The New York herald., 1871-03-31
Tho Sen Lawyer or the Administrations.

ANU SC1 AuWycr OI tho ADMINISTRATION
There is a certain two-legged marine animal,
very commonly to be found In the forecastle Of
well appointed ship, and popularly known as
the Sea Lawyer. This creature has the physi-
cal likeness of human being, but is mentally
so ignorant, cunning and mischievous that an
impartial landsman at once acquits him of the
accusation Of manhood. Perhaps disciple
of Darwin might discover him to be the inter-
mediate link between the genus homo and the
brute creation. This monster seduces the
crew from their allegiance, quickens the seeds
of perverseness and revolt, and is fire.
quently successful in bringing about mutiny.
When he does not it is because the captain,
like sensible man, at the first convenient OPP
portunity has clapped him In irons.
Such, according to the hint thrown out by
Carl Schurz. is very nearly tho role played by
Secretary Robson upon the gc,d ship Ad-
ministration, Captain Grant, bound from st.
Domingo to the Lord alone knows where. In
some respects, however, Robson is unique
specimen of the sea lawyer. In place of
being the idolized oracle of disaffected sailors
he appears to be the favorite counsellor of the
commander. He does not stink about the
forecastle, but walks upon the poop deck,
with gold epaulets upon his shoulders and
an enormous speaking trumpet, with most
hideously discordant tone, at his lips, through
which he pretends to thunder out the orders
Of the captain. He is, however, true to the
instincts of his species in the one essential
regard that he increasingly occupies himself
in getting up muss. He diligently foments
discord, though he works upon the captain
instead of upon the men; which is, perhaps.
so much the worse for the captain.
1t was very unfortunate for Sea Lawyer
Robeson that his letter to Captain Temple
should be published the same day as Summers
speech. The speech was dignifed protest
against breach of the constitutlon-the con-
scientious growl of an honest political mastiff,
with true and loyal heart but with, perhaps.
somewhat awkward manners and gruf utter
ance. The letter was q laborcd attempt to
prove wrong right; 1t was a literary wriggle
from end to end, the epistolary squirm Of a
speared eel, the snappish cry Of an over
pampered lapdog, with temper soured by
irregular and excessive feeding. If the letter
had only been made public few days earlier
the speech would scarcely have been neces..
sary; for 1t practically admits the one
| charge made against the administra-
affairs Of friendly State. Sea Lawyer
Robson, indeed, not only admits, but de-
fends, this clear violation of international law
we might say, further, of international moral
ity and decency; and, to make the matter
worse, he has tried to prop up his bad logic
with bogus fact-the alleged action Of Madison
in regard to West Florlda-which was, Of
course, at once detected and exposed by
Schurz and Sumner. 80 3E%-
The truth of the matter is that this entire
St. Domingo scrapc springs from our Sea
Lawyers perverted gastronomic tastes.
Robson, as everybody knows, is an epicure,
and is passionately fond of pate de ytoie gras.
I'at6 dc J1ie gras is made of gooses liver but
the goose from which the liver is taken has to
be gently roasted alive before a slow fire.
When it was determined to gobble up the
Dominica goose Grant would have been per-
fectly satisfied to eat it plain, as soon as
he could get it-after the fashion of man who
was bred on farm and likes to diae at two
o'clock in the afternoon. But Robson would
not hear of such thing. He wanted to make
political pate dc Stras6ourg, and to do this
it was necessary to put the land Of Baez
through course of preliminary torture. Aud
Sumner has now with big stick got after
him and all who have countenanced him in
this fendish outrage, like Senatorial Bergh
for the prevention of International cruelty.
We believe Grants policy of annexing Do
minica was at the outset popular and wise,
and it was certainly in accord with the most
dearly cherished of American political ideas
the manifest destiny Of the Stars aud Stripes
to wave over every acre of American soil II
this policy had been carried out by discreet
and capable men it would have been a mag
niicent success, and the republican party
or so much of 1t, at any rate,
as chose to sustain the hero of
Appomattox - would have had a new
lease of power. But General Grants grand
mistake has been to place in the most rcspon-
sible posts worthless. se!f-opinionated, un-
popular and incapable men. He has allowed
these creatures, who have brought discredit
upon his administration and dishonor upon the
country, to whisper in his ear all kinds OF
false reports. And these fabrications are, we
believe, the true cause of the personal diff
culties that have sprung up between
the President and the wisest and strongest
men of his party.
1t is not too late, even now, for
General Grant to save the republican
party. But he must at once hand over
Sea Lawyer Robson to the tender
merciaa Of Nantnna,a nitchfnrl and ha mnst