The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-01-30
Wm His Exceueney Resign 1.-THE
Preysr OF Forty Millions.

seySx W TOEty "AAAAsVAss
In considering the question of His Excel
lency' resignation il is not quite safe for the
public to jump to hasty conclusion in ad-
vance Of q full statement OF the reasons pro
and con. The power to decide this interest
ing question rests, indeed with His Excel
lency himself, and he must be allowed more
time for giving assent than would be required
by the American people if the question could
be determined by them. We suspect that it
cannot safely be said of him with quite the same
literal truth as it may OF the people, that ''the
wish is father to the thought" He therefore
needs time for elaboration, and it is but fair
that he should have it. We do not yet ask
him to resign, but to weigh the reasons for so
useful and patriotic a step. We rather
incline to think, in the present state OF our
information. that His Excellency will
''make haste slowly" but it shall not be our
fault if he is not fairly supplied with all the
pertinent reasons for guiding his judgment
If he should finally make wrong decision
the responsibility will not be ours.
If he would consent to be governed by other
wishes and other judgments than his own he
might be speedily relieved of all embarrass-
mcnt in so difficult question. There is no
point on which public opinion would be SO
nearly unanimous if public opinion could de-
eide it. Both political parties would testify
their gratitude and vie with each other in
browning him with honors if he would do
this great act for the good of his country.
His republican fellow citizens would greet it
with welcoming plaudits, because it would
bring true and tried republican into the
Executive Mansion. Vice President Wilson
has always stood high in the confidence of the
party, and never higher than at present
His recent wise and excellent letter shows a
true appreciation of the dangers which beset
the party, and points out the means Of extri.
cation which would have the fairest promise
of success if he were elected to the Presidency
in pursuance of the constitutional provision
for vacancies. Mr. Wilson has not bound his
sense Of consistency by following misguided
counsels, as His E1cellency has. 1t is against
all probability that MIR. Wilson, as President,
would make Attorney General Williams his
legal adviser, and 1t is certain that he would
be under no bias in favor of an ofice-holding
brother.in-law in Louisiana. He would be
quite free from past committals and be dis
posed to decide all grave questions on their
merits, after consultation with the most pru-
dent and sagacious members of the republican
party. With the exception of the Office
holders the party would hail with delight the
access to the Presidency of on original, con-
sistent republican and cautious, experienced
statesman like Mr. Wilson. The democrats
would not be quite SO we'll pleased. as the
change would dim the brightness of their
party prospects. But even the democrats
would be glad Of an assurance that the sword of
o military chieflain cannot be put into one
side of the political balance in the next Presi-
dental election. They would be willing to
see His Excellency's original motto, "Let
us have peace" accepted at last in the public
councils. His Excellency's resignation would
be the most popular of all his great services,
and it would be the unanimous verdict of his
countrymen that nothing reflected so much
lustre on his public life as the act of leaving it.
1t is alike desired by his friends and his
enemies. We will not dwell on the reasons of
the latter, for the arguments of enemies are
seldom persuasive. 1t is more pleasant
task to set forth the views of His Excellency's
admirers, with whom the HERALD has legiti-
mate claim to be classed. We trust our advice
will find an easy entrance to his mind as pro-
ceeding from friendly motives and urged in
spirit of most respectful Difference. We are
glad to avail ourselves of SO fit an occasion
for testifying our eagerness to inscribe the
name of Grant, not directly under,
but on the same line with that of
Washington, on the scroll of fame.
Our modesty will forbid us to
publish the note Of thanks which His Excel
lency will doubtless send us. for recognizing
his title to stand on so exalted level, but he
must not therefore suspect that we are insen-
sble to his grateful approval We give in
advance the most indubitable proof of our
sincerity in ranking him with Washington by
our expectation that he will emulate the dis
interestedness, self-abnegation and magma
nimty of that illustrious patriot Who but
Washington or Grant could exhibit the SUBJ
lime virtue of voluntarily putting aside SO
high and splendid position as the Presi-
dency? 1t is true that General Scott once
evinced a similar magnanimity; but Scott
merely declined the government of Mexico
when it was offered him by the people be had
conquered Washington, Scott and Grant are
the three most illustrious soldiers in our his
tory, and we should underrate Grants great
ness Of soul if we supposed him incapable of
rising above the disinterestedness of Scott and
shining as the peer of Washington. The
brightest page in the career of Gen eral Scott is
that which records his refusal of the tempting
Mexican prefer, as the brightest and most
admired pages in Washington's great career
are his voluntary resignation of the command
OF the army at the close of the war of the
Revolution and the preparation of his Fare