New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-11-30
INDLSCREET IDHLSER.g.


INDISCREET Advisers.
It is natural that Gen. Grant should, in the
supreme moment of his triumph, be surrounded
with q multitude of counselors. In these, the
Good Book tells us, there is wisdom A sue
cessful man never stands in need Of advice
how to use his good fortune. If the counsel
may be occasionally tinged with selfishness,
we cannot find fault, since human nature is
never wholly purged of chat element. So when
We see party journals urging special and
eccentric views of the present situation, we do
not so much blame them as admire their hon
est intentions. They give an abundance Of
advice, not because they are moved by patrl-
otto motives QhOugh they think they are), nor
even by a desire to serve well their party
though thcy.belieye they must be. Journals or
politicians with peculiar views concerning pub
lie policy will be sure to think those views were
spccially involved IN the late national canvass,
and were settled one way or another. Each
advocate who is affiliated with the successful
party sees, or thinks he sees, in its triumph
chiefly an Endorsement of his doctrine or
scheme. Here are two or three, for instance,
who maintain that the expediency Of the pro-
posed annexation of SantO Domingo was the most
prominent issue IN the canvass 1t Is said,
therefore, that the Presidents policy having
been approved generally speaking, at does
mot now admit Of an exception in the case
" of Santo Domingo. The President was re-
" sponsibe for that movement and 1t Is he
" that is approved, indorsed, and reelected"
This is an honest opinion, and deserves re-
spectful consideration. But see where it leads.
There are in the ranks of the successful party
not few men who do not approve of the an
nexation proposition. They are quite sure that
the President is not specially welded to it;
and, whether he is or not, they, though they
voted for Gen. Grants reelection, would be
disappointed and grieved if their cordial sup
port and vote should be taken as demand
for the acquisition of Santo Domingo. Is 1t
fair to take up q measure on which there Is
an honest difference of opinion among the
members of the majority and insist on its
being adopted as q national, or even party,
measured
Just 50 of investigation in Congress. There
is plenty of injudicious advice given to the
winning party as well as to the winning can
dldaJe. Unc CIass or administration journals
argue that since the party received popular
Endorsement at the ballot-bOx, all Of its mem
bers have been fully justified in all their acts,
particularly in those which have been called
in question during the campaign. Therefore
they hastily conclude-scrutiny of any charges
would bo impertinent and superfluOus. To
state such a proposition would seem to be
enough to show its illogical weakness. To an
interested party it seems, no doubt, reason
oh
not only hasty generalization. but very indis
Greet counsel. Certainly, not only every APP
pearanco Of evil should be avoided, but every
appearance Of concealment. To seem to be
budding something out of sight, even though
the action be never so innocent, is destructive
Of confidence az well as of usefulness. If
ever there was a time when the President and
the party that elected him could afford to be
above mere considerations of narrow ex-
pedicncy, it is now. Four years more of
power are secure; there is no need Of hiding
anything lest there should be miScOnstructiOn
and exaggeration; now is the time to show
the possession of conscious integrity and po-
litical personnel which invites fair scrutiny.
The Government is the Peoples; and, as one
of the leading Administration journals has well
said: of there be any need of.that purifica-
L" ton which has been so loudly asserted the
people will not be satisfied unless they get
" it if there be no necessity for it, because
" the alleged impurity has no existence, then
let it be shown that the assertion is false"
After all, we prefer to believe that the Ad
ministraton and the party which triumphed
with it will not be moved by the ill-considered
advice of those who take such strained views
of the late canvass. President and Congress
are alike servants of the whole People. 1t is
neither generous nor patriotic to urge upon
them the adoption of narrow partisan views
of affairs; it j, not generous nor patriotic to
expect from them anything but such treat
ment of public questions as becomes men of
large and liberal views. We like to think
that at the beginning of q new political era
we shall see in and out of Congress dl9re
gard of mere party considerations and lofty
di5dain of the advantages which are supposed
to inure from the practice of mere artiice in
politics The country expects this; the condi-
ton of parties, more than ever, justifies and
warrants it. II is not time for forced con-
structions of the popular verdict. There is no
majority in the Republic which can afford to
be imperous there is no minority which does
not de serve respectful attention. In this popu-
lar government of ours, nothing pays so well
as frankness, fair dealing. and broad gen
crosby.
The Rev. DR.. Lang, who founded the Pres
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