New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-11-20
TIE NEIT PRLNCLPLE

W hen the Liberals oil England came out OF
! the quarrel with james IL. they found they
/ had conquered a new principle. Their triumph
| did much toward consolidating British LiOeI-
| ~. Its surrender would have been cOwartlice
We understand the feeling Of confidence which
tho reign of William inspired, and the cOmpia-
cency with which even the Tories would have
witnessed the transfer to that wise prince OF
powers that were violently wrested from the
First Charles and the Second James. The Lib
erals were wise not 60 yield to it.
We presume something of this sentiment OF
esteem and confidence suggests the argument
that because Gen. Grant is our next President
every law affecting the powers of the Executive
shall be repealed. Some over-zeaous Demo
clats-not altogether, we fear, without visions
OF bread and butter-inslst that we shall i'm
mcdiately return to the customs OF the time OF
Jackson. The Tenure-Of- Office bill must be
rcpealcd and not TO repeal IT is to express a
want Of confidence in Gen. Grant Now
We have as much confidence in Cen
Grant as we would have in Gen. Washing
ton We believe him TO be a discreet and able
man. and that he will show honesty, devotion,
energy, and wisdom. We desire to strengthen
his hands, and send him floating on the waves
This is one of the reasons why we are 80
strenuous IN support Of the principle that the
term Of public Office shall be measured by the
efficiency of the public officer.
TO repeal this bill and thus open upon Gen.
Grant the foOdgates of entreaty, intrigue and
pauperism, would be to condemn him to a sad
fate. 1t would be almost realizing the legend
of the Bishop who fed to his castle in the
Rhine-only to be pursued to the outer battle
ments and devoured by the rats. Think OF the
cider suckers and MINISTRIES, who
destroyed Harrison, and of the murrain that
Oyersprcad the White House during Lin
coins days. Grant would meet more dreadful
fate. The whole Democratic party is after him.
Ii wants TO be "propitlated" Then he is fol-
lowed by the whole Republican party. 1t
wants to be recognized" Between the pro-
pitiation of enemies and the recognition of
friends his Presidential Office would be little
more than a vast brokers' Office. This will GER
tanly come if we repeal the present act, and
put upon him the responsibility Of removal and
appointment
We understand how difficult it is to draw
the line between official accountability and
Executive responsibility. Wise men say that
the provisions of the Tenure Of Office act make
the Executive Office u nullity, and that if its
provisions are enforced the Presidency can
never be properly filed, and that nothing but
moral influences operating on the mind
of a President can ever really restrain
him from tyrannical uses of his
powers. If we had an assurance
that every President would be like Washing
ton and Jefferson and Adams, there would be
no harm. But we have had Jackson and
Pierce and Buchanan and johnson. We have
seen extensive removals from Office to crafty
party spleen, or answer the necessities of party
discipline. We saw Mr. johnson decree a
wholesale removal Of good men merely because
they differed with him upon the terms of
Southern Reconstruction. The temptation is
too great to commit TO the unchecked respon-
Ablbiy OF human nature, We would readily
trust Gen Grant, but laws cannot be made or
nmade TO suit our Presidential likes and dis
likes. Gen. Grant, at the utmost, will only he
with ms eight years and after Grant-whati
Probably another Andrew johnson.
We dismiss men and party sympathy and
all minor and personal considerations. Tue