Year: 1872

WE do not claim it as special merit
for public officer to escape the censure
of critics and fault-fnders, lnasmuch as
the men who are most energetic, efficient
and reformatory awaken the most extreme
and bitter opposition. Much depends on
the times and the circumstances in which
a public man is called to act as to whether
the fact of being found fault with is to
be considered piima facje evidence of de-
feet of administration. The administra
ton of James Monroe is a case in point.
Tho axnitouent 4,f- .i.a of 1912 had
ended during the administrator OF his
predecessor. The feuds of the parties
which had been formed by the men and
the issues of both the revolutionary and
formative period of the Government had
subsided. Mr.. Monroe had himself been
one of the younger men of the early per
iod, and moderate man, yet always COLI
neeted with the stronger party. The Fed
eralists had yielded their party Organiza-
tion, and hence party feeling was at its
lowest ebb. OF all our Presidents, he es
capped with the least vituperation and op-
position Yet this was largely owing to
the fact that his circumstances were pecu-
larly TRANQUIL in their nature. Washing
ton was the worst abused public man of
his day, and yet he is the one whose fame
is brighter than that of any of his COM
peers.


In the matter of fault-fnding is to be
considered who the fault-finders are.
There are always politicians and journal.
lists who conceive themselves greatly
wronged if they cannot rule the admins
tration they profess to support. There
are others who do not selishly seek to
rule, yet who are so strongly imbued with
the strength and propriety of their own
convictions, that when the official men of
their own party diverge from their rec
| concentrations, they resent it by with
drawing political fellowship, Then there
are natural and professional grumblers
who complain as naturally as they breathe,
and to whom the cutting off of theil
privilege of grumbling would be like
shutting out the vital air from their lungs.
! The complaints of this class have to be
borne by the rest of the community as
other ills and calamities are borne, but
their influence is insignificant. The peo
pie will do their own thinking despite Of
all these classes of complainers.


When dissatisfaction with an admins
tration is extensive and deap-seated il
will be manifested in a thousand ways
John Tyler wanted nomination for tho
Presidency. and had the help he thought
to be most potential in politics, large
force Of galernmeht officials, but ht
could not muster a hundred men in con
vention to confer that empty honor upor
him. Franklin Pierce and James Blu
chanan themselves knew the public feel
ing too well to ask a denomination. The
reason was that the hearts of the people
were, as with one accord, turned agains
them. 1t was the dsaliection of tht
x,f 10 rar ,ty1,
them notice to retire,


When a President is really unpopula
the careful workers of his own party will
not allow his denomination. A party ha
the instinct of self-preservation too
strongly inherent for that There was M
demand in the Democratic party fol
Pierce or Buchanan to take the field TO
n second term. A few offlce holders may
have gone through the motions of maxim!
h. such demand, but only for show. Nov
the fact of the universal demand in thu
Republican party for Grant, and nobody
else as its standard bearer, is but sig
nifiCant verdict Of the country in favor o
his honesty and ability. His popularity
so far has proved invincible.


The complaints against General Grant
are those Of men whose views and inter
ests have been crossed by the Admins
tration. The people, therefore, heal
their charges and criticisms with caution
and much allowance in favor of the par
ty accused and on trial 1t may be tina
there is a degree of truth In some of thes'
complaints, but as they represent chiefly
personal and private grievances, there i
limit to their effect on the psblic mind
The people. know that there must be al
average of grievances, of quarrels, o
interests and factions UNDER every
administration. They make allow
ance and provide for them Al


for the ordinary and customar,
calamities which checker mortal life
Hence the complaints against Gen. Grant
Administration have damaged the mel
who have made them more than they
have his political future. The peopi
Judge General Grant by his official sue
cess, and they have far more contidenc
in his statemanship to-day than they ha,
three years ago, The public debt ha
been reduced three hundred millions
The taxes and duties have been largel
reduced, and a large number Of article
put upon the free list which before wer
taxed, Progress has been made in tn
way of reform greater than was eve