The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-06-28

ordinary were there no movements afoot look
inc TO some other champion for the succession.
But very remarkable becomes this universal
silence In reference to General Grant when we
fnd. for instance, Mr.. Colfax trotted out in
one place and Mr.. Boutwell, in another as the
coming man, and we cannot avoid certain
line of reasoning when we are informed that
Mr. Sumner is riding the Alabama claims ques-
ton as a Presidential hobby, and that General
Butler is engineering the administration on
the negro question in order, for 1872, TO Sc
cure the inside track. In all these movements,
T'umors, and speculations we are strengthened
in the conclusion that it is an understanding
among the Republican managers that General
Grant is to retire at the end of his present
term. We think, too the opinion prevails
that this understanding is perfectly agreeable
to General Grant; that in fact, he has no
further ambition rs a public man except a
wish to go quietly through his one term and
then gracefully to retire, as an inexperienced
dancer walks through quadrille, satisfied if
be has created no confusion, torn no lady's
train and crushed nobodys toes But as it is
not the first swallow that briugs the spring
so it is not the first quarter of the first year of
new administration that determines its policy
or its destiny.
Under any circumstances these Presidential
movements, upon the question of time, in be-
half of Colfax, Sumner, Butler, or any other
new man, would be unwise and n waste of
labor; but in view of the great issues upon
which this administration is TO stand or fall,
il is utterly preposterous on the part of this or
that Republican clique to be pipe-laying now
for 1872 There are three-yea, four-ques-
tions, upon all, or upon any three, or any two,
or any one of which General Grant may so
shape his course as to be perfect master of the
succession, as completely so as was Jackson
in 1882, or Lincoln in 1864. These four ques-
tions are-the money question, the Alabama
claims Cuba, and Mexico. Upon the money
question Mr.. Boutwell, is on the right track,
with occasional deviations, no doubt from
the true line; but still ON the right track in
his programme of reducing the debt, the ex-
penses, and the taxes of the Government,
while enlarging his cash resources, and
steadily and not spasmodically gaining ground
towards the specie standard. Spectators
gold and stock gamblers, and financial kite
flyers generally, do not like him but in their
complaints we have the best evidence that he
is doing well for the Treasury and the people
at large. Thus far he is about the only men,
Der of the Cabinet who has done or is doing
anything to give any show of life and activity
in the administration, and he may by perse-
verance and faith become the head of the
corner.
On the Alabama claims we must be content
to await the lifting of the curtain; and so with
regard to Cuba, upon which question we
expect the curtain to be lifted month or two
hence, with the official disclosure of the over
lures of our new Minister General Sickles, to
the Spanish regency of President Serrano.
Concerning Mexico, it appears that the arrival
there at headquarters of our new Minister,
General Nelson had caused considerable lut-
tering among the natives, from the apprehen-
sion that his missisn is to ''gobble them all
up, from the Rio Grande to Yucatan; but
here, too, we must await the developments of
his impending negotiations. 1t is manifest
that upon all or any of these great questions
the present administration has scope and
verge enough for glorious success, and
scheming politicians may be too fast in now
pronouncing General Grant, upon the
threshold of the Alabama claims, Cuba, or
Mexico, a failure.
At all events, the experience of the last
| forty years has taught us that the surest way
to kill off, Presidential candidates is to trot
them out before the time. Thus we think
the over-zealous friends of Mr.. Colfax are in a
fair way to put him ''down among the dead
men, and that, on the other side, Mr.. Chase
is repeating his old mistake of being too early
in the field. 1t is folly on either side to talk
of Presidential candidates when the policy OF
the administration in the interval to 1872 may
so thoroughly demolish the two existing par.
ties as to bring into the foreground new men
and new measures, with two, three, or half &
dozen new political parties and factions.