Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1871-04-01
OLYMPIA. SATURDAY MORNING, APRIL, I, 1S7i
Troubles of the Administration.
Ut our risk.

Troubles of the Administration.
There has never before been an instance
in the history of this Government of so
general disaffection towards President
BY his party friends as has been manifested
in the case of President Grant. He is
evidently without other influence than that
commanded by official patronage; he is at
the head of no party but the party of Of
fee holders; he is without the support of
the leading journals of the Republican
party aud is tolerated by others only as
convenience in party exigency-a COM
promise to avoid more dangerous party
conflicts.
The New York Post, which is one of
the ablest and most influential of Republic
can papers, in secondiug long and import
ant account of the errors of omission pre-
ferred against the Administration by the
Tribune, makes it the occasion of an clio.
queut and dispassionatc appeal to the Re-
publican party in view Of its impending
zuin. "When the people elected General
Grant," says the Post, "they expected
that, with the shrewd common sense and
eminent tact which distinguished his mill.
tary career, he would recommend and pro-
mote broad and bene6ceut policy for the
relief Of the people from the evils left to
them as consequences of the war. They
expected to 6ud him leader in the needed
reforms Of the currency, the tax system,
the civil service, a promoter of the peace,
industry and prosperity of the land. Are
they satisfied? Are they as sanguine about
his administration now as they were when
he took the oath Of Office? Has his repu.
tation for craftsmanship increased in two
years since he became President? Has he
linked his name with any one great reform,
any one broad measure of relief to the
country? Suppose he were to die tomor-
row, after dinner, would his best friends,
his most zeolous supperters-and no one
has more constantly or faithfully supported
him than this journal-could any candid
person speak SO we'll of him as before he
entered upon the Presidency? We are
very we'll aware that in Washington such
criticism of the President is nowadays re.
garded as unbecoming and indecent, and
uDbearable. The President is unfortu.
nately surrounded By persons who approve
his every motion, and are obsequious to
the slightest intimations of his will. He
does not, unfortunately for himself and for
the country, hear the truth spoken; there
u no one to remind him of his duties neg.
lected to tell him Of the wants and the
just expectations Of the country; to warn
him against too imperious will, and too
pertinacious adherence to false or triAing
policy"
A majority Of the Senate are bound to
the President by the "adhesive attraction
ofpubfc plumber: ~ The President holds
in his hands patronage upon the distribu>
ton Of which depends the political, and
In some cases the pecuniary fortunes Of
many Of the Senators. But even this
power, united with party discipline, has
been found inadequate to command
the allegiance of leading Senators
who were his most devoted partisaus at
the beginning of his Administration. Sum.
ner and Schurz, than whom no two Sena.
tors represent larger elements of the Re-
publican party, now stand 10 the same hos.
tile attitude to the Administration of G rant
that Douglas did to the Administration Of
Buchanan, are backed by as large portion
Of the popular sentiment of their party,
and the feud is no less irreconeilablc.
It Is conceded by the most sagacious poll.
ticians in the Republican party that unless
these difficulties can be recouciled there
is no hope for the success of the Republi-
can candidates in the next Presidential
election, unless the Democratic party be.
comes distracted'by like dissentions.