FEINBERG/WHITMAN LITERARY FILE Prose ¨22nd Presidentiad¨ (Jan.1873) A.MS.draft Box 32 Folder 32 Includes newspaper clipping.1873 January 22d Presidentiad: prose. A.MS. (3p. 10 3/4 by 20 1/4, 19 by 10 1/2, 12 by 19 1/2 cms.) Written in blue pencil at the top of a clipping (News of the Day. Second Edition. The Chief Justiceship. Why Mr. Waite Was Nominated--President Grant's Distruct [sic] of Able Men.), followed by another clipping (The Age of Mediocrities.), 5 words: Points in Character of Grant Clippings attached to two sheets, with another sheet, all cut from larger sheets, written in ink, 107, 84, 89--280 in all--words: the next com. 4th March 1873 is the 22nd Presidentiad has confirmed for the second time, the Principle of Nationality, as the principle dominating all other in (over) 626 American politics Now that the election of the General Grant by [everwhelming-m] [candidate] to [fill] the 22d Presiden- [again] by such overwhelming majorities [decided] tiad has [settled] by [an] over- [decided-and] established unquestionably for [??all??] time to come whelming majorities, [the policy?] ([1873 [1789 ----------- 4)86 ______ 21] [?of the]for the Reconstruction measures [and] and the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amend- ments to the Constitutions as organic and through the time to come-- immutable elements of the Constitution -- Without at all depreciating "ability," with all [its] the [Have net the] study, culture & fame that goes with it have the not most noblest serviceable men so far in the history of America been the great common-sense characters, Washington, Lincoln, Franklin, [Marey] W.L. Marcy was a strong man-- [more] [*Power in character of Grant*] NEWS OF THE DAY. SECOND EDITION. THE CHIEF JUSTICESHIP. WHY MR. WAITE WAS NOMINATED - PRESIDENT GRANT'S DISTRUST OF ABLE MEN. WASHINGTON, JANUARY 20. - The nomination of Mr. Waite for Chief Justice may surprise the country, but it does not astonish those who have studied on of the President's most marked peculiarities. He has an utter distrust (dislike almost) of so-called "able men." None of his appointments have been from the ranks of those who are noted throughout the country for their literary ability or professional renown. Those who know him best say he has discovered, or thinks that he has discovered, that there is a vast deal of humbug connected with these so-called "able men," and that he regards them with about the same kind of cynical contempt as Carlyle regards "able editors." He has found that a man's business aptitudes are not always coextensive with his popularity, and that mere notoriety does not certify that a man is wise or prudent. He has found that just as good work can be got out of those who are regarded as third and fourth rate men as from what are generally believed to be first-raters. President Grant does profoundly respect wealthy men - men who have made large fortunes by successful business enterprises; but he distrusts the professors of both the talking and the writing faculty - those who can make the worse appear the better the reason, or those who are known to the public merely because of their trained organs of expression. Hence the disfavor with which the leading editors of the country are regarded by the President; hence his reluctance to appoint any mere talkers to the positions of trust and honor. He believes that the new era brought about by the successful termination of the war closed the books against the old names, and that new men and new measures will occupy public attention in the future. There is little doubt here that if a vote is reached Mr. Waite will be endorsed by the Senate; but there are some who urge a masterly inactivity, and some a non-confirmation of the new Chief Justice. The Senators generally, from their position, naturally look with respect upon men who have achieved success in life by their personal abilities; and would prefer on the whole to endorse a Chief Justice whose name would be respected throughout the country. If Mr. Waite is endorsed it will simply be because they could do no better. XAVIER.H. W.Federal Bench is filled with men whose names it is difficult to recollect. President Grant is doing his utmost to break down the old tradition that only men of exceptional ability should be placed in the most important positions of responsibility and trust, by showing how well men of ordinary talents, with no experience whatever, can perform even the highest duties of the State. There was a strong prejudice in favor of brains, but he is trying to show that it lacks foundation. The experiment is on trail whether our Government can be run by mediocrites. Who knows but that it will succeed? Perhaps the mute, inglorious Miltons of the mob only need a chance to sing in order to fill the world with undying music. We are, in a fair way of learning whether a Republic can be managed with less capacity, skill, experience, and trained talent than a railroad, a manufacturing corporation, or first-class banking-house. The whole tendency of party rule has been to put forward third-rate ability into the places made for the first. There have been but four first-rate men in the Presidency since the Government was founded. The present regime of mediocrites may not be wholly bad, even if it does not succeed in establishing the principle that anybody can do anything just as well as anybody else. It will throw a class of old politicians and statesmen into the background. It is bringing forward a new set of men to try their hand at running the machinery of government and act their brief part on the public stage. Perhaps it is also preparing the way for a class of statesmen trained under new intellectual principles and ideas for the application of political and social science to national well-being. But the fact that this is the age of mediocrities is unquestionable, whatever may come out of it.LY G RATED EVENING NE 39 & 41 PARK PLACE. RK, TUESDAY, JANUARYThe next com. 4th March 1873 is the 22 Presidential has confirmed for the second time the principle of Nationality as the principle dominating all others in American politics Now that the election of the General Grant by [overwhelming m] to the 22nd President to has by overwhelming majority established in time to come [candidate to fill] [again by such overwhelming majorities] to the 22d Presidentiad has ^established [settled] by [an] overwhelming majorities established for [all] time to come [the policy of the] the Reconstructive measures and the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments [to the Constitution] as organic and immutable elements of the Constitution ^- through the time to come - 1873 1789 _____ 4)84 21THE AGE OF MEDIOCRITIES. The appointment of Mr. Waite to the Chief Justiceships is in the line of a tendency which has become conspicuous in our public life. It is the tendency to put mediocrities into positions which once were reserved for men of eminence and distinction. Mr. Waite is an unknown man. He has never been a judge. He never held any office of note. He was an obscure but fairly successful Ohio lawyer, with no national reputation whatever, when he was appointed counsel for the United States before the Geneva Court of Arbitration with William M. Evarts. He has no local fame to speak of, save as a good lawyer and inconspicuous politician, and as President of the Ohio Constitutional Convention has made no special mark. He has never said or done anything to show that he has been appointed to fill, nor eminent abilities of any sort. He is simply a respectable mediocrity. And this is true of most of President Grant's appointments. He seems to be of the opinion of George III., who said he could go out into the streets of London any time and pick up twelve men who would rule England as well as his Ministers did the business. President Grant does not take to eminent men. He seems suspicious of the statesmen whose names have been long before the public and are often in the newspapers. He is ambitious to surround himself with men of his own creating, like Napoleon who boasted that he made his marshals out of mud. Everybody concedes that Chief-Justice Chase was a man of the first class. He would have been eminent anywhere. He would have towered conspicuous in any profession or any assembly in the world. But Mr. Williams, who was appointed to succeed him, is a third-rate, Western lawyer at the most. Mr. Seward was a remarkable man in every respect, and as Secretary of State showed great abilities and sagacity: but Mr. Fish is merely a respectable functionary, who compares with some of his predecessors in that office--Mr. Webster for instance--as a candle compares with the moon. Indeed, there is not a first-rate statesman in the Cabinet, and it requires unusual memory to recall the names of the estimable but obscure gentlemen who discharge the duties of the several departments and obey the President's directions. The diplomatic service of the country is performed by men unknown to fame, unless we may except Mr. Bancroft and Mr. Marsh, both of whom are heirlooms from a former administration. The civil service of the country is stocked with nobodies, and the PLEASE HIM?" NATHAN.What do teachers, learned personages in practical emergences [or practical or avail for instance] at a fire, a wreck or lost in the woods, or the practical needs of brothers [?] or other [solitary]campaigning? They avail in other, may be greater ways; but in America always have daily work to be done- always trades to follow farms to work, wars, voyages,[wastes of] wilds to be conquered. [the mess for service there are]Without at all deprecating "ability" with all its the study, culture navy upon noblest I & brave that goal part of most serviceble men so far in the history of America been the great common-sense characters, Washington, Lincoln, Franklin, W.L. Marcy was a strong man. What really are our distinguished names in literature, the church, politics, picture-painting, Poem-manufacturing and so on? Tried severe & great chronological & geographical standards what do the current to?