The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-11-02
THE PR JESS.
Wednesday Morning, November 2, 1870.


made known by this correspondence are not
pleasant ones, and before they were given to
the public we felt entirely justified in repudi-
ating the idea that they had any existence.
The general character of the President, as it
Is known to all the world, his conduct in other
matters before and since his accession to the
Presidency and the emphatic statement from
apparently authentic sources that Secretary
Cox's retirement was dictated solely by per-
sonal considerations warranted any candid
observer in coming to the same conclusion
that we did. But the facts now being known.
we have no such absurd notion of the acquire
menls OF party loyalty or of the sanctity at
tachIng TO eminent men of the party, as for
dds our looking these facts squarely in the
fAce and giving them exactly the weight to
which they are justly entitled.
One thing is certain; when Grant became
President he desired above all things to asso-
ciate with himself men who would renounce
the traditional methods OF professional politi-
clans and devote themselves wholly 10 the
puslic service, and not to pushing their own
political fortunes or those of their friends
he desired to find men who in the selection
OF their own subordinates would follow the
same principles that guided him. And in
this respect he was very successful, though
b p an involved the necessity of calling to
his aid men whose obscurlty and lack OF &C
quaintance with public affairs gave occasion
for universal wonder and Tor storm of con-
temctuous criticism from the very quarters
whence now are heard to issue signs and pite
Gus lamentations over the hard fate of the in
clrruptibe Hoar and the able and upright
Cox. This selection OF new men, distinguish
ed for their disregard of party machinery, had
the further disadvantage Of bringing the ad-
m;nistration into disrepute to some extent
with many of the leading men of the party
who had secret attachment for the old
Democratic method OF administering the gov
ernment as if it were designed for the person
al benefit Of few politicians and whose dis
affection was further aggravated by the refec-
ton that they were passed over in the distri-
button of Offices for men inferior both in ex-
perience and capacity. However, every
member of Grants Cabinet constituted a
new proof of his universally recognized skill
in selecting men to execute his purposes
The same men who attack Grant now jeered
at the inexperienced Cabinet from the first,
but Fish in the State Department, Boutwell,
in the Treasury and Creswell in the Post Of
flee have evidently been what Grant desired.
Nor have his second appointments shown any
evidences of a departure from his original de-
signs Robson, Belknap, Alderman and De-
lano are. men If the same stamp as Bore,
Rawlings, Hoar and Cox. So that notwith-
standing what has occurred it is certain that
the Presidential impulse is just what it was.
in the beginning.
But in the case of Secretary Cox, and pos
slbly. as we begin to think, in the case of
Secretary Hoar, the President has felt obliged
to yield to outside pressure. While these
two Secretaries were in no respect more able
and honest than their associates, they were
needessly aggressive and personally offensive
In carrying out the new and improved code OF
administration. While they were no more
successful in conducting their departments
economically and wisely than their less osten
tatiously viltuous colleagues, they seemed to
strive to make the new ways as harsh and OBJ
noxious as possible. They did not consider
that reform is always novelty, and that
however just it NAV be in the abstract it will
always excite prejudices that must be re-
moved and passions that must be soothed.
The consequence was that they made per.
sona enemy of every "oid line politician" who
approached them-a fact creditable enough to
their hearts, no doubt, but showing an utter
want of tact. The further consequence was
that Grants administration was weakened.
If he were an autocrat with power to legis-
late as well as to execute, to confirm as well
as to appoint, he might despise the harmless
rage of the disappointed political veterans
and support his faithful adherents in their ut
most unpopularity. But as he is only the
Chief MAGISTRATE and not Sultan the success
OF his administration depends on the support
Of the coordinate branches of the govern
ment, of the people at large, and, at present.
unpleasant as 1t may be to confess it, in no in
considerable degree on that of the active poll
ticians OF his party. He must have CO.
operation or his administration becomes i'm
potent. The course pursued by the two Sec
retaries in question was gradually bringing it
about that the Presidents pa were thwart-
ed, and the Presidents suggestions were dis
regarded by Congress with the same undevi-
ating certainty as those of his immediate
predecessor. In a short time 1t was probable
that be would become powerless to carry on
those reformatory works, the beginning and
the fattering progress OF which have already
made bis administration illustrious
But is not the reproach merely shifted, then,
from Republican President to Republican
Congress? .Yes,-and to the whole people.
The whole country is demoralized ON the SUD
ject of appointments to Office, and has been
for many years. 1t is a plague descended to
us from the days of Democratic ascendency.
Is General Grant another Hercules that we
expect him by single effort, at the first trial,
by his own unaided strength, to reform abuses
that have taken deep root in the soil OF the
country and have been fourishing for years?
Congressman are to blame; no doubt of that;
but the very root of the evil is further hack.
However virtuousy a Congressman may re-
solve, he is driuen by his Office. seeking con-
stituents into ways that he would never vol
unfairly tread. Very recently we have bad
the testimony of several eminent members OF
that body as to the unendurable amount OF
solicitation, intimidation, threats, abuse and
SANDER they have to endure. Some of them
have become so entirely worn out by this SOFT
Of badgering that they have decided to retire
from public life. Until civil service bill is
one as we are glad to know
that the able Representative from this dis
suppose that the evil will con-
tinue to flourish even under the rule of so
honest, SO strong and so brave man as
Grant
We do not believe that the enemies of Gen.
Grant will retire with laures from the present
crusade against him. 1t would have been
pleasant spectacle, from dramatic stand
PoihI at any rate, to see him defy the Chand
ters anu Camerous OF the country and all
their dark companionship, throw upon them
the responsibility of failures due to their
and fight it out sturdily on the
line he indicated in the beginning to the very
last hour OF his term. But it is to he nh.
served that the concession he has made to
them is one in appearance rather than reality
If in the place of the retiring Secretaries he
had appointed plant tools of any political
ring or clique there would be reason to fear
hat there had been radical change in his