New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-02-13
TIE NEW DEPARTURE -WH4T Rep CBLT-
CdNLSM MUST 10.

TIE NEW DEPARTURE -WHAT REPUBLI-
CANISM MUST 20. ..
1t is amusing to contrast the excitement of
Washington Politicians with the patience of
the people. The City of Washington is an odd
place. 1t is city without any of the elements
of n city; without manufactures and without
commerce. 1t has a thin struggling line of
railway connections. II is something between
n caravansary and an almshouse. People go
there TO live 10 serve the Government aud
many of them remain 10 BIO served by the Gov
eminent. The atmosphere of Washington is
fGtid compared with that of the country. Every
other man lives upon the Public Treasury, and
so all eyes are directed toward the Public
Treasury. There is no place on this fertile
globe where Power is more absolutely respected.
When President Johnson lost the confidence of
the country to such degree that he could
hardly receive proper respect in the West,
Washington embraced him and honored
him, and formed itself into Departmental Clubs,
for his glory. This affection existed until
il was duly announced that Gen. Grant was
the elected President of the United States!
Now, in this busy city of Washington poll
ticians are clamoring about the new Cabinet ;
unapprecated statesmen are in agony because
they ale not recognized" men who have sue
ceeded in reaching Office by controlling cancuses
and conventions are moaning because they
have not been "sent for.n All former
precedents are overlooked. Gen. Grant
does not appreciate the prodigous states
manship seethng around the Capitol.
and disconsolately floating up and down
Y 10 IL, - ,1ol
ticans (and because everybody in Washington is
politician, everybody is clattcriRg), leaving the
country behind them as the least concern of
their troubles, forget that the men who SOW,
and reap, and pillow, do not care the value of a
turnip about their griefsl The country feels
that this whole Cabinet discussion is artificial
and unnecessary. A Cabinet is simply
what the President chooses to make it. It's
members are the creatures OF his will
the ministers of his power. They do as he
commands with the Treasury, with the
Army, with the Navy, with the Post
Office. If they do not please him, he
put new men in their places. If he
wants advice. they will give it. With
him is the responsibility, whether they adj
wise or not In limited monarchies the
Cabinet is the responsible government Of the
Crown. II its members act unwisely they forfeit
their Office; but under our Government Cabinet
Ministers may be as mischievous and sub
servient as even those of Mr.. johnson, and no
power can reach them. They are the irrespon-
sible ministers of responsible officer. All that
the country asks from that officer is the
execution of the laws. \. ....r.,g ..,...
This simple proposition is trayestied into
an assertion that Gen. Grant is to introduce tho
discipline of West Point into his admihistra-
ton. and that hereafter all tho executive
duties are to DO "by command Of the
President We are informed that Gen. Grant
is nothing but military mani that no
win be controlled by his military Instincts;
that he will probably have "dress PARADE
and taps and "reyeille," and mount guard"
around the White House; that he will insist
upon reviewing Congress two or three times q
week, and If ever the legislative body be-
comes as ,inmanageable as 1t was under Mr..
johnson he viii send his veto messages by q
squadron of cavalry. This is mere .badinagel
Gen, 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. Unosten-
tatious, unassuning, brave; without ambition,
forbearing, resolute in doing what he deems to
be right, but never offensive in asserting