The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-06-26
The Cunning of tho President.

ascendency of the Republican party, that
the policy which has been adopted, in po-
litical affairs, by the President and his
confidential advisers, can be satisfactorily
explained. We have no doubt but the
President is in earnest in his professed
desire to crush the rebellion and restore
the Union. Nor have we less doubt, that
he desires to accomplish this important
end, by some plan that vii. save the po-
litical party, to which he is indebted for
his elevation to the Presidency. and which
alone can secure his reelection. He is
in fact trying to serve with fidelity, two
irreconcilable masters, the Republican
party and the Union. The means essen
tial to the ascendency of either of them,
must inevitably destroy the other. They
constitute repelling forces, which no power
under the sun can make attractive. Their
mutual success is moral impossibility.
The political policy Of the President is
therefore logical absurdity.
The President, failing in the logic of his
policy, is compelled 10 resort to the sophis-
try of events, which degrades all his states
manship to the petty arts of the politician,
in which cunning becomes a substitute for
patriotism, and shrewdness for wisdom,
the politician for the statesman. Mr.. LIN
COLIN will not fail to be ranked in our
history, as one of the most cunning poll
ticians ever raised to the surface of our
party politics but cunning is always, like
every kind of dishonesty, short sighted.
Cunning belongs to very low order of
genius: and although it is a quality Of po-
litical cunning, to appear honest, and to
seek, and generally for time, attain the
cognomen "honest," it never long retains
it.
However applicable or otherwise these
structures may be to the character Of
"Honest Old Abe," this much is doubt
less true, that he is the most cunning man
in his party. His genius for cunning is
wonderful. His whole course from his
candidacy, from his election, and
from his inaguration, to this moment,
iusti6es our estimate of the man.
From the beginning of his lofty ca
reer he has played the part of the old
fashioned court fool with admirable sue
cess. His rude manners, laughable SIM
plicity and ready jokes are all parts of the
system whereby he plays bis difficult role.
Beneath all his trihing and apparent hest
fancy, and seemingly reluctant concession
to the impatient leaders of his party, flows
full stream of calm, resolute political
cunning. He guides and directs the cur
rent of party policy whereby he expects to
float along with his Republican Party, into
the safe haven of perpetuated power.
The revelations incautiously made by
his own friends, of the means adopted to
start the rebellion in Charleston harbor,
to check the political reaction at the North
in the spring of 81, evidence splendid trl-
umph of L1NcoLN's genius. The agent who
set the rebel balls in motion, was rewarded
with the embassy to Portugal, which he now
retains. The attempts to investigate and
remove him have been wisely flushed up.
His conduct towards Gen. MCCLELLAN was
another mastery exhibition of executive
cunning He had all confidence in "Lit-
tie MAC" until he considered that Repub-
lean friends had sufficiently undermined
| lis reputation to make it safe to remove
lin, without mourning the risk of being
charged with dishonesty or political de-
| signs. Having tried his skill as military
man-as great captain, issuing orders to
| lis generals from the White House, plan
ming and directing campaigns, and having
failed, tits shrewdness inhim toprevent the
ascendancy Of any greater general in our
armies than himself. He well enough
knows how damaging would be the sue
cessful genera!ship of any man in the army
to his own aspirations, and his chief advis-
ers share in the same prudential solicitude.
Hence, it is the highest evidence Of astute
cunning for him to attempt to crush the
rebellion by proclamations, slave insurrec-
lions and negro soldiers, in which the hon
or and glory will be his alone, the dishonor
and shame that of his generals
! dad is under the hay" The leaders
of the Republicans are, or will go under,
if we have restored Union and Consti.
tuition, especially if the Democrats aid in
the restoration. Hence the political ne.
cessity Of putting them, if possible, in g
hostile, without being at the same time ir
seriously dangerous, attitude.
Persistent efforts have been made te
tantalize those who adhere to Democrat
ic organization, into copperhead +" pol
icy. Having generally failed in this, s.Hon
est Old Abe " resorts to the more cunnins
CO of firing the Democratic heart, b.