St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1871-03-17

We lave the authority OF the prcsi-
dents wife for believing that "Nlr. Grant
is Il very obstinate man." and we have
the record of his public career since 1861
TO convince Us that lac lr- n great deal
of practical common sense. 1t he pcr>c-
vcrcs in his unjustiiiablc attempt to die
tate TO the Senate who shall be chairman
of lis committee on foreign relations. we
fear his reputation for ob>tinacy will in
crease, ut the cNpcnS. OF his reputation
for sagacity. More than this, lie is i'll
DANGER of throwing away what many
people would value more than reputation,
Ills reelection to the presidency, and
the control of the government by the
party that first elected him. In order
that he and his friends, many Of whom
are merely his ilattercrs and tair-wcaihcr
followers, may see what risks lac is run
ming by insisting upon his revenge against
Mr.. Sumner, we would like to call their
attention TO few facts.
Mr.. Sumner is one Of the founders and
most faithful uphollcrS of the republican
party, the senior member of the Senate,
|
this committee. by common consent, he
is the ii.tc>t person i'll the Senate TO hold
that place. his acquaintance with foreign
affairs is unsurpassed among his senate
rial colleagues at least, his devotion to
business and the true interests of the
country, Is equally unquestioned his re-
lations with his colleagues of the COM
mittee, with the diplomatic corps, and
with the state department, till Mr.. Mot
eley's removal, have been all that could
he desired, and there is no member of
the Senate who, in these respects, can
fill his place. 1t would, therefore, be
matter of much regret, if he SHOULD vol
unfairly retire from the position he has
filled 50 long; but 10 remove him, with
every circumstance of atfront and humil-
iation, would be Il base and suicidal act
Oh the part Of the executive and his par
tisan majority in the Sen tie. Made up,
rs that majority is, largely OF carpet bag
senators and men from understood states
like Nevada and Nebraska, It's action
would not represent the will of the rcpub-
lican party, much less the people.
But suppose this aifront to Massachu-
sets, and to the better elements of the
republican party, fairly consummated,-
what then? The displacement of Mr.
Sumner will be followed by the with
drawal OF Messrs Schurz and Patterson,
under circumstances that will ALLEVIATE
them permanently from Gen. Grants
administration, which is equivalent TO
withdrawing Missouri and New IIamp-
shire from the column of states likely TO
vote for his reelection. Moreover, the
hostile attitude Of leader of the Ger
mans, such as Mr. Schurz Is, will jeop-
ard the election in half dozen western
states, where the Germans cast the con-
trolling vote, and Ohio, Michigan, Wis
consin, Minnesota, Nebraska and even
Illinois become doubtful states. What
have the followers of Gen. Grant in his
crusade against a Senate comnittce to
offer i'll exchange for these losses Can
Mr. Conkling promise TO carry New
York, or Mr.. Morton Indiana, or Mr..
Nye Nevada, or Mr.. Pool North Carroll
ma, or even Mr.. Cameron Pennsylvania &?
DO not these senators know that the very
measures now insisted upon with such
meddlesome perlinaciiy by the president
f will make all these states doubtful or in
crease the democratic majority in them
And can these senator's, Of all others, af-
ford TO sacrifice the success of their party
in their own states and in the nation
!. The political situation as now exist
ing at Washington, is indeed gloomy
one for the present administration. With
the best management in the world, the
democrats have fair chance Of success
in next years presidential contest. They
lare likely to carry every southern state