The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-11-12
Saturday Morning, November u, 1870.
Gen. Buffers Proposed Policy fer the
Administrations

Saturday Morning, November IL, 1871
Cen. xutler,s Proposed Policy fer the
Administration
It is not too much to say that there was
never since the world began line of politi-
cal conduct adopted with view to strictly
personal or even party ends that was success
full. Gen. Butler says that the Republican
party now lacks elements of coheson-that
all the old rallying-cries are obsolete, all the
old work accomplished, and that the present
administration has no influence with Con-
gress, neither the chief executive officer nor
either of his subordinates being able to Sc
cure the favorable consideration of that body
for any measure whatever. So the Lowell
statesman advises the administration deliber-
ately to adopt Ga policy" with a view to
strengthening itself and restoring the morale
of the Republican party-a party which from
his point Of view is evidently mere associa-
tion OF individuals for the purpose of gather
ing political spoils and distributing them.
Looking about him for a policy which, as an
expert in political therapeutics, be can con-
scientiousy recommend as remedy for the
party's alleged wasting condition, he sees, or
thinks he sees, that there is no domestic
question upon which the disintegrating ele
ments can unite. The party is hopelesslv
divided, he says, on the tariff, finance and
other leading questions; The might have add
ed that it is also hopelessly divided on the
question of the Real Presence and can come
to no sort of an agreement as to whether the
Northern lights are caused by electricity or
some mysterious and unknown agency. 1t is
necessary, therefore, that Gen. Grant should
find something in our foreign relations of
sufficient Importance to serve as foundation
the Alabama claims are selected as afording
the readiest pretext for the adoption of settled
principles and for the formal declaration of a
definite purpose. Gen. Butler would cut all
the Gordian knots OF diplomacy with which
Adams, Reverdy johnson, Motley, Stanley,
Russell, Clarendon and Granville have tied
up this question, and would make a peremp-
tory demand for settlement coupled with a
proposition to take the British Provinces on
this continent as an indemnity and give re-
would present to the covering empire eoar as
the dread alternative, and though he tells the
American people in a stage whisper that Eng
land cannot and will not fight, yet we are lett
to conclude that he would have the admins
tration proceed even to that extremity if Eng
land should happen to prefer fight to set
Element. !
Now we shall not undertake to discuss the
policy recommended. 1t may be wise and
patriotic, though it seems deplorably foolish
But there is no question about the folly Of
Gen. Buffers notion that policy arti6cially
framed with the utmost deliberation, with the
avowed purpose of keeping a party together
and advancing the political fortunes of a few
public men, will have the supernatural efica-
cy he claims for it. Andrew Johnson's "my
policy" with the knowledge of what has be-
come'of it and of him ought to be sufficient
lesson to everybody on this point. But Gen.
Buffers last bid for notoriety affords an op-
portunity to call attention to the animating
spun VI AiS SiooS VI pohtiCtoA1S sAae ouSuS
not to be neglected. 1t shows how he has re-
garded the Republican party in the past and
the whole nti-slavery agitation. He has
looked upon both merely as convenient means
for enabling him and men of his stampto be-
come conspicuous and to hold office. He il
incapable Of understanding that the Repub
lican party owed its origin to the deepest and
most solemn convictions of right that evel
took possession OF the hearts of whole peo-
ple-that the passion which swayed them was
not artfully contrived by few aspiring men,
but sprang FROM the uneasy conscience of a
nation. While he, and perhaps the Chand
lers and Camerons and Blairs of the land,
looked upon the war as "a good thing" ena.
bling some men to get large contracts and
some TO become famous at Fortress Monroe
and New Orleans, the masses OF the Republican
party gave their labor, their money and their
blood under the influence of an all-absorbine
feeling of mingled patriotism and humanity
that tor time, at least, swept out of the grea,
national heart every trace of seishness and
OF every unworthy motive.
Parties are not things of artificial growth.
If there is only carefully and Systematically
fostered quarrel with Great Britain to hold
the Republican party together, let it die at
once. But we do not see that it needs to be
patched up in the way Gen. Butler suggests.
On the other hand it has but just now given
the most satisfactory evidence possible of its
unimpaired vitality. In a year corresponding
with 1862, midway of the Presidential term,
it has elected about two. thirds of the national
House of Representatives, thus preserving for
two years more nearly its present relative
strength in that body. 1t has retained pos
session of nearly all the State governments it
ever controlled. 1t has elected majority OF
the members of sufficient number of State
Legislatures to insure the continuance of its
present decided preponderance in the United
States Senate. The tacit agreement to resist
Tammany corruption in its effort to get itself
nationalized, to support Gen. Grants admin
istration in its warfare upon whiskey rings,
Indian rings and robbers of the treasury, to
retain in careful and prudent way the posi-
ton of party of progress and reform, to
hold liberal and generous opinions and to fin
ish whatever work remains to be done to Sc
cure all citizens in their political and civil
rights, has been sufficient bond of union
since the more sharply outlined questions of
slavery, the war and reconstruction were set
tied. These principles which constitute the
foundation wherein the Republican party is
hniIt will hold for rfI ind
mite period. But if alarge number of Jonahs,
like Butler and his associates, who often bring
the good cause into contempt by their exas-
perating misbehavior, could be excommuni-
Gated the party would doubtless enjoy a more
vigorous old age,
And as for the failure of the administration
to gain support we imagine that it is not SO
much that fact as Gen. Buffers own failure
to secure any sort of attention to bis own
swift coming fancies that has convinced him
that the party is in feeble health. This is not
by any mean his first essay in notoriety hunt
ing; but who now remembers that famous
and much heralded speech in which he at
tackled coin as a medium of exchange and
proposed the permanent substitution Of the
paper currency9 What has become Of his
proposition to pay the national debt in green
packs9 How much attention did he get
wnen only few weeks ago be addressed his
gloucester constituents on the question of
the hsheries, and advised them to begin hos
tilities against the British authorities on their
own account? Which one of his numerous
sensational projects has received ponular an
dorsement: There is hardly man of Gen.