The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-05-19

Rawlins. There were sound per-
sonal reasons for the selection Of
General Rawlins, who had been
Grants vigilant watchdog in the
army, standing between him and
the bottle and between his too
trusting nature and false friends.
These latter needed now more than
ever to be warded off, and the un-
timely death of this frank and 10y
al friend early in the administra-
ton left a place which remained
sadly Vacant.
The many scandals OF the ad-
ministration were mostly traceable
to the betrayal of Grants childliks
confidence in unworthy friends
BLACK Friday" in Wall street cast
its shadow on his family circle
itself. A brother-in-law had in
weighed the guileless president into
the net of Jim Fiske and Jay Gould,
who attempted to corner gold on
the strength Of the inside informa-
ton which they had wormed out Of
him. As quickly as Grant discov.
cred the trick he smashed the cor.
ner.
The whisky Ring" involved the
presidents private secretary. A
member of the cabinet was i'm
peached for squalid transactions,
but by accepting his resignation
Grant let him dodge the convic-
ton.
The Civil war was followed by
the most corrupt period in our po-
litical life Rascally politicians
noisily distracted the people from
real evils with sham battles against
the rebel brigadier." The bloody
shirt" was made to cover a multi
tude of sins, while patriots went in
loudly for 1.-The old flag and an ap-
preparation"
Although Grant himself was
above just suspicion, the next high
est official. Vice President Colfax,
was driven into retirement under q
cloud, and the third highest, the
| speaker of the house. James &.
| Blaine, was accused Of barterins
, his influence for private gain.
Reconstruction remained for 10
years after the war prolific
source of political decentralization.
Lincoln's plan having been torn up
in the savage strife between con-
gress and Johnson. the southern
states were converted into rotten
boroughs for political adventures
from the north and for the while
riff raft of the south. Out OF the
first batch of u southern senators.
10 were northern carpet baggers,
who had rushed south to exploit the
negro vote, and an even half OF the
congressman were squatters from
the north.
! A liberal section of distinguished
Republicans revolted against
Grants election to a second term
but they were mostly leaders WITH
out followers. The popular revolt
did not come until the panic OF 1915
had plunged the country into SIX
years of hard times, and a tdai
wave in the election OF 1874 sweep
the Democrats into control OF Inc
house.
Great occasions aroused Grant 70
independent action in peace as ~
war. In vetoing currency inna-
ton bill, in calling for the resump.
ton of specie payments and IN Inc
peaceable settlement OF the Ana
bama" claims against Great Britain
the first great international alpI-
tration-he measured up to the eA-
pectations of the people, who never
lost faith in the soundness OF tue
man because he had failed as pol.
tician. First in war, he did NO.
prove himself first in peace ous
deep down beneath the bitterness
. of parties and factions. Gran! re-
mained always. through gooa re,
port and bad. first in the hearts "a
his countrymen.
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