The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-11-04

q remark as an old chief made about young
Indian who was testifying before a commits
sioner:-"Oh, he tells the truth; he has never
seen a white man before!" All the tribes
whom this committee visited seemed anxious
to pursue an agricultural life, and quite capa-
BILE of accommodating themselves to habits of
civilization if they could only be secured in
the possession of their lands And we are
pertinently reminded that in Canada, where
the Indians are not pushed back on the ap-
proach of white settlers, but permitted to
retain their homes while the tide of emigra-
ton passes by and surrounds them, we never
hear of Indian wars and massacres. OF course
to the rowing Indians of the Plains this COM
parison will not apply in full force. But the
experiment of treating them with truth and
justice has never been tried, and if only for
the sake of our own reputation it seems high
time to begin it.
THE PRESIDENT AND CONGRESS.
From the NJ Y World.
In a little more than a month, the Senators
and Representatives will be on their way to
the Federal capital; and when they have as
sembled, the popularity of the President will
be put to a severer test than it has yet en-
countered His annual message, which he
must soon begin to prepare, will put no great
strain upon his faculties, since there is no
necessity for writing it himself. 1t is not
very probable, since the late developments,
that he will subsidize the ready pen of his
brother-in-law Mr.. Corbin: but if Secretary
Fish furnishes the part which touches upon
our foreign relations and Secretary Boutwell,
the financial part, and the other heads of de-
partments their respective quotas, it will be
easy enough to get up a composite message
without much interruption of the Presidents
attention to his horses, pups, new billiard
tables, and the excursions and journeyings
with which he diversifes his favorite amuse-
ments. If Miss Anthony, or any other
'stateswoman," occupied his position, she
would probably discharge its duties with as
much ability, and great deal more attention,
zeal, and assiduity, than General Grant is
likely to exert; and if required to write mes
sage from her own resources, she would ex-
hibit more intellectual fecundity than our
sphinx of Chief Magistrate.
The message can easily be manufactured
by deputy; but as soon as Congress is fairly
in session, the President will be constantly
consulted by members, and cannot avoid dis
closing his deficiencies Even the brief extra
session which followed his Inauguration did a
great deal to ''disillusionize" his admirers.
He lost popularity every day. The very first
request he made of Congress was so absurd
as to fill both houses with surprise
and contempt; and after disregarding
his earliest recommendation, they had
no hesitation in treating him as a cipher
throughout that brief session. What has
taken place during the recess has no ten
dency to raise him in their estimation. His
frivolity during the summer months; his
failure, in all his journeyings among the
people, to utter one inspiring word or put
forth single idea on any subject of public
| interest; his indecisive dallying with the
| Cuban question, and underhand coquetting
with the insurgents while blasting their hopes
by his public course; his imbecile want of a
| policy on the Alabama claims question; the
scandalous completely of his near relative in
the late gold-gambling operations, and the
taint which has been cast upon his appointee
for Assistant Treasurer in this city, form a
web of unfavorable circumstances which give
great handle to those members of his party
| who may have motives for beittling his in
fluence. Vice-President Colfax, who is O
busy, intriguing salvy politician, and aspires
to be General Grants successor, will practise
all his arts to reduce the President to the
proper level of his extremely mediocre abili-
ties and Congress- unrestrained by any re-
spect for his influence, will treat him with
quite as little respect as was manifested fol
President johnson, if, like President John
son, he should be bold enough to oppose its
policy.
According to present appearances, tho ex
ecutive branch of the Government will be
dwarfed into absolute insignifcance during
| TINS administration. PRESIDENT johnson was
hated and feared; President Grant will only
be ignored and despised. Unlike most party
chiefs, he has no large body of attached per
sonal followers; and he has no power of act
ing ON public opinion and arraying it against
Congress, if Congress crosses his wishes. He
has neither ideas, nor eloquence, nor per
sonal magnetism, nor capacity for political
intrigues. He lacks all the means and instru.
ments by which men in high stations exert
influence, and subordinate other wills. His
imbecility was exhibited in the short extra
session at the beginning of his admintration;
and next winter, when Congress is in full
blast he will be a conspicuous example OF
how little official station can do for a man
who does not bring to it adequate abilities
The natural resources of a weak President
Is strong cabinet. If General Grant had
gathered around him the ablest and most ex-
perienced statesmen in the Republican party,
his administration might have commanded
the respect of Congress; just as in England a
strong administration is possible, although
tne Queen is person of weak intellect. But
General Grant fears or undertakes polti-
clans; he took none of them into his conf
denee IN the interval between his election
and Inauguration, and his Cabinet when he
announced 1t moves the astonishment and
disgust OF his own party. But the politicians