The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-12-12


Government were allowed by Great Britain
to have its own way. Colonial authorities
rely so constantly upon the backing of the
parent State that they sometimes forget TO
calculate consequences. With the British
Government the case is different. It's sense
Of responsibility leads il to be cautious and
we shall not be surprised if Earl Kimberly
rebuke the Ottawa politicians for reviving a
quarrel which England is i'll prepared to
meet. Her rulers and people have too many
important matters in hand to waste time or
temper over the provincial claim to fish. It
is however, the duty of President Grant in
communicating with the British Government,
to present the issue in its broadest aspect.
Russia objects to the operation of treaty
concerning whose construction there is no
doubt. The United States owe to themselves
q distinct declaration that they discard as
untenable the British version of the conven-
ton respecting the fisheries, and that they
are not willing to tolerate the enforcement
of that version by Dominion officials. We
look to London not Ottawa, for an answer.
REPUBLICAN CRITICISM OF THE AD-
MINISTRATION.
From Ha,per'S Weekly
The free Republican criticisms of the ad-
mlnlstration have had one signal effect They
have demonstrated the hearty hold of the
administration upon the public mind. Not
one of those critics, except the Chicago Tri-
6une, is disposed to look for reform beyond
the Republican organization, and none of
them expect it of the Democratic party
There are always orators and writers enough
to glorify the situation, and we are therefore
very much obliged to those other observers
who show us what remains to be done. There
are two kinds of travellers: those who prefer
to sit around the campfire, and to tell the
brave story of the journey; and those who
look to see how the camp may be made more
secure, and where to-morrow's s path must be-
Both dispositions are equally observable in
public affairs; and nobody should be more
heartily welcomed by party than the critic,
and even the grumbler. The old king had a
skull laid beside his plate at the banquet. If
the old Democratic party had encouraged
criticism instead of servility, it would have
been much wiser, and of a much longer life.
1t is a great mistake to try to initiate the
Democratic method in the Republican orga-
nization. There are th ousand reasons why
it could not be done. There is one all-sufi-
cient reason why it should not be done. 1t
would destroy the party.
Since the election, which has shown, des pite
every degree of jealousy, discomfort, and Sc
rious difference, that the Republican ascend
ency is virtually unshaken, two things be-
come clearer. First, general feeling that
the President will be renominated by the
party; and second, that harmony upon every
essential point is not impracticable. Entire
harmony there cannot, of course, be- We,
for instance, who advocate q civil service re-
form do not expect that Congress will at once
pass law which will wholly satisfy all our
wishes. But we do expect to see the senti-
ment OF the party more and more definitely
declared for that reform, and we certainly
do not expect it from any other pos
sible party. So the protectionists and
the free-traders, or revenue reformers,
will not expect to have all their
views embodied in the policy of the party;
but each may justly expect concession from
the other. The World says that free trade
is a motto nailed to the Democratic mast, and
the party will go into the campaign of 1872
with that cry. We cannot, of course regard
the World as the best authority for the
Democratic policy; but any party which, in
the present condition of the country, de-
clares for free trade and direct taxation will
not elect President in 1872. Undoubtedly
the Democratic party will put into its next
Presidential platform some fine phrases about
free trade. But its orators upon the Penn
sylvania stump, for instance, will not enlarge
upon that plank.
We expect that the course of the admins
tration and of Congress during the winter
will tend to rapid union of all Republican
the months since the adjournment will
have shown Congress that the country wishes.
first of all, peace at home and abroad; then
financial relief; and; as security of that and
of the general honesty and economy of ad-
minlstration, weakening of the system of
patronage which now holds and abuses the
civil service. In the State of New York there
is, and has been for some time, deplorable
difference in the Republican party. 1t is in
every way humiliating and harmful. Bat it
cannot be healed until its cause is removed.
And that cause is not person but a system.
1t is patronage which is responsible for the
discerd of the party. If the Senators and
Representatives of New York could truly say
with Mr.. Mundella that they had not the
slightest personal influence in the appoint
ment of the least officer in the civil service,
and the same were true of local and State
Representatives., the party would be entirely
harmonious; and We might say of any of our
various departments as Mr.. Mundalla said
of the Post Office in England, that it was
the most efficient and economical institution
in the country. The New York difference
can be reconciled if Congress will thus lead
the way.
Financial relief can be, and we have no
doubt will be, found in policy of reducing
intern al taxation to few luxuries, and in
adjusting the tariff to a revenue standard
while the burden of the debt is removed from
this generation. That this i'd the settled wish
of the country there can be no doubt. Nor
is there any question that tranquil and
burdens, rather than to Buncombe eloquence.
would be most advantageous to the party,
The difficulty with the last session was that
Con Oress seemad To have no narcaption Of