Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-01-22
MIR Stewards speech-Party Mon in Exec-


utive Omoes.
The speech of Mr.. Seward does not appear
10 have satisfied tho people, There is too
little Of point and vigor. Il sounds too much
like the letter Of a Cabinet Minister'S red
oleht Of imminant red tape aud of the Cir
cumlocution Office. There is perhaps no
sentiment applicable to the present exigeucy
that may not be detected in it, either in
terms or by implication; but taken as a
whole, it has not come up to the popular
expectation, and Is disappointment.
We observe the effect Of it in fear which
has taken possession of some, that the ap-
preaching Administration is destined to be
found unequal to any serious emergency.
The fact that Mr.. Lincoln has not been much
known in party life, has created the impress
sion that he is not, in any excessive degree,
a party man; and this has had the effect to
inspire confidence in him. In this way the
coming Administration has cast its shadows
before-exciting an unseen influence both in
the North and the South, to keep up the
hopes of the one and depress the spirits of
the other. The speech of Mr.. Seward, we
suspect, will not be found to have given any
additional force to these tendencies.
We know that we, the people of the North,
are exceedingly prone to talk in vague terms
of concession and compromise; but we
know, also, that when a report reaches US
that a vigorous blow has been struck for the
honor of the nation, or a strong measure to
support the Constitution and laws deter
mined upon, we forget all about concessions
and compromises, and open our mouths to
applaud the man who has done something.
The sympathy is with the actor, and hope
will repose upon hiuSfrom whom action may
be expected.
The instinct of the people in their distrust
of party politicians is correct. The training
which the politician undergoes, in his ad-
vance from the ranks to high Office, is moi
calculated to cultivate in him the virtue oI
consistency. To keep his balance on the
party, requires that be should lose sight OF
every stationary object. His principles be.
come shifting panorama, made up of com.
promises and expedients. The partisan is o.
necessity, compromiser; and the one who
does not, in an emergency, first think of 9
compromise, is rare individual. This is
perhaps, the reason why so many person:
who have stood well in legislative, palpably
fail in executive positions-why seat in the
Cabinet is so seldom an introduction to the
Presidency.
Politicians show pretty we'll in legislation
but ststesmanship-the capacity to discrim
mate between the interests of the party ant
those Of the whole-is necessary, in ordel
properly to fulfil high executive trusts; ant
| if we will look back upon our political his
tory, we shall find that about in proportion
as our Presidents and Cabinet-officers have
emancipated themselves from party idea
and discipline, have they carried with then
| TO their retirement the esteem of the people
and been looked upon as surviving politica
entities.
Still it seems a matter of necessity for thu
President to choose his Cabinet from thu
ranks of the politicians; and this for the
reason that they are the only persons who
are supp osed to know any thing of public
affairs. Ali that he can do is to select the
best within his knowledge, retaining, at the
same time, in his own hands, the right o.
ultimate control in all important matters Of
| foreign and domestic policy.