New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-05-14
The President and His Critics.
From the Boston Advertiser


The Nation observes the fact that the
PRESIDENT position III the regard and love
| OF TINS country has evidently risen since
MS loyal Difference to the general will in
the matter of San Domingo and adds. with
something like sheer, that nothing could
show more clearly how easily Presidential
| regulations are won. We ask no better IL
iustratlon than this sneer gives us of the
| loyalty of the President to the constitution
OF his country-and of the distinction be-
| tween that constitution and the unwritten
| traditions by which most nations are gov
| erned. 1t gave to the President the duty of
carrying out the will of the country as as
certalned in certain fixed methods. 1t did
not give to him, either as a privilege or
duty, the part OF carrying out his own will.
| if it happened to traverse that of the coun-
try thus ascertained. Nobody pretends
that the will of the country or General
Grants individual will would exhibit tLe
absolute right on any subject. But the con
stItutlon supposes that, if the will of the
country be carried out in the directions in
Dictated by certain persons chosen to repre-
sent it, such an amount of good understand,
ing and certainty of internal peace. and
such strength of movement, will be Sc
cured as are more than sufficient to repay
us for the occasional losses which we NAV
suffer from missing that absolute or theoret-
zeal right way at which the ideal virtuOus
uCSpoC Is SupDOSeu 10 aim.
Now, this country has had no lack of |
Presidents who, with much talk about defer |
ence to the will of the country, really cared !
much more for the will of coterie of Eir- |
glnlans or coterie of contractors or office |
holders, or of the managers of a particular |
party. 1t had one, much praised in our time |
by those who are left of the people vino
always voted against him, who carried out
his own will to the letter, and let the coun-
fall 81 |
grumbling as they chose. The type of gov
eminent, OF which he gave us the only illus
tratlon thus far, is much praised by writers
OF MI Carlyie's school, and is simple enough,
not to say wicked enough, to extort com
mendatlon from many people who do not
bring high principle to their criticism of
puohe AFFAIRS. But it is not the type in
tended by the American people. II is not
the type indicated by the American consti
tutlons: 1T IS, therefore, perfectly true that
when General Grant who has achieved mil
ltary renown the world over compa1 ed with
which General JacksOns military fame is
nothing, gracefully and manfully showed
that he was not going forward in his adj
ministratiOn on General Jackson's theory of
defiant autocratic or imperial rule, there
was sentiment of profound satisfaction
among men who think of the basis of our
CIVIL order. His reputation and his place in
the regard and esteem of the American peo-
pie were secured as they had been secured
by no victory in arms. In one of his pero
ratlOns Mr.. Sumner reminded the President !
that he who ruled his own spirit is greater
than he who captures city. The Presi
lent has shown that he did not need that
lesson. $1,000
., What did the country expect of General
Grant when it chose him President? What
did the Republican party expect? And
what did he promise! He promised as little
rs he Is apt to promise. He promised that
ne would fulfill the duties of the office "a
we'll as he could. To the Republican party, {
As such, he made no special pledge. bevond
what was implied in his accepting their ;
nomination. Had the Republican partv
my other candidate TO bring forward? Az
er the failure of lis own choice. Mr.. An.
rev johnson, was it so well assured of its
position before the country that it could Y
,lect any man it brought forward! Were >
is different leaders and sections so united
hat 1t could with much confidence unite in
convention on any one who might happen I
o be at the front! 1t was in no condition 4
o PIN him up with terms or promises of l
had he been the man to =
i've pledges to anybody who asked for /
hem. The Republican party took General Il
Irant from its general confidence in the
nan. lie was in no way pledged to its or
anized methods. 1t was understood F
hat he had not acted with it before
be war. 1t was feared that the par
Y could choose nobody else. 1t was also n
nown that the rank and file of the party a