National Republican., 1877-12-25
Presidential independence.

Presidential Independence.
The President claims the right to abso-
lutte independence Of choice and action.
Logically, he has that right. Practically,
in the administration of the affairs of q
great country, neither he nor any of hispre-
decesors ever did or ever could exercise it.
The law of necessity, most inexorable OF
all laws, controls him as 1t controlled them.
No one man ever did or ever can carry on
the administration. No Atlantean shoulders
are broad enough for such load. Advice,
consultation, mutual aid divide the intoler-
able burden and make it easily borne. No
matter what pretentious display may be
made of independent action, it always has
been, is no,r, and always will be shared and
parceled out.
"L'aat c'esf NOR was the motto of LOUIS
XIV, but is not nor can it be the motto Of
a constitutional ruler. It was braggart
falsehood in the case Of the King Of France,
belied and contradicted by whole host Of
malign influences and dishonorable cliques
which enveloped the throne. The boldest
and strongest of our Presidents never
claimed it-or if they claimed, never did in
fact exercise 1t. Our best statesmen in the
Executive chair were those who sought
most for information, who took counsel and
listened to experience. Our Government is
framed upon parties watchful,
energetic. Popular liberty, free discussion,
the privilege Of debate, the rights of indi-
viduals, genuine represcntation-all these
depend inevitably, SO far us we can see,
upon tho existence Of parties. And as
parties must exist, II is infinitely better
that they be vigorous in action, disciplined
into unity-full Of capacity for attack and
defense.
Parties consist of individuals who be-
Heve and indorse the general principles and
general outline of policy pursued or prom
ised by the party. They are thus an ex-
preston of the popular will, and the ono
which includes in its ranks rs voters the
larger amount of citizens and thus con-
trols the machinery, of Government en-
acts that popular will into law.
President HAYES was the candidate Of .
party, was supported by party, was
elected by party, and was believed to be
as thoroughly identified with the Repub-
lican party as Mr.. TILDEN with the Demo-
cratic. His success was not his own-it was
representative. His administration is not
his in absolute property; he holds 1t as
o trustee, and it would be breach of faith
and exceeding dishonor to fail to carry out
the purposes of his principle and "dstui quo
trust" that great body of the American peo-
pie known as Republicans.
But in order to carry ont the measures
which he himself acknowledges to be right
and claims to be Republican he must
gather information, aid, guidance, from some
quarter. He must counsel with some one
He must learn from some source the many
things of which he is necessarily ignorant.
In other words, he must have advisers. Is
it best to take these from his political
friends or political enemies9 Is GORDON
safer for Republican President than Ed
MUNDs, HILL than BLAINE, LAMAR rather
than CoNKLING?
Can Mr.. HAYES find safe counselors
among the men who denied to the verge OF
revolution his very title to the Office he
holds? Can he afford to shock the feelings
of every plain, honest Republican in the
country by intimate alliance with men
whom they believe to be dangerous to the
nationP Grant, if you please, that these
feelings are only prejudice; still that preju-
dice is thoroughly rooted.
Does the President suppose that the poo
pie Of this country, the people who elected
him, do not know that he has systemati.
cally neglected and ignored all the leading
spirits of the Republican party in Washing.
ton, and has just as Systematically advanced
and admitted to his inmost counsel the
leading spirits of the Democratic partyP
President HA YES is not exempt from the
operation of the general law of gruvitation
which controls the universe. Lesser thing
must be drawn to the greater. Is he'large
enough in character, life, public service
political experience, popular estimation, tc
compel all others by his massive attrac,
tions to abandon the customary orbits in
which they have so long, 50 steadily, and
so brightly moved, and to take new direc
tion at his will2 1t is no disparagement
to him to say that he does not possess sucl
central force. He is not the solar orb of I
political system. No matter what th'
snobs who hang on power may say, in tn
press or out Of it, it in not the Office but tn