind the throne in direct
ing the policy Of the present president
1t is known that Samuel j. Tilden be-
lieyes himself to have been defrauded
Of the presidency after he had been
fairly elected thereto 1t is known that
Samuel j. Tiden moves in secret and
cunning ways; that his loss of the presi-
dency has impressed him with tho be-
lief that the Republican party will hest
tate at no measures, legal or illegal, to
retain or obtain the government, il it
can do so under popular cry, or an ex-
cuse that will be deemed sufficient by
the masses of the Republican party--as
lac believes was done when he was
robbed ofthe votes of South Carolina,
Florida and Louisiana upon the theory
that the negroes were intimldated and
kept from the polls by bull-dozing.
This, it is evident, is the complexion of
Mr.. Tilden's mind, and being SO we can
but logically conclude that, even when
Q Democratic president had been legally
elected and peaceably installed, he still
feared the consequences should policy
be adopted by turning out Republicans
By wholesale and installing Democrats
in their places. He doubtless feared
that such storm Of loyal indignation
would be aroused, at seeing crippled
veterans everywhere turned out and
their places given to copperheads and
rebels, that, if some fanatic, carried
away by his passion, did not sooner
reach forth the assassin hand, like
Guiteau, and remove both the president
and vice-president, leaving the Republic
can senate to elect, that the people later,
being thus afforded glimpse of what a
Democratic administration really meant,
would rally back to the Republican
ranks and his party could bid long
farewell to any hope of future place.
ment. Hence it was necessary TO move
in a crazy way to retain the precarious
ascendency gained by the vote of the
solid South and a majority of only 1, 149
in New York, The civil service issue
afforded ready made means for in
augurating the present policy-which
is, as all observers see, to appoint a
dozen of the vilest rebels and copper
heads to Office, and then, when the
mugwump papers are about to explode
with Indignation, throw them sop in
the shape of some appointment like that
of Pearson, or Anderson of this state. 1t
is, then, apparent that the policy of the
present administration is to gradually
solidify itself in an impregnable, old
time supremacy, by placing in positions
of emolument and influence its strong
est partisans while placating the public
with its goody-goody professions. In
stances without number of plain viola
tion of civil service rules are covered up
by the loud claquing made over one OBJ
seryance of its provisions. 1t is high
time, we think, that Republican news
papers, which havo so generously
awaited until the policy of the admins
tration should be clearly defined before
venturing criticism, should make haste
to apprise their readers of the serpen-
tine policy, now evident to any intelli-
gent mind, in order that they may
watch its unfolding and be not deceived
CT led astray in estimating its intents
and purposes. 1t is the height of folly
to suppose that the Democratic party,
which maintained its organization for
twenty-four years in the face of success
siye defeats,is now handing out to Tom,
Dick and Harry, the very sinews of or
ganization and party strength with no
other end in view than to benefit the
dear people.