Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-04-10
RADICALISM.
What Republicans Think OfGrant's
AdministratiOn-D OF the
Radical Party Predicted.


AdministraeiOn-Di OF the
Radical Party Predicted.
The well informed Washington CORE
spondent of the New York Sun (RadicaD
writes, April 4, as follows in regard
to the inside workings of the Grant adj
ministration
81 have often been asked where the
administration is drifting, and whether
Congress and the President are not be-
coming estranged. To the first question
l answer frankly, that do not know; but
fear that, as party, the Republicans are
drifting TO division and defeat. To the
second question l am compelled to say
that there is but little cordially between
Congress and the President. No observer
could have mingled with Washington So.
ciety this winter without becoming pain
fully aware that the administration is fast
drifting toward breakers, which, if en-
cOuntered, will prove fatal to the unity of
the Republican party. | say this with
regret. Gen. Grants mistakes have
been many; but his greatest
mistake was in attempting to admin
lister the Government as he had directed
and governed the army. He has been
surrounded from the first by weak, mex
perienced and incompetent men. He did
not seek nor would he listen to the advice
of leading Republican statesmen. His
Cabinet as first organized would never
have been selected by any statesmen quail
flied for the Presidential Office. He has
not, with perhaps single exception,
one man IN his Cabinet to-day, who could
| at tho time of his nomination have re-
ceived the endorsement of the Republican
party of his State for the position he
holds; while some Of the number, Fish,
Borie, Robson, for example, would
hardly have commanded the support of
one hundred Republicans in their respec-
tive States. If this statement be admitted
the weakness of the administration is a
recognized fact No party can maintain
| its ascendancy which ignores its repre-
sentative men, and calls to its highest
and most honorable positions men whom
it never recognized as worthy of its con-
fidence, or who, if worthy of confidence,
were incapacitated for leaders.
SIN all our new territories policy has
been pursued which can only end in Sc
| curing their admission into the Union as
Democratsic States. Appointments and
removals are made without consulting the
| Governors, and there are but one or two
| Territories in which the Federal officials
are not at open war with each other,
representing cliques rather than the party.
| In three or four of the Territories Repub-
| lican Governors have been removed IN OPP
| position to the party, and others have
been appointed in apparent contempt OF
| their protest; while Democrats and John
son Republicans are retained in office.
The Indian Department in all the Terrific
ries but one is in the hands of army men
who are Democratic partizans, and who
give to Democratic favoIites the most
lucrative and valuable trading posts and
all the profitable contracts. This policy,
or rather want of policy, keeps the Re,
publican party of all the Territories in thu
hands of cliques, and secures its defeat
while it strengthens the opposition.
'sSuch want of ability to comprehend
the situation, and lack of administrative
unity and energy, are having their etfec
upon Congress and the country. Howeve
may differ with the President as to hi
cabinet and other appointments, l do no
permit myself to question his fidelity t
the Republican party. But he must lean
that it is necessary to pay some attention
to the deliberately expressed wishes o
our representative men. If he does not
he would be taught, as other and IA
ADLER men have been taught, that he can
not treat with silent contempt or often
sive indifference, the men whose politics
labor made it possible for him to reac
the exalted position he now holds. Tn
removal of faithful police officer withou
a hearing, and for no alleged neglect of du
tv or want of fidelity to the Republica
party, and in utter disregard of tn
remonstrances of the party who are cogni
Zant of his acts, and who are far moe IL
terested than the President can be in tn
local success of the party, is treating the1
with contempt; but when to these
added the fact that the protest of the able'
leaders of the party in Congress is ais
con;emptuously disregardcd, the treatmer
becomes offensive and borders on dC
fiance.
"But when behind the Executive theI
as an erratic, irresponsible power, in tn
person of the General of the Army, VIII
proclaims the people incapable of sell
, government, and all statesmen mere pol
ticians, and who dictates without petitio
from the people removal from civil ofic
and the appointments of his militar
: proteges without regard to their fitne'
and in defiance of remOnstances, the IL
publicans have reached a point in the
history as party where silence IS COW
: ardice and submission defeat.