The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-02-16
WHAT 10 DO ABOUT GRANT.

: portents are more alarming, and its perplexity
Is more dense and battling, with each day thai
brings nearer the Inauguration of the next
PRESIDENT 1t was an accident that either
.; Tyler or johnson acceded to the presidency
and marred the plans of the politicians who
nominated them. But it is not an accident
that Grant, no more identified in his previous
J. history with the party which nominated him
: than johnson or Tyler was, is entering upon
the same Office. In fact, he was put at the
head OF the Republican ticket because he was
not explicitly committed in word or act to the
characteristic doctrines and practices of the
hepuohcan party. 1t was simply an act of
{ party desperation. The alternative was Grant
for President on his own terms or certain de-
feat with any other candidate.
The politicians who made him the Repub-
ilcan nominee required of him no distinct
pledge, no bond, no hostage. So uncondi-
uonal was their surrender to his popular
availability that they placed in his hands, SO to
speak, blank form of contract to be filled ND
after his election, and at his leisure, with
such specific stipulations as might be agreea-
bic with his judgment or convenience. Such
being the circumstances of mis- nomination
and election, it would seem almost moral
lmpossibility that he could afterwards deport
himself as Republican of the straightest
school, so as to command the implicit conf
dence of Sumner and the sincere applause of
Greeley, or to silence the 'sardonic criticisms
OF Phillips and escape unlashed of the whole |
Philippine stripe of Radical monitors |
and mumbo jumbos. Yet it appears |
from the manifest chagrin excited |
In Republican quarters by his recent conduct |
and utterances, that something of this sort |
was expected of him. Nothing could be
more illogical, but we will not say that it is
unnatural Those who are most ready to
abandon themselves to some extraordinary
and unpromising expedient with the reckless
ness OF despair, are also the most likely to
indulge, IN respect to the final result of the
expedient, In the intoxication of a groundless
hope This intoxication, however, has been
broken by lucid intervals in which the condi-
ton of the Radical mind was that of dis.
tressing suspense and anxiety.
And such an interval, beyond doubt. was
flashed upon it by the speech of Grant the
other day, to the committee who notified
him OF his election, and there is scarcely a
chance that it can pick up more hopeful
view of the incoming President this side of
Inauguration day-perhaps not afterwards.
Every word in this speech implied reproba-
ton of the Republican majority in Congress-
or distrust of the Republican politicians in
and out of Congress. He would not name his
appointments to the cabinet in advance, lest
the lntrigues of these politicians, having
some weeks to operate in, should defeat the
confirmation of those appointments in the
Senate and prevent him from obtaining cabi- :
net OF his own choice In the whole history of | =
the government there never was so pronounced :,
suspicion entertained by President elect
towards the party which he was, presump-
lively, about to represent in the executive q
hair. In what degree he reproached the u
republicans who have exercised absolute a.
way In Congress, and through violent -
tretches OF legislative authority, absolute -
way IN all departments of tbs government, u
nay be seen In tho sesentences of the speech in -
which he declares that economy and retrench- III
nent shall be the cardinal reforms set before "a
is administration, and that he will insist upon
aving honest suboIdinates everywhere. and ie
lore especially in the revenue offices, no IN
latter how often he may have to dismiss his 70
wn appointees OF course he cannot be oi'
'norant that the urgent occasion for IL
'onomy and retrenchment to which he refers De
as been created by this Republican Con- ui'
'ess. He must know that it is through their .ei
'ntrivance that the United States govern ny
ent has become the most extravagant and Gel
rrupt on the face of the earth. Knowing oe'
this, he can scarcely conceive without an me
sane strain of the imaginative faculty me
ID he is, they say, one of the most unimagina- oai
re OF men-that he will be heartily sup I'm
rted in carrying out his proposed reforms mo
the Republican majority in the next Con- wn
ess, the most of whom are members of the uol
esent Congress. The leopard is about as con
ely to change his spots as such legislators on
change their habits and procliyities. Qua
hat, then, can be his calculation If tne
is in downright earnest, expecting. as ooc
must nationally expect an opposition, open mul
covert, on the part of the Republican ma sue
ty to his policy of economy, and he can only CITY
to the veto power backed by the Demo- pay
tic minority as the means of sustaining this que
icy IN any degree In Congress- But he '-O-
not compel by this means the repeal of reas
loxious laws, and it is these quite as much VINO
corrupt officials which do the present mis- Oh
ef On the whole, along with an almost sure
Vitable rupture with the Republican party incl
lpture as utter and bitter. perhaps, if not -,
as that of Andrew johnson II
the same party-he is, judging from the Us +
ech above mentioned, about to address ooi,e
self to work dreadfully more complex Sucn
difficult than any which ever lay before anu
american President elern
eanwhile the Republican caucus at Wash
on which has SO long, in the character of Co,
,preme revolutionary committee had full IT
g over all the affairs of the country, more oooor
more don't know exactly what to do 1;St;.
1t Grant Having made him, nominally ~
head of their party as well as head of the