The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-01-28
SPIRIT OF THE PRESS.
EDITORIAL OPINIONS OF TIE LEADING JOURNALS
UPoE CURRENT ToPIcs-CoMPILED EVERY
DAY FOR THE EVENING TRLEeRAPH.
Two Kinds of Friends.
'oShibOton Intelli0eacer.

pro,p Gts Washington I1tett0c6cer.
Tbere are two kinds of friends to General
Grant amorg the Republican politicians in
ConpIess, aud the distinction between them
IA rspidly cropping to the surface. First we
80 Tho class who rather liked General
Grant. ne was good man to run with; they
o;,bar preierred him to other rivals or possible
nominees. or they found themselves compelled
20 accent him. But they never meant that he
ssIIsi5 " reoIIv be the President. They rate his
canaoiiv at a very moderate figure, and their
oI,' Terv highly. They think he ought to be
oortent 10 accept the Congressional policy, let
So,cross have all the substantial power, and
he a6updantly happy to live in the Executive
Mansion. give dinners and levees, and execute
their DEGREES. They do not have feeling OF
contempt for General Grant-qulte the con-
trary with many, if not all OF them; Ihey
esteem him, perhaps, as a very worthy man
;ndeed and a skilful leader of armies. But,
COW tLev this does not involve craftsmanship.
Good sense aud good inclinatiOns may exist,
and vet not the arts OF government. Suggest
IN these politicians that General. Grant may
have a policy and views Of his own, and they
TepIy with smile. They do not consider
Good temper, an honest purpose, singleness OF
heart as better qualifications for correct con-
olusious than the habits of the bar and the
stump. the training of the Senate, and the
studies of the politician, however warped all
these faculties and requirements may be by
prejudice. passion, ambition, or cupidity.
1t is quite natural that this class should be
unwilling to repeal the Civil-Tenure bill. The
power is one they wrested from Mr.. Johnson
Why should General Grant want 1T? They
gave him the nomination at Chicago on the
basis of the m possidetis. Have they not for
two years wisely dispensed Office and patron
ageY Thus do they put it. 1t is nothing TO
them that the Constitution makes General
Grant responsible after the 4th OF March next
for the faithful execution of the laws, and that
pulic opinion will condemn his administration
If there ehall be no publication OF the public
service. The appointments ought, they think,
to be governed by high party considerations,
upon which they esteem themselves wiser
than the man OF war; as for military and
naval appointments and assignments, they, per-
haps, might be conceded; but that ought to be
enough,
There is another class of statesmen in Con-
gress who look at the matter quite differently.
These affirm that the country did not at the
last election decide for or again political
party, but rather voted its confidence in a man
whom it desired to rule. These believe Gene
raj Grant to be a person of excellent sense and
Judgment, wishing to harmonize the country
and secure fair administration of law. Such
q one, though not skilled in all the arts of the
politician, nor versed in book lore, they would
much rather trust than many of the passion
have been associated in CoDgreas. They pre-
fer sensible soldier to a sensation politician
They want peace. They want General Grant
to be really the President Of the country, and
to have the legitimate, rightful power of the
Executive office. They want him to succeed
to the measure of authority that Washington
Jefferson, and Jackson welded; to be the Presi
dent, and not a mere figure-head. If he is tt
be responsible, let him have free choice o
agents, and not be hampered or shackled
by having to report his action to the Senate
for confirmation. The pretended right Of re
view over removals by the Senate implies
some superiority either OF motive or discre
tion, and can only be accorded where the Con
stitutiOn places it, viz, in case of removals.
Which of these two views or sections o
opinion will prevail, it might be premature to
say. Upon the issue will depend, We think
the harmony of the President with Congress
and most certainly the success of the new ad
ministration. If Gen. Grant is to enter on hi
duties crippled by this Civil-Tenure act, /
requires no gift of prophecy to predict break
down. Now we are willing to see him have
fair opportunity, aHd all the means necessar.
to that opportunity. But this opportunit
MIR. Wilson's bill does not give, nor, If W
understand it rightly, Senator Edmunds'
Both assign the new President very sma
place in the picture of the next four years
The Senate looms up large enough, grandl
dispensing patronage; and If there be con
peting object on the canvass, it is not I'll
President, but the whisky ring and their col
federates, with the money OF the people as IL
dissolviug view.