The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-06-09
Clenring Awny the Fog.


lishcd in this city, in the German language
1t belongs to neither party, and habtually
criticscs and condemns both. 1t is con-
Quoted with ability and industry, and ex-
presses its opinions with frankness, not
caring whether they offend or please Re-
publicans or Democrats.
The Stdais Zeihpg is very anxious TO soc
Mt Washington an Administration rs hdc-
pendent as itself, and equally ready to op.
pose the wishes Of either or both Of the great
political parties. These parties being. ia the
opinion OF our German contemporary. radi-
caly and almost hopccssly dcpraved and
corrupt. good government can only Doe ob.
talned 10y going against them "Tlc HAYES
Administration" says the .Sic1ts II infng,
"will be in position to do what is good in
the degree in which it makes front against
both parties.
This bctrays singular confusion Of mind
respecting The functions Of constitutional
government especially in q republic Tho
Executive branch Of the Government never
can be and never ought to be independent of
parties, and 50 10 say, above public opinion,
rs newspaper may be. A newspaper may
separate itself from either party or from all
parties; It may mike war upon them, attack
their policy, overthrow thor leaders. revou-
tonic their orga1ization destroy thcm.
build up new ones in thoir placcs-fo an
these things are proper functions of "a news
paper But Pr sidclt cannot act with any
such uncontrolled freedom. and no wise
President will ever attempt IT, He &c put in
power ne the representative Of his party
FOR certain purposes, and to carry out
certain policy which the party has avowed
beforehand, and on which 70 has sought the
decision of the ballot boxes. To that policy
ho Is bound TO adhere to the end Of his
term: and 10 advise an Adm nistration to
enter deliberately upon a course of OPPOSE
tion against its own party. or against both
parties, Is equivalent to advising that Adj
ministraton TO commit suicide 1t IL in
effect advising IL 20 govern automatically
against the majority Of tho people and
against the majority Of Congress
The practical difficulties in such a schemeof
nutOcratic government are iusurmOuntable.
The President can do nothing without Con-
gress. Congress is the superior power. The
President must obey the laws which Con-
gross enacts. Ho cannot obtain cent Of
money for any executive purpose, except
through an act II Congress. He cannot
make an appointment without the advice
Gnd consent Of the Senate He cannot issue
On executive order or regulation which
Congress cannot override. In our expert
ence we have repeatedly seen the President
in conflict with Congress, and In every case
the executive branch has had 10 yield en-
tirely, OF has continued in state of col
lapse and paralysis. No Administration has
ever been successful, or ever can be, under
our system, without the support and CO.
operation Of majority in Congress. In tho
other great constitutional country, Eng
land, this rue IS carried still further than it
is in the United States; for there, when the
executive finds that tie majority Of the
Legislature t. hostile he and his associates
and assistants must instantly 60 out of
power and make way for others who are IN
harmony with that majority. In this cuun-
Try, the President remains In Office
after tine majority of Congress 10
ngaiu1t him, but lac ran do nothing ex-
o"pt urou1or or continue O fruitless strug-
Rle Until tAr nest erection gives him u sue
cos-or whose views and purposes are those
Of tho minority that is t. say, those of one
or iAe Ner political party. You cannot
make water lun up nll, and you cannot
lHIra President oi tho Unit'd Statos OPP
posed la bis policyan Lis action TO The ma
.of't oi tlc lo'pl", or what Is the same
tAnFums. lr.fy ~ Congress.
These Principles are especially applicable
I. the cl-o OF an official like M HAYES. oc-
ol u- un uliro, not by election, hut by
fHud. u Mr. IlLurS had been installed AS
llr-H Ii. n- the 'nplo voted that he should
i'. li"cnud have accomplished an immense
o'.l b. tlr way Of reform, even though "a
l.IHl. ~. nr.nnrtiDn of fle Bnnarrnrv