The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-03-04

President drans enters To-Day upon tho SEQ
ond year of his second term. The adminfstra-
ton slowly reaches the summit of the hill and
gradually descends into history. The time
seems appropriate for Q retrospect of the
year, which has q character of its own
already, and which. for good or bad. has
made its mark upon the country We are
about to have the spring elections and
upon the results of the canvass in New Hamp-
shire and Connecticut will depend. to great
degree the immediate future of our politics
! No President ever entered upon his second
term with the enthusiasm and confidence en-
joyed by Ulysses s. Grant. His reelection
was a triumph that must have moved even
mind satiated with the successes of
Richmond and Appomsttox. He had been
assailed by one of the most powerful
combinations known in our political his
tory. union of the democratic party
with leading members of the republican
organization, men as eminent as Schurz and
Trumbull, Chase and Sumner The leader
of this alliance, in the person of
Horace Greeley, had championed the re-
publican party in its youth and in
spired the triumphs which gave it power
General Grant was weak enough to say in the
inaugural he delivered one year ago that the
election was gratifying to him as personal
vindication from the ISLANDERS and criticisms of
party newspapers. But the election had
higher meaning. 1t was q hope and o protest
a hope that the General who had made peace
through war would make that peace an endur-
ing bond of union, and q protest against
the schemes of ambitious and disappointed
and defeated supporters of the Southern Con-
federacy. The fear that Mr.. Greeley was SIM
ply the champion of reaction; that Mr.. Sum-
ner had no stronger purpose than what came
from personal dislike to Grant the still
greater fear that the sudden wrenching of the
administration from republican control would
depress business and lead to general dis
tress, all combined to secure his amazing
triumph The country did not approve
many things the President had done. It did
not find him character calculated to inspire
enthusiasm, but there was sturdy conserve
tive sense about his administration that pleased
the nation. To pass from the President to
Greeley was Like passing from land of granite
and forests to q land Of mists and shifting
sands. He entered the White House for his
second term sustained by the expression of
the nations warmest confidence
But the glorious summer soon became the
deepest winter of discomfort and the clouds
lowered rapidly over his house. The sun had
scarcely gone down on that cold, bleak March
day of his triumph before the evil omens
came. 1t is due to the President to say
that in the recommendations of his inaugu-
raj address he endeavored to realize the
best hopes of the country. But he re-
turned to power with a giddy, imperious
party His supporters we're heady with their
astonishing success, and they began to make
the blunders of reckless conquerors. Instead
of honest, grave legislation, looking tow
ards reconstruction, the funding of the
debt and the general paci6cation Of
the Union, one scandal came after
another, and the nations honor was
furnished by succession of shames. First
came the Credit Mobiler scandal like an ava
lanche, carrying with it into infamy some of
the fairest and proudest names in the Repub-
lie. This was followed by the Louisiana out
RACES, the back pay and legislation of similar
character. Then came the panic, in which
some of the conspicuous friends of the
administration were ruined, and the Vir-
ginius complication, in which we accepted IN
necessarily dishonorable peace. These were
the main features but there were attendant
scandals in the Judiciary of Kansas, Ohio,
Alabama and Louisiana; in the nomination of
SO high and almost sacred an officer as the
Chief Justice; in the management of many of
the revenue agencies and custom houses; in
Indian affairs. T. crown all, we have had
the nomination of Simmons, winch, although
a small matter in itself, yet virtually means a
defiance by the President of one section Of
the republicans in Massachusetts and an open
alliance with the fortunes and the party of
General Butler.
We have said the nomination of Simmons in
Boston is in itself small matter. Between
one Simmons and another, between the sup
porter OF Butler and the supporter of Bout
well and Dawes, the President had not much
to choose. And so long as our political con-
troll is in the hands of men like Summons we
shall not be critical in our choice, hoping, as
we do, that the time may come when all
such nominations will be impossible.
But this special appointment is not
without its significance. 1t has made a
profound impression in New England. 1t
means direct recognition of General Butler,
q recognition which amounts to defiance of
the leading men in the leading republican
State of the Union. What purpose inspires
this bold proceeding? For an alliance with
General Butler in New England means SINH