The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-07-05
THE PRESIDENTS POSITION.

FROM the ". L. Times.
The President is at this moment subjected
TO criticisms which no man situated as he is
could afford to disregard, since they proceed
not from those who are opposed to him in
politics, but from those who have hitherto
been among his most cordial supporters.
The complaint that in many important re-
spects he is disappointing the just expecta-
tions of the people gains ground every day,
and is echoed back from all parts of the
country. A year ago he had every advantage
in his favor. People were prepared to extend
to him the most generous consideration and
forbearance. Ordinary shortcomings would
have been readily pardoned. We have our
selves, as our readers will attest, ever been
foremost to do justice to his intentions, and
to place his actions in the most favorable
light before the country. But it would be
useless to deny that the President is render
ing it a task of increasing difficulty to defend
him against enemies into whose hands he is
constantly playing.
1t is certainly not the fault of his support
ers in the press that so thorough a want of
harmony exists between the Senate and him
self. Matters seem to be getting into very
much the same state as they were in the time
of Andrew Johnson. Projects in which the
President takes a deep interest are igno-
miniously cast out of the Senate This op-
position may partly be due to the dissatisfac-
l.
dents policy are regarded but it may be
traced still more clearly to the want of tact
which General Grant often displays in his
dealings with men. He seems to have lost
the art of conciliation. His nominations to
Office are dictated in many instances by
caprice, or by personal preferences which are
founded on motives inexplicable to those who
entertain high opinion of his character.
His antagonists, indeed, find it easy to inter
hu tiOD hot bo ic
influenced by all kinds of unworthy considera-
tions. We who have patiently stood by him
cannot TRANQUILITY accept that hypothesis.
But in presence of some of his acts we stand
bewildered-it is impossible to defend them;
it is impossible even to understand them.
! They are purely phenomenal in their charac-
ter, and cannot in any way be traced to the
ordinary causes of political action.
One of the great mistakes which President
Grant is making is to suppose that the quality
of determination, not to call it obstinacy,
which won for him many of his successes in
the field, will serve him equally well in the
arena of craftsmanship. The first duty of
any one who occupies his great position is to
suppress his own individual preferences
whenever they are in conflict with the public
| interests. Instead of exercising this degree
of self-denial, the President seems to know
but one rule-what he has once decided upon
must never afterwards be modified. If, for
some inscrutable reason, he promises an
office, nothing can induce him to alter his
purpose. He is deaf alike to the appeals of
his friends and the taunts of his enemies
Once more he has delighted his opponents
and disheartened his supporters. He has
made nomination for the New York Col
lectorship which sets rational explanation at
defiance. We have no desire to attack Mr.
Thomas Murphy Much may doubtless
be said in his favor. He has been
a good Republican, and has doubtless
endeared himself TO large circle of
friends. But President Grant knows per-
fectly well, or he might know if he chose,
that he ought not to have removed Mr.. Grin
nell in order to make room for Mr.. Murphy.
There was no necessity for the step. The
public have not been considered in it, Il is
! open to objections which have been placed