Year: 1872

WE do not claim il as special merit
for public officer to escape the censure
OF critics and fault-finders, 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
public man is called to act as to whether
the fact of being found fault with is to
be considered prinsa tacie evidence of de-
feet of administration. The administra-
tion of James Monroe is a case in point
The excitement of the war of 1912 had
ended during the administration 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
subsidized. 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-
ton, 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-
liarly 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-finding 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 selfshly 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 their
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 it
will be manifested in a thousand ways.
John Tyler wanted a nomination for the
/ Presidency, and had the help he thought
to be most potential in politics, a large
force of government officials, but he
could not muster a hundred men in con-
vention to confer that empty honor upon
him. Franklin Pierce and James Bu-
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 against
them. 1t was the disafection of the
many and not of the few which gave
them notice to retire.


When President is really unpopular
the careful workers of his own party will
not allow his denomination. A party has
the instinct of self-preservation too
strongly inherent for that. There was no
demand in the Democratic party for
Pierce or Buchanan to take the field for
a second term. A few office-hOlders may
have gone through the motions of making g
such a demand, but only for show. Now
the fact of the universal demand in the
Republican party for Grant, and nobody
else, as Its standard bearer, is but a sig
nifcant verdict of the country in favor of
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, hear
their charges and criticisms with caution,
and much allowance in favor of the par
ty accused and on trial 1t may be that
there is q degree of truth In some of these
complaints, but as they represent chiefly
personal and private grievances, there is
a limit to their effect on the pgblic mind.
The people know that there must be an
average of grievances, of quarrels, of
interests and factions under every
administration. They make allow
ance and provide for them as
for the ordinary and customary
calamities which checker mortal life.
Hence the complaints against Gen. Grants
Administration have damaged the men
who have made them more than they
have his political future. The people
Judge General Grant by his official sue
cess, and they have far more confidence
in his statemanship to-day than they had
three years ago. The public debt has
been reduced three hundred millions.
The taxes and duties have been largely
reduced, and large number of articles
put upon the free list which before were
taxed Progress has been made in the
way of reform greater than was ever
made before in the course of two admin
istrations. He has been true to his prin
ciples and faithfCl to his pledges. As in
war he sought to crush the rebellion and
save the Union, so in peace he has sought
so to govern the country that the fruits
of the war shall inure to the cause oi
freedom and good government. He doe:
not believe that the mission of the Re
publican party is ended, nor do the mem
bers of the party think so. That party
still represents the cause of Union, free
dom and peace, and so long as it does thai
the people will sustain it, despite of al
: complainers I1Led0 Blade.