The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-12-04


as those of the Union generals. Even Semm-s
and the notorious achievements of the Alabama
are valuable as a national recole Jtion, mis-
chievOus as they were as a fact. 1t two or
three could ipfict such hideous destruction
and frighten the commerce of great nation
from the seas, what would whole fleets of such
cruisers not accomplish - fleets which We
could build in our own parts, and let looss
upon the commerce Of an enemy. No matter
who might be President for the next four
years, we should be in no danger of denial
of justice by foreign nations. And besides, it
will not be for General Grant but for Congress,
to decide whether the country shall engage in
war or remain at peace.
In managing our foreign relations, General
Grant will be- wholly dependent upon his Sec
retaTy of State; and it is of great importance
that this officer should be wisely selected.
When the appointment is announced, the
qualifications should be so preGminent and
acknowledged, that nobody would think of in
quiriug why it was made. If Grant offers
this position to the fittest man in the Repub-
lican party, it will be given to Charles Francis
Adams; but we have no reason to expect so
suitable a choice. The appointment OF Mr..
Adams would be wise in every view. The
frmness, high and quick sense of national
honor, and masterly ability which he ex.
hibited in the most trying and important
diplomatic post during the war, have given
u
men of the world. Moreover, his appointment
would have q tranquilizing effect upon our
domestic differences. Although Mr.. Adams
has been a steady Republican, he is respected
by the Democratic party and by the South.
We are sorry that we cannot hope for so fit
selection.
While we do not expect so good an ap-
pointment as Mr.. Adams, we trust that we
are not to have so bad a one as Mr.. Sumner.
Mr.. Summers knowledge of foreign politics is
respectable enough to suggest his name in
such connection. He has been fot a long
time the chairman of the Senate Committee of
Foreign Affairs he has a considerable acquaiut-
ance with the public men of Europe; is
conversant with diplomatic usages; has
turn for research which would stand him in
good stead in the questions which Secretary
of State has occasion to investigate. But he
is man of great ostentation and deficient
judgment; bigOt, a pedant, prater,
political fanatic, with chronic
soreness and loneliness which make
him hate the South as a dog in the
agonies of hydrophobia hates water. To place
him at the head of the Cabinet would look as
if General Grant took an unmanly pleasure
in irritating and humiliating the South. We
trust that the country has guarantee against
such an intiction in the natural inoompatbility
between such temper az Sumner and that OF
General Grant. The ponpOus arrogance aud
ostentatious display OF this wordy rhetorician
should naturally be unpalatabls, if not dis
gusting, to cool, sedate, unprstendiDg man
of action, bater of parade and rigmarole,
like General Grant. 1t was Sumner who stood
up in the Senate and denounced General
Grants report on the condition of the South as
piece of dishonest "whitew9shing. We
are pretty safe against the calamity of his
being made Secretary of State.
The range of selection for this ofi,e is so
narrow among Republicans with any recog-
nize1 qualifications to fill it, that We can
hardly ignore Mr.. Seward as a possible selec-
tiOn. His retention would have at least this
advantage, that it could not be construed as
manitestiDg an uniIiendly feeling towards the
South. Mr.. Stewards large acquaintance with
our domestic politics and public men would
be of great service to President so inexperi-
enced as General Grant, owing to the fact that
he automatically smoothed over General
Grants conduct in the matter which raised a
question of veracity between him and Presi-
dent Johnson. But it is easy, on the other
hand, to discover many reasons why Mr..
Seward is not likely to be retained. His only
Glance, if he has any, lies in the conflicting
livalships of inferior competitors. He may
possibly be retained because no other man
really qualified for the duties of the Office is
strongly enough pressed to make it difficult
for General Grant to set aside his claims. If
Mr.. Seward should be kept few months be-
cause General Grant does not see his way
clear to a fit appointment, he would have a
pretty secure hold upon the office afterwards.