The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-03-15
sr1R1T or THE pRnss.
Editorial Opinions OF the Leading Journals
upon Current Topics Compiled Every
Day for the Evening Telegraph,

A HOUSE DIVIDED AGAINST ITSELF.
From the Lancaster (F'd.) inielligencer.
A very profound sensation has been caused
in the Republican party, by the war which
Grant has inaugurated upon Sumner, in cau5-
ing him to be deposed from the chairman
ship of the Committee on Foreign Relations,
because of his opposition to the pet scheme
of the President the acquisition of San Do
mingo There can be no doubt that this was
the real reason for his deposition, although
Senator Howe, in the Senate on Friday, in
reply to a query from Senator
Schurz as to the cause OF it, said
that it was because "the personal re-
lations existing between the Senator
from Massachusetts, and the President of the
United States and the head of the State Depart
ment were such as TO preclude all social in-
tercourse between them;" yet in the same
debate Senator Howe was proven to have
given false reason, as Senator Upton said
he had taken down yesterdays proceedings
in the Republican caucus the words which fell
from the lips of the Senator from Wisconsin
(Mr. Howe) as to the reason for this change
The words we're, ''That the majority of the
Senate were in favor of the annexation of
Santo Domingo, and majority of the Com
mittee on Foreign Relations were opposed to
it, and that was the reason for making the
change"
The Republicans of the country will now
have to choose the side upon which they will
array themselves in this issue between their
President and their leading apostle; aud as
the difference between them has arisen upon
point which has not yet been adiudicated
upon in any Republican platform, the men,
bers of the party cannot be infuencedin their
choice by fealty to party principles 1t is
evident, moreover, that they cannot be neu-
tral on the question; for the war between the
President and Sumner is a war O EOutTdRce,
the President, after having been fairly i'm
plored and entreated for days by the most
prominent men of his party not to do SO, has
thrown down the gauntlet of defiance to
Sum ner and his friends, with the imperial re-
mark that these men must be taught to be-
ware how they oppose the ADMINISTRATION.
The President is manifestly inclined to rule
his party as he ruled his army, and to keep
up the fight on the line on which he started
out, regardless of obstacles aud regardless of
the sacrifice of his followers. He does not
seeEl to suspect that the policy which was
successful in one case will be any less SO in
the other; and it is left to Senator Sumner to
teach him this sad lesson. Sumner is not of
a disposition to tamely swallow the insult he
has received, and the way in which he will be
apt to make sheet lightning play about Grants
head for the next year or two will be very en-
tertaining to witness. 1t is generally conceded
that any little chance for a denomination
which was left to Grant by his previous fol-
lies, has been entirely swept away by his last
act of silly despotism. In running himself he
has likewise ruined his party, and has rem
dered it nearly certain that even the best
Republican candidate who could be selected,
such as Senator Trumbul, will be beaten
in 1872 by the Democratic nominee. The
Republican party is ruined beyond redemp-
ton.
The insult to Sumner by his removal from
the post which he has SO long filed with
marked ability, is made all the more appa-
rent by the fact that Senator Cameron has
been selected as his successor. The total
unfitness of Cameron for the post is known
to all men, and in choosing him to fill it the
administration must needs confess that it has
replaced a very competent chairman by one
very incompetent; and that, iT its opinion. it
is far more important that a chairman of
Senate committee, who has in charge the
foreign relations of The country, should be
on personally friendly terms with the admin
istration than that he should know anything
about the duties of his position. In fact, we
doubt not that Grant prefers a chairman who
don't know too much and who, being we'll
paid, will do Just what he wants him to do.
From this standpoint none will deny that he
has selected very excellent chairman for his
purposes.