The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-02-15
SPIRIT OF THE PRESS.
EDITORIAL OPINIONS OF TBR LEADING JOURNALS
UPoE CURRENT ToPIcs-ooMPmKD EVERY
DAT FOR THE EVENING TELRaRAPH
The New Departure-WhatK Kcpublicanism
Must DO.
yrom ns N. =. tribune.


From Gss N. y. Tribune.
II Is amusing to contrast the excitement of
washington politicians with the patience of
the people. The city of Washington is an odd
place. II Is city without any of the elements
OF city; without manufactures and without
commerce. 1t has thin struggling line of
railway connections. 1t is something between
caravansary and an almshouse. People go
there to live TO serve the Government, and
many OF them remain to be served by the Gov
vernment. The atmosphere of Washington is
t0tid compared with that Of the country.
Every other man lives upon the public trea-
sury, and so all eyes are directed towards the
public treasury. There is no place on this
globe where power is more absolutely re-
spected. When President Johnson lost the
confidence of the country to such degree
that he could hardly receive the proper re-
spect in the West, Washington embraced him
and honored him, and formed itself into de-
partmental clubs for his glory. This affection
existed until IL was duly announced that
General Grant was the elected President of the
United States
Now, in this busy city Of Washington poll
ticians are clamoring about the new Cabinet:
unappreoiated statesman are in agony because
they are not "recognized;" men who have sue
ceeded in reaching Office by controlling eau
ouses and conventions are moaning because
they have not been "sent for." All former
precedents are overlooked. General Grant
does not appreciate the prodigious statesman
ship seething around the Capitol and discon-
solately floating up and down Pennsylvania
avenue. The eager, Gathering politicians
(and because everybody in Washington is a
politician, everybody is clattering), leaving the
country behind them as the least concern of
their troubles, forget that the men who SOW,
and reap, and plough, do not care the value of a
turnip about their griefs The country feels
that this whole Cabinet discussion is artificial
and unnecessary. Cabinet is simply
what the President chooses to make il. Its
members are the creatures of his will-the
ministers of his power. They do as he COM
mands with the Treasury, with the Army,
with the Navy, with the Post Office. II they
do not please him he can dismiss them in an
hour, and put new men in their places. If he
wants advice they will give it. With him is
the responsibility, whether they advise or not.
In limited monarchies the Cabinet is the re-
sponsible government Of the Crown. II its
members act unwisely they forfeit their office;
but under our Government, Cabinet Ministers
may be as mischievous and subservient as
even those of Mr.. Johnson, and no power can
reach them. They are the irresponsible min
listers of responsible officer. All that the
country asks from that officer is the execution
of the laws.
This simple proposition is travestied into
an assertion that General Grant is to intro
duce the discipline of West Point into his
cutive duties are to be "by command of the
President" We are informed that General
Grant is nothing but q military man; that he
will be controlled by his.military instincts; that
he will probably have "dress parade" and
"taps," and "reveille," +" and "mount guard
around the White House; that he will insist
npon reviewing Congress two or three times a
week, and if ever the legislative body becomes
as unmansgeable as 1t was under Mr.. Johnson
he will send his veto messages by a squadron
of cavalry. This is mere badinage General
Grant is as thoroughly citizen to-day, as
perfectly civilian in his habits, as any man in
the country. We can think OF no one in
public station who represents more fully the
idea of the American gentleman. Unostenta-
tious, unassuming, brave; without ambition,
forbearing, resolute in doing what he deems
to be right but never offensive in asserting
himself General Grant is man of the people;
ene in heart and feeling with the men who
dig and plough and weave. He is the Scene
raj of the Army" to be sure; but what was
that armyS Not the mere fringe of the regu-
lar officers and soldiers, who numbered, say, at
most, rs, 900! The army was the people.
The millions who carried muskets in defense
of the country are the men whose labor now
gives the nation strength and prosperity.
They had no better representative than
General Grant as soldier. We shall be
mistaken if they are not satisfied with him as
civilian. r
For ourselves, we contemplate serenely the
advent of an administration that will be inde
pendent of politics so far as mere politicians
are concerned. We have seen so much of the
Caucus" the delegation" business the
''making of public opinion" the aggressive,
eager rushing of incompetent men demanding
in an imperious manner to be conciliated aud
honored, that the change will be for the best.
General Grant can find NO better model than
General Washington. All we can expect from
him is that he will not take into his counsels
men who have been disloyal to the war, or
untrue to the principles of the Republican
party. To entertain any other suggestion
would be to doubt his honor. Beyond tha,
we care nothing. The country will be abun-
dainty satisfied with the Cabinet If the
work of the Government is well per
formed. We beg General Grant no,
to mistake the din, and clatter, anG
hustle OF the Capitol for public opinion
Public opinion is quite content. II certainly
does not intend to Judge General Grant:
administration before he begins it. 1t will b,
quite recOnciled to see the 'unapprecatet
statesmen earning their livelihood by hard
bodily labor, and the ten thousand anxious
"Leaders of The Party obtaining ss'recognl
ton" by the sweat OF their brows. The Re
publican party needs it's best men in the ad
vance. II has passed through the struggl
of mighty war. IL has seen the overthrow
of slavery. 1t. has sustained freedom in spit
of the treachery of the outgoing President.
has outlived corruption aud shame in its owl
counsels. 1t has seen one great and truste
leader carry to the opposition all the weigh
that came from his splendid intellect and hi
great name. The issues that have thus ia
waldad IL together are dead II ia triumph