New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-11-14
TOO MICH ADVICE.

TOO MUCH ADVICE.
Since the election the President has received
advice enough to last him the rest of his life,
if he were inclined to take it. He is warned
to look well to his steps, or he will be i'm
peached. He is ordered to abandon his hard
money attitude, or he will destroy the party.
He is summoned to confirm his veto of last
year as his only chance of saving himself. He
is told to dismiss his Cabinet before Congress
meets, or they will drag him to perdition. He
is directed to change his Southern policy and
drop his Southern retainers at once, and in
other quarters he is adjured to stand by them
more firmly than ever as the only means of
saving the Republic. There is, apparently,
only one point upon which there is absolute
unanimity In all quarters. All the organs of
public opinion, no matter what discOrdant
notes they may give out upon other matters,
blow one swelling strain in perfect harmony,
the burden of which is, "Butler is the Jonah
IIeave him overheard first and then we can
"talk."
We are always glad to be able to side with
the President, and we take pleasure in saying
that we cordially agree with him in his re-
ported expression of belief that in this
multitude Of counsels there is little or no
wisdom. We do not see that the circumstances
call for any active policy from the White
House. We think that most people are con-
WINGED that the President has been entirely
too active already. He has done entirely too
much in louisiana for instance. He has rarely
given an order which was not mistake, even
when it was not q palpablc violation of law.
He has never taken the trouble to interfere
with local politics in the different States with
out entirely misapprehending the situation OF
affairs and embrOiing contending factions
worse than ever. When he has undertaken to
essay new departures in government, with ap-
parently good intentions, they have resulted in
failures so complete as seriously to impede the
reforms they pretended to aid. In other hands
his Indian policy and his Civil Service Board
might have accomplished something, but his
treatment of them makes one tremble at the
thought Of his attempting any new reforms.
We praised him without reserve for his veto
of the initiation bill, and still think it the most
creditable act of his administration. But now
Senator Conkling tells us that he had pre-
viOusly prepared message approving it, and
we cannot help fearing that the next time he
interferes lie may do the right thing first and
the wrong thing last. For these reasons we
cannot join in urging any vigorous policy
upon the President. There is a nursery wit
ticism which never loses its gloss, importing
that Johnny is good boy when he is asleep.
We are sure that the majority of rejecting
people, on the whole. like the President best
when he does nothing.
We agree also with the President that he
is not called upon to do anything in hurry.
There is no more danger of his impeachment
than there is of his translation, as things
now stand. impeachment Is the last remedy
for intOlerable ills, and there is not the least
pretext for it now, or the least prospect of
any. We do not sympathize with the sugges-
ton that he should change his Cabinet. We
should even strongly object to 1T if our Opin-
ion were asked. 1t is not the best possible
Cabinet but when we contemplate Gen. Grant
and think what a Cabinet he might compose
now that he has become better acquainted, we
look with deep thankfulness upon the assem-
blagc of statesmen and soldiers that surround
him on Tuesdays and Fridays. There is a
general feeling of relief whenever the Presi-
dent appoints man to high Office who has
not dishOnored name and who can
sign his name to a payroll without rolling
Cabinet is an excellent one, and we
should greatly regret to see the Presi-
dent attempt to rcorganize it. Regarding
another matter, we differ, with some reuct-
ance, from all our contemporaries. We would
not advise the President to cut loose from
Gen. Butler. 1t would show bad side of
human nature to do so. Gen. Butler had the
Presidents salary doubled, and so as to make
the act less marked, he doubled his own salary
at the same time, though he did not need it,
and said so. "Help me up!' said one inebrate
to another. 81 can't do that, but will lie
"down beside you," was the response, and it
has always been considered beautiful utter
ance of true friendship. Gen. Butler did more
than this. He helped the President up and
lay down in his place. 1t would not be kind
or prudent to give such shifty friend the
cold shoulder. He may be very useful yet in
a great many ways.
In fact, if the President were to consult us
as to what he had better do, we should be
inclined to advise him 10 do little less of
everything than he has hitherto done.
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TIE PILGRIMAGE TO BALTIMORE.
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