The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1870-07-22
THE PRESIDENTS POSITION.

The President is at this moment sub
jected to criticisms which no man situated
as he is could afford to disregard since
they proceed not from those who are OPP
posed to him in politics, but from those
who have hitherto been among his most
cordial supporters. The complaint that in
many important respects he is disappoint-
ing the just expectations 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 forbear-
ance. Ordinary shortcomings would have
been readily pardoned. We have ourselves,
as our readers will attest, ever been fore
most 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 rem
dering it task of increasing difficulty to
defend him against enemies into whose
hands he is constantly playing.
1t is certainly not the fault of his sup
porters in the press that so thorough a
want of harmony exists between the Sen
ate and himself. Matters seem TO be get
ting 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 ANONYMOUSLY cast out of
the Senate. \ This opposition may partly
be due to the dissatisfaction with which
certain features of the Presidents policy
are regarded, but it may be traced still
more clearly to the want of tact which
General Grant often displays in his deal
ings with men. He seems to have lost the
art of Cancellation. 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 a high opinion of his
character His antagonists, indeed, find,
it easy to interpret his conduct by the
assumption that he is influenced by all
kinds of unworthy considerations. We
who have patiently stood by him cannot
TRANQUILITY accept that hypothesis. But in
presence of some of his acts we stand be-
wildered-it is impossible to defend them
it is impossible even to understand them.
They are purely phenomenal in their char
acter, and can not in any way be traced to
the ordinary causes of political action.
One of the great mistakes which Pres
ident 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 ex-
ercising this degree Of self denial, the Presi-
dent seems to know but one rule-what he
has once decided upon must never after
wards be modified. If, for some inscruta-
BILE 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.
+ 4 4
If the President is resolved to habitually
spurn the advice of his impartial support
ers-supporters who have nothing to ask
from him and nothing to expect-he must
not be surprised ifin the end he finds him
self standing alone.-N. Y. Times.