The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-06-29

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smazement
When President Grant came into Office, he
found the executive department of the Gov
ernment dwarfed and belittled by the en-
croachments of usurping Congress, which
had virtually absorbed into itself all the
powers of the Government He had no con
ception of any other method of recovering
the just influence of the Executive than by
procuring the repeal of the Tenure-of- O1ice
law, and thereby gaining the means OF opera
ting upon the most vulgar and sordid motives
by which men can be influenced in public
life. Instead of aiming TO gain control of
vast and corruptng patronage, as if that
were the chief instrument of a statesman's
power, General Grant, if he had been
equal to his responsibilities, should have
made it his first aim to rival Congress in its
control over public opinion. He should have
brought into his Cabinet the seven ablest
men in the Republican party; men not
merely of conspicuous ability, but of wide
political and personal connections and recog-
nized weight in the party. IL he had sought
these, and found them, in Congress itself, he
would have weakened the influence of that
body by the loss of its most commanding in
tellects, as well as strengthened the Executive
by their accession to the Cabinet General
Grants only chance of forming vigorous
and efficient administration consisted in
bringing into it natural leaders of
could not quarrel without sinking itself in
the estimation of the party, and whom it
could not persistently oppose or slight
without splitting the party into fragments.
What would become of the liberal party in
England if it should get at variance with
Gladstone and Bright and Lowe and the other
leaders whose eloquence, counsels, and weight
with the country give them their great ascend
ancy over the public opinion of Great Britain?
nOnl1
against public contempt if it were composed
of men as imbecile and unknown as most of
the members of the Cabinet of President
Grant If General Grant had formed
his Cabinet of seven of the best
known and best trusted statesmen of
the Republican party, of the men
who furnish the party with ideas, and are
strongly entrenched in its affections, his adj
ministration might have been the master of
Congress instead of its slave There is not
in his Cabinet single individual who is
born leader of men; not one who ever had, or
is capable of forming wide political cOnnec-
tions; not one who ever originated, or is
capable of originating, great public measure;
not one who ever made speech or composed
a state paper that deeply impressed the pub
lie mind. In free country, where govern
ment is merely the agent of public opinion,
the political power will be actually welded by
those who have the best natural and acquired
gifts for commanding the confidence and
influencing the judgments of their fellow
citizens If all such men are found in Con-
gress and none of them in the Executive,
the Executive will necessarily be without
weight or prestige, and Congress will monopo-
lie the control of public affairs. In Eng
land, where the Ministry is the creature of
the House of Commons, and deposed as often
as it is outvoted, the Executive is neverthe-
less very powerful because it is always COM
posed of the very strongest men of the
ascendant party. In our own country, an
administration remains in office four years in
spite of Congress-; but if it consists of men
destitute of political weight, it must be an OBJ
| ject of perpetual contempt. Office is not in
! fiuence, but only a position in which inau-
| ence is possible when filed by men formed
| and trained for political leadership. If Gene
raj Grant had not found the Executive Depart
ment of the Government curtailed and weak,
he would have quickly made it so by filling it
| with such a squad of incapables as he has
foisted into the highest offices.
MEXIC0-wHAT SHALL WE DO WITH IT9
From the ~ Y. Herald.
We published yesterday short but crisp
letter from the city of Mexico "The entire
foreign population of that decaying republic
looks hopefully for annexation absorption, an
American protectorate or any other change
which will insure security to life and capital
and progress to the country. The Mexican
people are anxious and will which most jeal-
ously the behavior of Mr. Nelson and an out
cropping of Grants Mexican policy" This is
a graphic and exact picture of the condition
of the public mind in Mexico. The growth
of the contiguous northern republic is pro-
jecting the shadow of colossal figure over
the land, which every man sees and recog-
nizes. Those who have interests at stake in
the commercial channels of the country con-
template it hopefully, while those whose well
fare is connected with the landed and labor
interests look at it doubtfully and suspiciously,
because they know not how the impending
and inevitable change will affect them.
No sensible man-no, not even a sensible,
thoughtful Mexican-believes that order can
be established permanently in Mexico with
out the interposition or aid Of some other ma
ton more powerful and more advanced in
civilization and there is no nation that can in
terpose OF give helping hand but the United
States. AS to the development of the Won
derful natural resources of that country and
it's progress in wealth and population, the
Mexicans can do nothing themselves. Decay
is seen everywhere. Though one of the richest
and most beautiful countries in the worl d. 9
moral, political, and material blight rests upon
| it, from which there is no recovery but by the
infusion of new social, political, and industrial
elements. The day of either Spanish or ma
tive power has passed Neither can hold Mex
{ leo up to the progressive spirit of the age, ol
even to her present position. Under purely
native Indian rule, or that of the mixed races
? she must decline. The spasmodic efforts
1 made under the government of the IndiaI