The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-02-12

In the early days Of the English Alliance
with Louis Napoleon, when the strangeness
of his conduct puzzled the English mind and
flled it with uneasy misgivings, the laureate,
Mr.. Tennyson, published little poem, OF
which we are able to recall these ines:-
1t Is true We have faithful ally,
But only the devil knows what he meana
A perplexity like that expressed by the
English poet is felt by the republican party in
relation to the unaccountable conduct of their
faithful ally" His Excellency. The parallel
may not hold at all points, for, as somebody
has quantity said, comparisons do not go
upon all tours. But there are some obvious
points Of resemblance. Ulysses Simpson
Grant, like Louis Napoleon Bonaparte, had o
sudden and surprising rise to political emf
hence. which beied every rational calculation
which could have been founded on their
previous condition. Ulysses, when he was
clerk in his fathers tannery in Galena, had
as little prospect of becoming President
Of the United States as Louis had
of becoming Emperor of France when he was
State prisoner at Ham, OF when he Struggled
himself into Boulogne with his tame eagle.
Ulysses, like Louis, is one of the most taciturn
of men, the Sphinx of American as Louis was
of French politics. In ambition the resem-
blance is as close as that between two peas
from the same pod. In political connection
His Excallency Ulysses has never been
member of the republican party, only its
'ally;" but whether faithful ally" in any
other than that scornful ironical sense in
which the poet laureate employed this phrase,
is question on which republican opinions
may perhaps differ. A nation goes abroad
and seeks an tally" only when conscious that
its separate strength is not equal to some
emergency, and political party goes outside
of its own ranks to pick up candidate only
from similar motives of self distrust An ally
consults only his. own interest, as the
republican party has found to its cost.
His Excellency is pursuing his ambitious
views by methods which astound the
other party to the alliance and cause true
and tried republicans like Vice President Viii
son to wiring their hands in torturing amaze
ment His Excellency is not only Sphinx,
but stupendous political puzzle, and ''only
the devil knows what he means"
His Excellency has cut loose, not only from
consultations with the recognized and &C
credited republican leaders, but from the
advice of his own Cabinet When his
creature. Bclknap, autographed to New Or
leans that 'rhs President and all of u.s.
warmly Endorsed the wild utterances Of
General Sheridan, it afterward came to light
that His Excellency alone had directed the
approval, and that ''au of u.s. we're not con-
suited. And it now appears that the astound-
ing Arkansas Message, which caused thought
full republicans to 'stare and gasp" was pre-
pared and sent to the Senate without even
consulting 90 abject and complying Secre-
tary as Belknap, His Excellency deignipg to
seek no other adviser than that paragon of pro-
bity and pink of statesmen, BOSS" Shepherd.
1t is no uncommon thing for people to ask
advice when they only desire appreciation,
and as HIS Excellency knew precisely what he
wanted be Ally took counsel Of q man about
whose complaisance there could be no doubt
Had be consulted Secretary Fish His Excel
lency would have encountered strong remon-
STRANGE. for Mr.. Fish has some of the attri-
butes of statesman. Had he consulted even
Attorney General Williams he would have
been bothered with pertinacious objections,
for although Mr.. Williams is ordinarily SUBJ
servient enough be never could have con-
Osnted to Message which publicly repudiated
the legal advice he gave last May, which the
President made the basis of his Arkansas proc
lamation rejecting the claims of Brooks and
declaring that Baxter was the lawful Governor
of the State. Knowing the kind of advice he
wanted Lis EIcellency took nobody but
Boss" Shepherd into his confidence, and,
supported by so remarkable o statesman, he
ventured on the most egregiously selfstulti-
tying act ever perpetnted by . man in SO
exalted q station.
''Only the devil knows what he means -
and although We have a cable under the heav-
ing Atlantic and one under the vexed waters
of the Gulf, Geographic communication has
not yet been established with His Sooty
Majesty's dominions, and we must substitute
speculative conjecture for authentic intelli-
gence. The most plausible hypothesis We are
able 10 form is that His Excellency has been
struck with the fitness Of the advice rendered
him by the HERALD, and that before taking
the decisive step Of resigning he wishes to
create unanimous public opinion in favor Of
our friendly advice. His ExceIlencys pride,
perhaps, revolts at following the suggestion
Of q newspaper. however solicitous for his
fame and devoted to his interests. He sees
the proprety and feels the nobleness of such
an act but he is not quite willing TO perform
it until be makes sure of the indorsing nc
carnations Of the whole body Of his unanimous
fellow citizens. Everybody will agree that be
could not have done more 10 reconcile the
country to our advice than His Excellency
has succeeded in doing since 3, was respect
fully rendered for his serene consideration.
We have not yet written him private note
of thanks tor his truly valuable cooperation.