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

Editoria, Opinions ofthe Leading Journals
upon Current opios-CompiIed Every
Day for the Evening Telegraph
OUR PARTIES AND PUBLIC MEN
THE POLITICAL HORIZON.


ment of the present session of Congress as a
standpoint for looking at the prospect around
us, We may form some idea of the future
The political situation was never more tame.
fiat, and devoid of excitement in this coun-
try. Never was there such a lack of strong
public men, of leading aud powerful minds,
either to arouse popular fervor on questions
already up or to create new stirring issues
1t is the same with one party as with the
other. The Democrats and Republicans
alike are without strong leaders or popular
issues.
As President Grant is the head and repre-
sentative of the dominant Republican party
and must be the candidate of that party in
1872, his message may be regarded as a sort
of platform on which the Republicans will
stand. True some new issues may be raised
between the present time and 1872, either
through the course of coming events or by
the party in Congress. But we sea none at
present. Well, what are the Republicans
going to make the contest upon? The mes
sage of the President to Congress is highly
respectable State document, remarkably con-
servative and peaceful, but tame and mega
tive. The negro is used up as q political
hobby. The war issues have been exhausted.
Both the odium and the expected bene-
fits of reconstructing the South have been
used nearly as far as they could be by both
parties. Reconstruction is virtually finished,
and little more can be made out of it, The
negroes as well as the white people of the
South will henceforth range themselves with
political parties on questions affecting their
material interests. AS to financial questions.
neither party has comprehensive, we'll de-
fined policy. The rapid payment of the debt.
which Mr.. Boutwell, endeavors to make 40
much OF, through the burdensome taxes wrung
from the people, cannot make much political
capital for either the Secretary of the Trea-
sury personally or the administration. And
as to revenue measures, the Republicans are
divided according to the interests of the Sec
tions of country they represent. It is the
same, in a measure, with the Democrats
though they are more united than the Repub-
Hcans on such measures.
@On questions of foreign policy or our rela-
tlons with foreign countries neither the
administration party nor the opposition has
any policy to awaken the popular mind. The
Alabama claims, the fishery question, and the
navigation of the st. Lawrence, which the
President has discussed pretty fully in his
message, night bring up popular issue; but
we rather think General Grant will not force
one, and that the British government is so
intent on maintaining peace with this coun-
try that these matters will be smoothed over
or remain in a quiescent state The Presi-
dents mind seems full of the st. Domingo
annexation scheme, for it is dwelt on at great
length in the message; but there is not
enough IN that to make any political capital
Indeed, the suspicion is generally entertained
that there is a Job in the scheme, and that
the President, though not a party to it, is
misled by those having his confidence.
The annexation idea is always popular
one with the American people, but in the case
OF st. Domingo they say cUj b0RO9 or what
is to come out of it? The island is naturally
very rich, as most tropical countries are; but
If there be not the population, or you cannot
get the population there to develop this natu-
raj richness, where is the value? The st.
Domingo question cannot be made popular
one. 1t is different with Cuba. That island
has not only as much natural wealth as st.
Domingo, or more, but has all the developed
wealth OF prosperous country-most valu-
able and large productions, a large popula-
tion, extensive commerce, railroads, tele-
graphs, great cities, splendid ports, and all
the elements of progressive and civilized
country, besides being almost within gunshot
OF the United States. Then there is the
popular sympathy of the American people
with their neighbors struggling to shake off
the yoke of European despotism and to
establish republican Institutions This would
be popular question for the President and
his party; but he chooses to ignore Cuba and
the Cubans.
striking policy on the questions referred to,
and both are drifting along laziy on the slug
glsh stream OF used-up political questions.
Sometimes the want of stirring issues is COM
pensated for in measure by the towering
position and influence of great party states
men or leaders. A sort of hero worship NAV
sometimes serve party purposes. Look at
the influence General jackson and Henry
Clay had over the people. Such men can in
splre enthusiasm in the masses. But at pre-
sent the country has no such leaders We
are without great men as we'll as great mea
sures. The most prominent figure among
the group of our leading public men is
Genaral Grant. His glorious war record
gave him that position and made him Presi-
dent. Though he makes a respectable and
safe President, he does not show as much
ability in politics and craftsmanship as
in the command of armies. He fails
to initiate a policy that would touch
the popular heart Yet he stands like Go
Hath above the other prominent men and
Presidential aspirants of the Republican
party. There are Colfax, Sumner, Boutwell,.
Butler, and others who aspire to be leaders
and statesmen, and who have their ewes fixed
on the White Houses but is there one of
them that merits this distinction? Colfax is
simply a local, smooth politician, whose
strength lies in fluent tongue. There is
nothing great about him. SuMner is a man
of one idea and theorist-a mere rhetori-
clan, and has neither the grasp of mind for
statesmen nor the qualities for the chief and
leader OF party Boutwell, is a respectable
country lawyer and local politician, who be-
came q finance minister by accident. who has
had nothing to do but to haul in the ensr-
nous revenue imposed by Congress upon the