The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-03-17
Commander Williams, the Brave Man.
What He Did for an English Grew
THE CAPITAL.
How the Government Mt Washington Runs

Itself.
The Cincinnati Commercial says
For time, the all-absorbing questions we're,
Who runs the administration? who is Grants
confidential adviser? The conundrum died out
for lack of interest, for it was discovered that
Grant had nothing to do with the administra-
tion. The king smoked and said nothing, and
the Government run itself.
''If this matter belonged to Cox's depart
ment, said an influential gentleman to me one
day, 'he could accomplish something, but 1t
pertains to the State Department.
"But can't we get some influence to bear upon
Grant?"
'It would not do any good. He would turn
it over at once to Fish, and that would be an
end of it."
"But are not grave questions like this dis
cussed in Cabinet, where Cox and Belknap can
have an iniuence?"
''Well, yes, when the heads of department see
fit to introduce it. But each member feels that
he is running his own machine, and there is an
understanding not to interfere with each other.
On further investigation l found this to be
the fact:-We have seven Presidents; Fish con-
trolls the State Department, without reference to
any one; Boutwell, is lord of the Treasury; Cox
conducts the Interior, and Belknap the Navy
Department, and so throughout The President
If q solemn silent, smoking fgure-head with
abundance OF time TO put on white choker and
swaow-tail, and attend every entertainment to
Which any one may invite him. meet him fire.
que elty upon the streets, incoming along with
C gar in mouth, and ungloved hands behind his
back.
When we come to look further, we find that
the State Department is worked by that learned
old muff, Caleb Cushing.
We all know that when the morbose Fish
finds himself in trouble, he calls on Caleb. Caleb
walked up friend of mine to read him that fa-
nous Alabama despatch, and tried after to
wake up the venerable Sardine for the same
purpose, but failed. We cannot be said to have
any foreign policy, but we have Caleb and that
is quite as good
If the resurrected statesman of the State De-
partment could only be induced to call on that
other old case of pigeon-holes, called Governor
Black, and add the erudite Sumner, they would
fetch the department to within about century
of the present time.
The breezy Porter is master of the navy, while
an absurd law and an unjust rank make Gene
raj Tecumseh obnoxious to the War Depart
ment; and he would be master there, but for
Belknap, who stands very obstinately on his
own heels
For the first time l say, in our history, we
make an approach to the bureaucracy of France,
under the monarchy. Such Government means
routine at home and drilling abroad. In our
foreign affairs we have no policy, and, at home,
his Serene Highness fires another cigar, and
says:-'Better move on without change" for
another year, although the people are burdened
to the death with heavy taxation and hard times
We have had q year of this sort of thing, with
the grim prospect of having, in another, the
Democratic party intervene; and, when it does
our excellent President will quietly swing over
and smoke silently on the other side.