The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-02-15
THE WRITING ON THE WALL.
{From the Round Table, February 1871

from t1c hOuuu lAUitJ coUiuhiJ Ao'J
Joubert said that there are heads that have
no windows, aud that daylight cannot strike
from above Such are the heads Of the jour
that important truth about General Grant .
future political relations which was clearly set
forth by the Round Table as long as last No.
vember. Immediately after the Presidential
election it was shown in these columns that
the situation of the successful candidate reia-
lively to the extremists of the dominant party
was such that lie must inevitably either be
ruled by them or sat them OF daiance; that,
inasrnuch rs at the tiine OF the convention,
they needed him very much more Than he
needed them, it was uulikely, even were he
plastic man, that they could control his policy
as President; and that, as he is by no means
plastic man, the contrary alternative might be
ton to furnish IDEAS for the journalists-cus-
tom has made it easy; for the DISCRIMINATING &
public will bear witness how regularly the
seeds have been sown by the Round Table that
have subsequently sprouted into full bloom
| sensations, crusades and startling develop
menls IN the fertile pages Of the dailies. But
| we really think their windows might have been
| sufficiently open TO admit so obvious and nee
essary an inference as this about General
Grant without beng obliged to take it from
second hand; moro especially after so long O
time that, through its dissemination among the
masses the instructive reflection has come
| from below rather than from above.
General Grants visit to the metropolis, at
moment just before his inauguration, seems to
have bcen instrumental in producing this sud
| den enlightenment, and for reasons not dltfi-
cult to find. He has for somo time beon
strengthening himself with war Democrats
and conservative Republicans, and giving the
Radicals Of boh parties IN impartial cold
shoulder. This has been accomplished through
means well understood by tho initiated, but
only dimly appreciated, through results, BY
the general public. Floating i'll the atmos,
phere observation-disclosures OF how none could
exactly te.l-has been, and is, the conviction
that between Giaut and the hitherto ail-pow-
erful Radicals is to be o leathess ieud. But
| With the Generals visit to New York this has
taken o more pa pable form. It is now known
that the disposition Of those great bones OF
contention, and, III tue matter Of their dlstr'-
button, those unerrlng indices OF policy, tLe
| Cabinet Offices, the foreign missions, anu the
three greIJ government positions at the me-
tropolis, will be such as to constitute Sallnt-
let o. defiance thrown down at the feet OF the
| Radical faction. 1t is known that the Treas
ry has been olfere1 to AIR. 4. L. Stewart-auti
| that he has declined it. Tho State Depart
ment has Gcen offered to Mr. Charles frunc!s
Auams-and lie has taken the proposal into
serious consideration. Should he refuse, MIR.
| Motley is the next choice. The War depart
ment-and this is very sGniticanIhas been
rendered to General Mcclellan, and has SO tar
neither been accepted nor declined. Ex-Gov-
crnor Fish has the option OF the portfolio IN
the latter case. The Navy Department hav-
ing been gratefully declined by Admiral Farra-
gut, has been offered to Admiral Porter, who
is pretty sure to accept it. Strong etf5its have
been made to induce the appointment OF MIR.
Z. b. Washburne as Minister 10 France, but
they are almost certain 10 tail. 1t IS pretty
wel decided that MIR. NJ. II. Grinuell Is to be
Collector Of New York, aud that Mr. =. A.
| Dana will be either Surveyor or Navy agent.
The last-named gentleman is almost as popu,,
lar with Democrats as with Republicans, aod
his appointment and subsequent career-ape
aud upright man that he is-wlll 90 Tar to
ehacc the stain left on Now York Journalism
by the conduct, III The latter cflice, Ut former
Incumbent. Other names might be men,
toned i'll connection with Important posts still
more sharply indicative OF Radical d!scomnt-
ure, and tho only sop to Cerberus seems TO
consist in the SELECTION OF Mr.. GteSioy as M'h-
lister to Engiand-a step for wnicl there arc
exceptional reasons, aud which IL now sa;d t.
be f.aly determined u!5on. Mr.. john W.
Formey has been spoken vi Tor MI. ureeiey :
long supposed fusaro nlche-the Postolicc
but Mr.. furney's sinister connection WIN lct'
tens IN Former days, wou!l materially damage
his cuan5es, even II Ills cNtrolus i'-uAS'is'n uiu
| not.
all this clearly indicates the genora nature
of President Grants future policy. Inc had
icals have not lifted him to power, ana no does
not mcan TO show them gratitude tor laVors
not conferred. he Knows That he Is strong
enough witaout them. Moreover, lot because
thev are Repubiicans-for Democrats IL tue
like position would have done the same-bu'
because they lad the chance, the extremists
are So far ldeutiied with the schemes OF public
plunder that Grants cherished plans OF re-
trcrchment and economy must needs bring
about collision. Thus the handwriting on
the wall is daily becoming plainar and plaiuer
and there is little occasion to regret It's I'M
port. Tne Radical faction has ouSlved tht
system that gave 1t birth quite long enough
couch about it and prepares to lie down Il
pleasant dreams the better for the nation.
| F<~p-