National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1885-04-11
A pre,kr.s,.Tsblo Letter 10 The President.

Dor of railroad employees.
----
A Breakfast.Tablo Letter TO the President.
Mr. PRESIDENT: In n dim chamber in the
city OF New York n great soul is lingering IN
the bordorland Of pain that separates the
known from the unknowable. In all human
probability the end Of things earthly for the
Soldier of America Is near at hand. Each
day as his countrymcn read the story Of the
untlinching majestic courage with which he
views the steady approach Of the Reaper of
men, keener and keener grows their sense OF
the irreparable loss that will soon be indeed
the nations loss Mr.. President, is 1t not
n touching thing to see Union soldiers and
confederate soldiers, Republicans and Demo
Gratis, white men and black men, people from
the east and west the north and the south,
all joining In one common tribute of Yenera-
ton for the grand man whose lamp OF life is
burning SO fcebly and low, all listening in
sorrow and apprehension lest their ears may
lose some notes Of the story of the pain,
the fortitude, the sweet patience, and the
noble manly trust in the future that comes
from the death chamber of Ulysses $. Grant?
Each century, Mr.. President, brings forth
some great character endowed with exalted
qualities and who seems to DO born to meet
swer some universal need of humanity. For
tunate is the nation to whom such men belong,
for their fame dcscends through time together.
Alexander, Plato, Caesar, Luther, Napoleon,
were men whose impress fingers upon the
world and will as long as man exists, but
their nations produced none other like them.
Yet, Mr.. President, 1t is your great fortune
10 rule over n nation that within tho short
space of century has produced three OF the
great names that must always be studied and
revered. Two-Washington and Lincoln-are
dead, the third is dying.
A few days since Mr. President, II was an
nouuced that you would hold u public recep-
tion but, owing to the critical condition of Gen.
Grant, the intention was abandoned, and no.
tice thereof given on the day set for the recep-
ton. Your action in postponing the recep-
ton, Mr. President. was generally COM
mended, but 1t was mistake to have an.
nounced 1t at all, and 1t will be mistake II
you renew the announcement under present
circumstances. The death Of the illustrous
sufferer Is inevitable, ana sure to take place
within short space OF time. He was your
predecessor. lie Is your countryman. His
deeds were such that you can take just pride
in the thought that 1t was reserved for
| your hand to sign his last great
commission. Let your mind rest upon all the
aspects of the matter and II cannot but appear
unsoemly to you that semi'festiylties should
be In progress at the white house while Grant
| lies dying. 1t would seem inoongruous for
you to now be giving public receptions, when
It is apparent that your first message Will
afford you an opportunity to deeply touch the
popular heart and add luster TO your admin
istration by recommending to Congress the
q az.
Grant on the high ground lying east of the
capitol.
In last weeks letter some observations con-
corning political geography, and a map in IL
| lustration thereof, were submitted for your
consideration, the effect of which was to rem
der II plain that your appointments to ma
tional Offices had been made In such man
ner as to greatly favor the seaboard states.
| This is point that has been much discussed
among thoughtful and sagacious politicians,
The general tendency of opinion is TO the
effect that n part Of your cabinet, being al
ready engaged in scheming to succeed you
have rather overrcaehed you and managed "a
have your appointments put where they will
advance their interests. II Is not new
thing for cabinet ministers to oyerreach theiI
chiefs In such matters. When Grant formed
his first cabinet he decided to send Mr.. Wash
burne as minister TO France, but in order "a
give him prestige abroad first appointed him
Secretary OF State Washburne looking into
the future managed 10 30 use his temporary
power that before leaving for France he mac
filled nearly all the important missions aud
consuates with men of his choosing, greatly Il
the disgust OF his successor, Hon. Hamilton
Fish, and the President. II is not in
tended to intimate that your premier
! Il, hat ltn hna Inlg
himself out TO the full bent Of his power
to take all the cream OF Office for his friends
and leave the skim milk for others, but indI
cations are not lacking that a cabal has beer
formed In your cabinet with the purpose il
view of nominating Thomas Francis Bayard
to succeed you in the Presidency This caba
is in the interest of the southern Cavalier wing
of your party. and devoted to the southern
idea of government. The Cavaliers, Mr.. Presi
dent, take TO power as naturally rs duel
does TO water, and are hopefully laying thel
lines for a restoration TO power In pursuance
OF their plan you have been induced Il
place your patronage wherever Il
their judgment II will contribute /
their success. In the next nationa
convention Of the Democratic party you viii
see them rallylng solidly TO the support q
Bayard for the Presidency, The men engage,
In the cabal are Of your political household
they have your confidence, and your trust II
} them Is held TO account for the suddennes
and onc.sidedness OF your appointments
Your excusing admirers say that II you ha'
exercised the same patience aud caution tina
you have shown in other matters you woul'
have made different appointments, but the
say that you have started out on the theor
that each cabinet minister should DO
miniature President in mis- own department
and being very obstinate man shut you
eyes to the results Of this policy, The mimi
. tuTc president of the Department of state ha
shown himself TO BIO very handy In using hi
! power where there is patronage to bosIov
S upon his political friends and oddly enough
8 tho othor little presidents seem to lend thci
{ help to control patronage in tho direction thu
will most nearly minister to his ambition.
= Mr., President, when Gen. Grant was olecte
the first time friend expressed tho hope to hi
= that he would not make the mistake Llncol
} made In forming his cabinet The generl
promptly asked, what mistake did Llncol
make| An equally prompt reply was mad'
Sin selecting his cabinet by appointing a
> the presidential aspirants that competed wit
!, him for the nomination" viz. Seward, CHASE
Z Cameron and Bites
: The cross purposes and ambitions Of thes