Rensselaer Union, Volume 2, Number 27, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 March 1870 — An Honest Administration. [ARTICLE]

An Honest Administration.

Tim Tig* %*h* which (Ulnni'islrs tkm la purahing the invosl<ff*tlona into the frauds KM peculations ot Collector Bailey, of Now Yorkjia additional evi rience of the stet that the jiledgw of the nnrtr in twapeet to lrnneaty and reform In the conduct of national affair* are Ming faithfully, honorably and emphatically carried out. When General Grant was inaugurated President, corruption was the rule, hot only the ettScptiou, In tbo different depart ments and bureaus of the government. The moat thoughtful men of tho country had for months well nigh despaired of the republic; the most inudl'gent friends of freedom and America in the Old World had feared that, though we had success fully met and put down a gigantic rebel Hon, the ahip of state, rotten as it up neared to be, might founder in a calm This despair and this fear were not the mere creatures of imagination, of of the croaking spirit. The integrity of the body politic was not doubted. The sacrifices the people had just made, the noble patriotism the men and,women of the land had justWiown in ten thousand ways, were proof positive as to the elevated spirit and true nobility ot the body politic at large. But the greatness and honor of the people were in marked contrast with the littleness aud corruption of the office-folding set. The nation was glorious; the government was a burning shame. Every candid person must agree that we do not exaggerate the ills of government which prevailed duriilt the closiig months of Andrew Johnson sadmiiuitra tion. Prom the Executive Mansion to the post-offices at cross roads there was fawning, there was peculation —fraud, bribery, stealing, corruption reeking everywhere. The raids ou tho Treasury were perpetual, but this was not the worst phase of the gloomy situation. Uornip lion was honored. Notoriously corrupt wothen distributed the offices or the government aud the bribes of the fortunate, in broad day light, and men of reputation, so far from scorning the lascivious favor ites of the Chief Executive, did what they could to give them power and honors. The most corrupt “ rings" we re politically omnipotent. They contro led every branch of government. Their ramifications extended all over the country, anil their effect in demoralising politics was great, and most unfortunately becoming greater. It is not to be doubted that the government could not have endured the ills of the era of which we speak a year longer. It would have fallen to pieces of its own correlation. How different tho situation to-day There are those who dispute the statesmanshift of President Grant, but these are not among the most thoughtful men of the errantry. There arc those who complain over the distribution of the public patronage, but these are mostly those who have a personal grievance and a biased judgment. The Integrity of the President is beyond dispute except by those wbo would dispute against the sun. Every charge of want of integrity against him has fallen to the grouud. The shrewdest men or Wall street we c* interested in defining hire. The most rigid scrutiny jus tides him, and leaves them little if any better than ielons in the. popular belief. And this well-grounded confidence in the President’s honesty is not only worth millions to the people of the country in the prevention of stealings, but it is worth •ven more in the trust in free institutions that it restores to the minds of thoughtful men everywhere. If we think about what it has done, is doing, and will surely do in the future, we cannot help concluding that the unquestionable integrity of President Grant is of no less value to the country now than was his surpassing military genius, through whose comprehensive plans and tenacious and sublime pluck, the great rebellion went to pieces, and the republic was saved.— Chicago Putt, March 22.