The Sun.
London, England, 1868-01-09 00:00:00

A PRESIDEYT WITHOE/T A POLICY.

It
re is
exists a lucky
a man thing for the United States that
the
sufficiently strong in the confi-
dence
of the people to announce that he will not take
the Presidency, if he cannot enter upon the office
unpledged and unembarrassed by party affiliations
and platforms. 'These words were written by
General DENT, on the Staff of his brother-
in-law, General Grant, whose opinions he was
supposed to embody. Through a strong section
of the Republican party there runs a repug-
nance to nominating any man for the Presidency
whose Republican principles have not been emphati-
cally announced. It appears probable that General
GRANT will disappoint this portion of the party by
declining to define his views, and refusing a
nomination unless made by the people without re-
ference to present party organisations. He does
not want, says General DENT, to decide upon ques-
tions of public policy until they come up for settle-
ment. Whatever might have been the result of
such a course before the succession of ANDREW
JOHNSON, a Presidential policy has, through him,
been so discredited that the people are not inclined
to look with disfavour on a candidate who obsti-
nately remains silent, who declines to represent
any politicians, and asks for a new organisation
which will represent the people. It is clear
that GRANT holds it to be the business of Con-
gress to shape a policy, and the business of the
people so to form and control that Congress that it
will express the wish of the majority. Admitting
this, the duties of the PRESIDENT are executive.
His work is to carry into effect th., measures which
the wisdom of the Legislature shall devise. There
are many in the United States who are delighted
with the course taken by GRANT. They believe the
policy of Presidents to have led to boundless cor-
ruption, and been the chief cause of the official im-
morality which Mr. JOHNSON, iu his late Mes-
sage, deplored. A President without a policy
would be a man free to act, able to move in
any direction which he decides is for the public
good while executing the policy of Congress, un-
hedged by greedy supporters, and with no desire
to bribe men to aid in his hobbies. As a soldier,
General GRANT has learnt to obey—as a Chief, to
, command, but he has never yet aspired to inde-
pendent action ; and although he declines to be Vie
tool of any political organisation, he has, with sin-
gular fidelity, been true to those to whom he owed
a lawful obedience. He does not seek the Presi-
dency, while he says he will unwillingly accept it, if
in that post he can be of more service to his country.
But while refusing to recognise any clique as his master
when elevated to the highest position in the Re-
public, he emphatically states that in the people he
will recognise that master, and loyally obey its voice.
That GRANT will do this few doubt ; but the ques-
tion may arise—What is the voice of the people?
In a Republic m country there can be but one an-
swer. The voice is that of Congress, which by
representatives gives the only means known to man-
kind of ascertaining the national wish. There is
one paragraph in General DENT'S letter, which we
hold to he of far greater importance than any poli-
tical views. It is this :--" On one point the General
is quite clear. If elected he will make no appoint-
ments on account of political services. lie believes
that a reform of our civil service, such as that em-
bodied in Mr. JENCKES'S bill of last session, is of
vital moment, and all he will ask of any candidate
for position is honesty and capscity." The best
guarantee of a President turning out well is fur-
nished by the record of his life. Loud professions
of political principles are worth but little in com-
parison. Both Mr. TYLER and Mr. JouNsols,
elected Vice-Presidents, deserted their party on suc-
ceeding to the Presidency. Mr. PIERCE and Mr.
DuCIIANAN threw over the people in the interest of