Year: 1873

The Danger or the Republic-CDsarfsm


from nm English Point Of View.


An article from the Pal Mall Gazette, which
we reproduce in the HERALD to-day, discusses
the question of the future of the American
Presidency with more discrimination and in
telligencc than are usually displayed by Eng
lish writer's on American politics. The opinions
of well informed and reputable foreign
journal on a subject of such grave Importance
deserve especial consideration They are views
taken from q standpoint above the prejudices
of party and the natural jealousy of repub-
the one side from self-deception and on the
other from exaggerated alarm. When the
HERALD sounded the first note of warning and
exposed the stealthy approach of the insidious
enemy of our republican institutions one set
of politicians declared that we were assailing
the republican party with the design
of aiding to restore the democracy to
power, and another set insisted that
we were secretly laboring to elect
President Grant for third term. A large
and influential portion of the American press
has followed us faithfully in tho effort to
arouse the nation to sense of its peril; but
too many journals have been found bold
enough to pronounce openly in favor of ignor-
ing the teachings of Washington, Jefferson
and jackson, and of taking the first step in
the imperial path Of C@sarism. The masses
of the people, as we have reason to know,
hoy 11uc cfy1i ia1 OI1r
words of warning; but there are still too
many who continue apathetic or incredulous;
too many disposed to regard the crusade we
have initiated against Cesarism in the light
of political strategy; too many who are will
ing to leave the outworks undefended while
the enemy is stealing his way into the citadel.
These latter will probably find food for refec-
ton in the remarks of the English journal.
The Pail Mall GazeHe has no love for republican
government-no profound admiration for our
institutions or our people, When such paper,
looking dispassionately over the situation,
foresees that the abandonment of those prin-
ciples laid down by Washington and endorsed
by Jefferson, Madison, Monroe and jackson,
and the infraction of that custom which limits
the ambition of President to second term
of Office, will very possibly open the way for
"a crafty and unscrupulous Executive to i'm
pose himself formally upon the Republic as
personal ruler for his lifetime" it is we'll for
Americans to recognize and guard against the
danger.


There is, no doubt, truth in the suggestion of
I.l.. IL IL.
age of the Presidential Office is great and
growing peril to the Republic. President
Grant has from the first shown himself desir-
ous of securing q better class of public
employees than we have usually had in the
civil service of the country. This is one Of
the many reasons that have induced us to give
his administration encouragement and support.
Nevertheless his army of office-holders is as
.unscrupulous and greedy as any that has pre-
ceded it, and very large majority of those
who are to be found in its ranks
would be willing to perpetuate the rule of their
chief, whoever he might be, if by so doing
they could insure prolongation of their own
official life 1t is not that they appreciate and
admire the valuable services, the strong man.
hood, the high-toned integrity of General
Grant they regard him from the low level of
their own natures as simply the dispenser of
offices which enable them to live an easy life
and enjoy an income which they could never
secure by business application; and they would
clamor as noisily for third term for Pierce
or Buchanan under like circumstances as
for third election of the great leader of the
Union army. We may judge from this of the
danger that would threaten the country if the
large patronage now welded by President
Grant should fall into the hands of less
scrupulous and less patriotic Executive after
the hitherto sacred barriers against the per-
petuation of personal rule erected by the
purest patriots of the Republic had been un-
wisely broken down.


1t is not from President Grant, who has
served his country so well, both as soldier
and as civilian, that danger threatens our
republican government, but from the small
and selfish men who hang on to his admins
tration, and who endeavor to persuade him
that attacks upon them and their unworthy
objects are assaults upon himself The advo-
Gates OF q third term have put forward the pre-
tence that the President is simply entrusted
with the enforcement of the laws made by
Congress, and hence con have no power to
subvert the institutions of the country without
the cooperation of Congress, short of the
power of actual revolution. But the unscru-
pulous army of ofice-holders and the men of
mediocrity and false pretence, who now fill
the places of political leaders, can as readily
force upon constituencies their own
Congressman, and upon State Legislatures
their own Senators, as they can impose
upon the nation their own Executive, pro-
vided the apathy or recklessness of the people
should afford them the opportunity to use
their cohesive strength and discipline success
fully. It is not, then, the Executive arm of