The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-08-04

should not burden his administration with
promises and expectations that cannot be
realized. When the elder Walpole was
thrown out of power by coalition it was
expected that virtue would revive that the
crops would improve, and that, as Macaulay
wittily expresses it,, the young Duke of
Marlborough would be reduced to one bottle
of brandy day. When Dix was beaten for
the Governorship the democratic fishermen
down in Suffolk turned out in great numbers
on the Hampton beaches, convinced that
the fishing would Mt once grow better. One
of Tilden's warmest supporters advocates
his election because it will ''revive commerce
and industry" r. Barnwell Rhett Jr., who
has returned to South Carolina journalism,
in an able article sees in the canvass ga fu-
ture of veal or of woe for us and our chill
dren." Parke Goodwin, a most distinguished
writer, noted for precision and calmness in
thought, says:-'If Mr.. Tilden we're Presi-
dent in less than three months we should
see our finances on their best feet, taxation
reduced a half" and SO on.
If Mr. Tilden is elected we desire him to
have successful administration. But how
can any President, even if he is q reformer,
justify all of these expectations =? People
will not work any more then than they do
now. The causes which affect shipbuilding
and the decline in commerce will not pass
away, nor will it be in Mr.. Tilden's power to
remove them. Mr.. Rhett Will find quite as
many negroes in South Carolina, and their
rights protected by constitutional amend
ments which President Tilden could
not remove. South Carolina would need
then what it does nova. good deal
of the shovel and the hoe--hard,
steady digging, and work. Mr.. Goodwin
is so high on authority that we hate even
to appear to differ with him, but we cannot
sec how any President can settle the cur
rency question and reduce taxation one-half
Gin three months" The new President
would go into Office on March 4, 1877. He
would have O vast amount of "reform" to do
at once. This the country expects. Ar
the thieves would have to be arrested,
tried aud punished, and as there are
about eighty thousand of them now
in Office, according to respected demo-
cratic authorities, this would take some
time. The Governor knows how long it
took to arrest, punish and condemn Tweed
and recover the money he had stolen, and
he can, therefore, give Mr.. Goodwin an intel
ligent idea Of how much time will be re-
quired to give the country due measure of
reform with the myriad of Tweeds. But let
us suppose that in order to oblige Mr.. God
win, whose honor as prophet he would
have dear to heart, the new President took
hold of the currency question. Could
he in three months put our finances
ION their best feet" and reduce taxation
one-half? This would be great achieve
ment, one that would electrify the world; and
if Mr.. Goodwin is sound in his prophecy
Tilden will go in with every electoral
vote. Therefore Mr.. Goodwin. as the true
friend Of the Governor, should demonstrate
how the taxes and the currency IRE to be
relieved. There is vague idea-or it may
be prejudice-that the finances can only
be arranged by Congress, that all expendi-
lures nre decided by bills of appropriation,
and that the question of specie payments is
with Congress. Where, then, is the power
of the President? We are not denying that
such power exists, for Mr.. Goodwin hos
discovered it. But he wrongs his friend and
the cause to keep the discovery a secret.
AS to the South, we think we can assure
Mr.. Rhett that the Governor will see that
due justice is done to that region in the way
of appointments-provide the Senate con-
firms them The Senate is now republican,
and will probably remain so, even if Tilden
is elected. Consequently, in the dis
tribution of patronage there will be
two parties to be consulted. The
ment-a government not suited to fervid
reformers This government embraces
something more than the President.
If Uncle Sammy reached the White
House he would find beaten path
before him. He would find Senate, a
House, q Supreme Court He would find
that he would have to do as his party
keeper of the House, would be valuable
counsellor as to what that party would ex-
pect. He would find all the statesmen who
now cry Reform y ready waiting for their
offices. He would there learn that when n
patriot cries, "The country must be re-
formed y he means that the country should
employ him at large salary. lie would
have Morrissey and his gang, Kelly
and his gang, Mclaughlin with the
Brooklyn gang and an endless army
of heeers waiting to be recognized" And
if he did not behave well to the newspapers
and the boys on the Row the thunder would
open and he would be reminded of "the
sturdy virtues and the homely ways of the
great soldier-statesman, Grant" and be told
that he was what we dare not prophesy. At