New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-11-14

conflicting interests and by various conditions
of race locality and character. II is pity
that some OF his Cabinet do not share his
modesiy Among them they have cOntuyed
to create the impression that they believe
themselves endowed with n special wisdom,
which enables them, without counsel with any
OF the men heretofore trusted by the people,
or with any of the disuterestcd Observers and
critics of public affairs, to evolve out OF thch
own consciousness all the policy and all the
knowledge Of men That the government OF
continent requires. 1t is mistake. No seven
men that ever lived in tins Western World
have I'll the wisdom, al the practical LnoWl-
edge of affairs, and all the personal knowledge
Of applicants for Office needed for the conduct
of tits Government. No sensible set of men
ever undertook to carry it on without seeking
to exact tribute from the widest personal
knowledge, and the best judgments Of the best
men in every section, wherever they could
be commanded.
One of the secrets of Mr.. Lncoln's
success as an administrator in an ex-
ceedingiv difficult and even danger
Gus time, was his habit of asking advice
and inviting free criticism upon Lis action.
lie had very Little patience with latterers, and
he always distru3tcd the Judgment Of polti-
cans who assured him that the Government
was going on finely and winning applause from
all sorts of persons. He preferred that Con-
grcs>mcn and others should tell him what was
wrong in their districts and what the people
were grImbng about. lie gave a welcome
and patient hearing to every body who came
10 him with complaints. lie constantly sent
for Senators and Representatives, not only the
prominent men in the two Houses, but the
less important men, too, and not merely Con-
gressmcn, but all others who might be sup
posed 10 have knowledge Of men or measures
which he could make useful, and consulted them
about appointments and lines OF policy.
Then, having collected all the information
within his reach, and compared opinions, ne
acted according to his own Judgment. Very
often ne found reason 10 disregard tho advice
Of every individual whom he had con-
suited. But, in most cases, the gentle
men who were thus oycrTled had no wish to
complain because the President disagreed with
them. In asking their views he had gratiicd
them by q mari, Of confidence and respect, and
the act auliced to attach them more strongly
10 his person. Mr.. Lincoln had op' orcnjs
within the party. and bore his ull share OF
trouble apart from the anxcucs OF the war; bGt
considering the exceptional circumstances Of
the time, his success in preserving harmony
was remarkable.
Mr.. HAYES will lose nothing by following
Mr. LmcOln's example, and that he Is well
DISPOSED to follow If the events Of the last day
or two seem to prove. There ere mon in the
ltlrft V..ll Il,
in the Republican party long before he emerged
into political life; who understand its spirit,
cherish It's traditions, and share its aims;
whose purity OF purpose cannot be questioned;
and whose practical ability has been demon
stratcd by lifetime OF success. 1t Is no
more than reasonable that their advice should
be asked upon matters which concern, not
Mr.. Hayes's private business, but the per-
petuity OF The party in which these gentlemen
have nj least as close m interest AZ he has.
And whether the President afterwards see lit
to follow their counscls or not, he cannot fail
to learn from them something that he did not
know before Even solomon might learn some
thing from a leading American politician. All
the deplolable mistakes which have given re-
form such a hack-set since the 4.h OF March
might have been avoided by little plain talk
between the President aud the politicians.
All inc suspicion. the uneasincss, the general
"contrarincss" which has disturbed the party
ever since last Spring, can he even now DIS
PEELED by the exercise on both sides of little
courtesy, common sense, discretion and OPEN
moss.
Besides, no President can administer
orr Government success sfully unless he get
close to the people. Mr.. Hayes has appa-
rently supposed that lac could learn the
drift Of public sentiment in the seclusion OF
his office at the White House. or in CONVERSE
ton about the weather with his personal
friends or by making speeches TO the multi
tnde from the rear platform of Il railway car
But there is no place where the pulse of the
country beats so feebly as at Washington.
There is no man in public life whom the
thoughts of the people reach with so much
difficulty as the peoples Chief Magistrate
If he would know how the Nation feels
what il wants, what it thinks of him, which
way it IS resolved to go, he must come out of
his secluson and place himself in contact with
the peoples representatives, official or unOf-
fetal Nor must he wait for them to come to
him. He should understand that the people
VINO SEEK nun are lnt p'opit WIN NdlIt ulIHES
of him-Olices, contracts fayOrs of some sort
The people whom he should seek are the peo-
pie who have nothing to ask of him, but
whose opinions concerning the conduct
of the Government, and the temper of the
people, would be valuable to him. They
will not identify themselves with the herd of
adventures and sycophants who daily throng
his doors. If he is to get at what they know
and think, he must seek for it-they will not