The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-11-25
Ine Forelgn Policy % the American
Nation-The Spread OF Republican
Imstitutiomo.

Ino E0rcagm F0Aloy o. eho American
Nation-Ths Spread OF Republican
Imstitutions.
AS General Grant will soon enter upon q
second term Of Office, endorsed by popular
vote largely non-partisan in its character, the
HERALD has deemed it opportune to suggest
to the President such changes in the policy of
his administration as it believes will be
honorable to himself, acceptable to the people
and conducive to the public interests. We
originally suggested the election of General
Grant as Chief Magistrate Of the nation,
because we felt convinced that the qualities
he had displayed in SO eminent degree as
military leader would be valuable in the re-
construction Of the ex-rebel States after the
termination Of the war, and that his personal
character would be likely to raise him above
the influences of professional politicians.
We have given his present administration,
from first to last, q discriminating
and DISTINGUISHED support decrying all
factional opposition. although not hest
tating to criticise its acts or to
blame where censure has been deserved.
Hence we claim the right to assume the part
of an adviser Of the President at the COM
mencement Of his second term, and we are
gratifed to find that tho suggestions we have
offered for his consideration have appeared to
meet his approval and have received the
endorsement of Independent journals in all
parts of the Union. Our suggestions have had
relation mainly to the future treatment of the
Southern States, the real improvement and
elevation of the civil service and tho tone Of
our foreign policy. We have insisted that the
measures of reconstruction heretofore adopted
by Congress have failed to restore peace and
order in the South that, on the contrary, they
have been calculated to keep alive the bitter
memories of the war and the hatreds and sus-
picions engendered by slavery to place the
States under the control of corrupt adven-
turers and to create an undesirable con-
fict between the white ana colored races.
We have encouraged the President to per-
severe in his efforts to make capacity,
and not political influence the test
in the appointment of public officers, and have
urged upon Congress the duty of aiding in
stead of obstructing the work. We have adj
vocated such policy towards foreign nations
as wonld be likely to hasten the independence
Of neighboring peoples and to promote the
establishment of independent republican
governments in what are now the colonial
possessions Of European powers
General Grant has already given evidence
of desire to adopt generous course towards
the Southern States, and journals and poll
f;oiop 70 o1p ,icfr
have avowed their determination to support
him in his new departure. The necessity for
q change of treatment is clearly shown in the
disorders that have followed the elections in
Louisiana, Alabama and Arkansas, and the
large vote cast for the President in the
Southern section of the country is a sufficient
proof that the Southern people are will
ing to trust their future in his hands
and to look to him for protection and
justice. The civil service reform has
been practically set in motion in the case of
the Philadelphia Postmaster, and will, no
doubt, be carried out in the selection of Sur
veyor Of the Port of New York and in other
offices as vacancies occur or as changes become
desirable. In regard to our foreign policy the
position Of the HERALD has been somewhat
misunderstood. In many quarters the i'm
preston seems to prevail that we favor an un-
friendly attitude towards European Powers
and advocate an extension Of our present terri
torial limits by the annexation of Cuba,
Mexico and Canada. Our Canadian neigh
assail us with more violence than reason,
conservative American journals have protested
against our supposed aggressive policy, and an
English writer in London publication-the
Anglo american Iiimes--whose views will be
found in another column, seeks an explanation
Of our imaginary "Anglophobia" in the cor
ruptng influence of Russia According to this
authority the two great newspapers Of the Old
and the New World-the London Times and
the HEnALD-are engaged in the congenial task
Of undermining the peace Of England and the
United States and both are in the Russian
service. To be sure they are journals repre-
sentative of their respective countries; to be
sure their circulation is enormous and their
influence great; but by some mysterious means
they are controlled in ST. Petersburg, and
their mission is to destroy the nations with
whose growth they have grown and with
whose prosperity they have prospered. There
is something supremely ridiculous in the
fancies Of this English alarmist; yet they are
in fact no more chimerical than are the i'm
aginations of those who believe that the
HERALD is the fierce advocate Of war and an
nexation.
When the great Napoleon held the destinies
of Europe in his hands he had it in his power
to destroy forever the doctrine Of the divine
right of kings and to teach the people how to
govern themselves whether under the form Of
an empire or of a republic. He had given to
the French an emperor of their own creation
and had made legitimacy tremble on