The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-06-14
Tho Political Horlxon-Questions In the
tstratton.

Future-The Position OF tho Admin
istration.
We are just now at the lowest ebb tide of
political movement II is commonly SO imme-
diately after q Presidential election, the inau-
guration of President for four years, the
expiration of Congress at such an epoch and
the long calm from Spring till the assembling
of Congress in December. Sometimes, how
ever, there have been exciting and unsettled
questions standing over, and the politicians
have kept up some degree Of agitation during
the long Congressional vacation. But when
the people, by their votes in the election OF a
President and Congress that enters upon its
functions with the new administration, have
confirmed or declared what the policy of the
government should be, there is o general ac-
quiescence in the decision and o lull in
politics till fresh issues arise or succeeding
elections arouse agitation again. We are,
then, as was observed, passing through one Of
those quiescent phases of our political
life at the present time. Nor is it easy, when
the country is prosperous and going along
smoothly in general way, to arouse the
American people, This has been the case
particularly since the excitement of the late
war and that growing out of the reconstruc-
ton of the South and the adjustment OF the
national finances The people had, during
that period surfeit of excitement, and now
desire repose. The Louisiana trouble, which
III former times, or under other circumstances,
might have caused widespread agitation, has
been scarcely more than ripple on the sur
face of our political life. So also the Cuban
question, the st. Domingo question, Mexico,
or anything else fails to disturb profoundly
the popular mind. General Grant, in his
proverbial expression, 'Let us have peace"
reflects the desire of the people generally.
They do not want agitation. They are ready
to sacrifice even their sympathies their M
tional ambition, or to submit to the exercise
of arbitrary power on the part Of the govern
ment for the sake OF peace and to enable the
country to pursue the even tenor Of its way.
Not that public spirit is dead, not but that it
would be aroused in case of serious danger or
in great emergency, but, there being APP
parently no such state Of things they say,
! ssLet well alone and let us have quietude."
Hence we see the uphill work Of some of the
old democratic politicians and journals in
their endeavor to raise or res,lscitate old
issues. Their often repeated platitudes about
free trade, for example, fall flat upon the
public ear and like seed upon rocky ground.
II is not SO much that the principle of free trade
is opposed by the mass of the people as that
it is not applicable under the existing state Of
things. The majority Of our people, no doubt,
approve of the principle as sound one in
political economy, particularly among the
farming and planting population, but they see
large revenue has to be raised to pay interest
on the debt and for support of the govern
ment, and would not be willing to bear all
that by direct taxation. They prefer to raise
large portion Of the revenue indirectly and
from customs duties, and are not unwilling,
under the necessity OF the case, that this
should afford incidental protection to home
industry. They would hardly consent if
even it could be done, to change entirely the
established system of raising revenue. Sound
as the principle of free trade may be as
one OF political economy, they would
scarcely be prepared to abolish all customs
duties and to pay direct taxes to the
amount Of three or four hundred millions
year. We may modify our revenue system
from time to time and approach more and
more to free trade, as the necessities and in
come Of the government become less but
absolute free trade could hardly be made an
issue now, and, consequently, the old demo-
cratic politicians and journals are laboring in
vain. They will not be able to reconstruct
their party or to overthrow the administra-
ton and party in power on that issue, and,
therefore, must find some other.
In the absence OF any important event to
excite popular fervor during the next three
/, years-of any war or foreign complications to
stir up national or patriotic sentiment or of
any question Of annexation, to which the peo-
pie are not at present inclined, the issue of
the next Presidential campaign and Of the
, elections preceding it will probably turn upon
the financial management of the administra-
ton. And should the administration pursue
policy satisfactory to the country General
Grant WILL most likely be able to determine
the Presidential succession. He then could
say or indicate who should be his
successor. Although much remains to
be done in improving the management
Of the national finances. and many errors
Of the Secretary Of the Treasury to DC cor
rected. there are some facts standing ont prom
inently that will loom up on the credit side of
the account for the administration. While
we are far from that standard Of economy in
the expenditures Of the government which the
people desire and look for, and which was
characteristic Of the Republic in its early his
tory and before the late war, it must be
admitted that there has been great improve
ment since General Grant entered the White