The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-01-03

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The unprecedented triumph of the republi-
cans last November not only secured TO them
another four years lease of power in the fed
eral government, but placed In their hands
nearly ell the great States of the Union. In
Guiding the most important Of all, the State OF
New York. With the commencement of the
new year they begin to enjoy the substantial
fruits Of heir victory, and 10 take upon them
selves also the responsibilities it entails upon
tho victors. They have been so liberal in their
promises of reform that the people have been
led to expect ct this time the Inauguration of
new era in the history of the country, and
to look for more sweeping and complete re-
formation, both in the national and local ad-
ministrations probably than they are
likely to secure. There is TO be no
political change, no personal change. even,
so far as the Presidency of the United States is
concerned 1t is true; yet the issues made in
the Presidential contest, the pledges given by
General Grant and his supporters, and the
clear expression of the popular sentiment in
regard to the past policy of the republican
Congress, occasioned the expectation that in
many important respects there would be as
complete revolution in Washington after
the 4th of next March as in Albany or New
York after the 1st day of the present month.
The bayonet law enforced over the Southern
States was not only not defended by the adj
ministration organs during the recent cam
paign, but implicitly it was condemned in the
plea put forth that tho President was not re-
sponsible for its enactment. The charge
made by the opposition that the Southern
| States were held under the political control Of
the federal authorities and virtually deprived
of self-government, was Indignantly de-
MED by the republicans and it was
declared that the South was as free
from federal interference as the North. The
well-founded complaints of lack of 6rmness
and dignity in our foreign policy were met by
the argument that we had at least secured the
best of the bargain in our treaty with the Brit
ish government, and that it was desirable to
free ourselves from our complications in that
direction before taking more decided atti-
tude in regard to foreign questions on which
it might soon become necessary to act.
The position taken by the supporters of the
President on all these questions, and the con-
slant appeals made to the people to trust their
proper solution to the honor and patriotism of
General Grant, warranted the popular belief
that if reelected he would signalize his new
J term of Office by constitutional treatment of
: the Southern States and by radical reform in
our foreign policy. To this end it was con-
. sidered as settled that the political ring
surrounding the White House during the
past four years would be broken, and
that the Cabinet would undergo complete
reconstruction. The recent unfortunate events
in Louisiana have not given much encourage
ment to the hopes raised by the apologetic
tone Of the republicans during the campaign,
80 far as the treatment of the South is con-
cerned nevertheless the belief is still enter
} tanned by many of those who supported Gen
eral Grant that he will not disappoint their OK.
pectations, but that the 4th of March will see
, as honorable to the President as it will bt
gratifying to the country. The reported in
tention of the present members of the Cabine
| to retire at the close of the present term viii
certainly afford the opportunity for such g
change, and the replacement of Secretaries
Boutwell, and Williams by statesmen o.
!, broad national views will be hailed as the
first step in the new departure We already
have an instalment of this popular reorganiza
} ton in the positive announcement of tn,
: selection of Mr.. William M. Evarts as tn,
successor Of Secretary Fish,
: In many Of the States the republican party
;. was in power prior to the last November cleo
ton, and hence the change of administration
will be only nominal. In New York the
democrats retire not alone from the State gov
+ eminent, but also from the government Of the
D metropolis, which, in point of patronage, il
even more important than the State, and re-
publcans step into their places 1t so hap
! pens, however, that the republicans found il
4 expedient to place in nomination for the tive
principal ofRces-those of Governor and Mayo
: of New York-gentlemen who, while acting
: with the republican national administration
had been formerly adherents of the demo
cratic party. 1t is immaterial upon wha
grounds this policy was adopted, whethe
= through the bad influence of the Cameron
P Hartranft corrupions in neighborin
State, or with the object of secur
: ing some democratic support for tn
L nominees; the tickets were repub
lican tickets and they were elected b.
republican votes This fact is shown by tn
. complexion of the Congressional delegation
and of the State Assembly, which latter bod,
is more than two-thirds republican, thus, il
a connection with the equally large republican
majority in the Senate, placing the whole re
sponsibility of the State and city government
on the shoulders of that party.