New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-07-05
PRESIDENT AND POLI1ICIANS.

n
Iowa does not approve the Presidents course,
according to its Republican politicians. 1t is
safe to say that the working politicians of no
other State will approve that course II the Pres
ident must stand or fall by the verdict OF the
politicians who have been working the Republic
can machine, he viii surely fall. Whether 1t Will
rest with those persons to approve or condemn
him depends mainly upon himself. 1t ispoSSlble
for him TO bring TO his aid another force so
potent that, having its support, he may well
look with utter indifference upon the
doings of the party managers but he has not
vet secured the confidence of that large body OF
citizens. They wait and watch. Willing, and
even strongly inclined to approve, they want TO
be sure that the President designs, and has the
fimness to cany out, genuine and thorough
reform. A mere broadening of phylactenes will
not please them. A mere scratching OF the
surface will not seem TO them satisfactory
substitute for sub-soil blowing.
1t is particularly important for the President
to understand that he must win the entire and
hearty confidence of this class of citizens, or 20
into history as very wretched failure. The
politician hates Mr.. Hayes His notions are
lust far enough right TO make the average party
manager look upon him as a dangerous man,
who must be squelched at the earliest possible
moment. Moreover, Mr. Hayes will make a
fatal mistake if he considers the average poll
tcian an unimportant person. He can disre-
gard and successfully resist the average poll
tician, if he has the people with him, heartily
and emphaticaly. If he has not, he will inev-
itably get the worst of it, for the politicians
will show him no mercy. He is a trfie too
Ill. 10 l.an rnn1
dupe, and trihe too independent to be good
slave, and on the whole the best thing to do
with such man, from the politicians polnt OF
view, is to cut his throat
The Iowa Convention was the natural product
of forces which exist and operate In every
other State. Cunning politicians, too snewd to
make open war prematurely, pull the wires and
appeal with much success to the scnsIbiities
and prejudces of many. Obstinate and narrow
bigots, who believe everything that is good and
nothing that is bad about the negro at the
South, and who fancy that the chief end of
white men is to secure to 1.-THE wards OF the
"natiOn" larger measure OF influence than
they merit by intelligence or virtue, will
make sincere and eager assault upon The
Presidents course. MEANWHILE honest and
sensible citizens by the thousand who
want the President to do, and hope that he
will do exactly what he promises, stand aghast
when they see>some of his appointments won
der whether it is infrmity of purpose or lack of
information which makes him act at times like
n trading politician ask how he can expect
Civil Service Reform from one of Grants Gus
tom House rings, and resolve to suspend udg-
"ment" until they can find out what the Presi-
dent really means.
The President has gone too far ever to make
peace with the knaves He has not gone far
enough to win the confidence ofmen who want
reform. Half measures will not do for linn.
! If be undertakes to play the cunning politician,
and "keep the word of promise to the ear, but
"break it to the hope" he will get cheated in
trading sixty times week by the long-head
ed managers with whom he has to deal, and
viii end bankrupt i'll public esteem. The poll
ticians do not want any reform whatever, and
he NAV rest assured that they will turn the
cold shoulder to him, in Iowa fashion, or
worse, no matter how homeopathic the doses
of reform which he attempts TO administer. The
/ Republican Bourbons, who fy into passion
/ whenever they look southwark, will never for
! give the act OF justice and necessity which
sent Packard and Chamberlain to the North.
/ All the knaves realize that the President Is q
! dangerous person; all the banacles and rOlit-
! ical strikers contemplate with intense disgust
/ such steps as he has made toward puiiiica-
! ton of the Service. But he has not yet held
/ SO consistent and firm course as to VIII the
! confidence of the men who care nothing for
Office or plumber, but everything for the pub