New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-11-07
THE PRESIDENT AND HIS CRITICS.

A London paper, which has remarked with
natural alarm the progress of the imitation
party in Congress, doubts whether the Demo-
Gratis may not obtain the tWO-thirds majority
on Il currency bill necessary to override the
Presidents veto, off the discontinued Repub-
"licans make it Their chief object to injure
land insult Mr. Hayes" Perhaps, in such "A
remote contingency, they might succeed III
doing great many things, although we do
not see upon what theory OF politics disc0n-
tented Republicans could imagine it possible
to spite the President by surrendering the
most important principles of their own party,
and giving the Democrats all that the
most extravagant of them demand. But, III
point of fact there is not now, there
has not been, and there is no good reason to
think that there will be, any faction among
The Republicans anxious to lniure and insult
the President, or To stand III the way of any
genuine reform he desires to carry out. There
are professional place-hunters and political
Adventures who dislike policy winch
threatens to take away their livelihood ; but
these men are not worth counting as political
forces. and have scarcely a representative III
either House of Congress. The Republican
opposition to the President that opposition at
least which deserves serious consideration, Is
not personal, and contains no element OF
spite or malice.
Some of the friends of President Hayes are
making the mistake Of misjudging both the
causes and the character of the Republican
discomfort. Only an insignificant part OF 1t Is
| inspired by private grievances and thwarted
ambitions. Back of these disturbing influences
lies great accumulation of dlstrust and dis
like, not of Nh Hayes, in whose patriotism
and justice the whole country conildes, but OF
the efficacy of many of his plans OF
reform, and the effect they are likely
TO have upon the future of the country
and the party of the ability of the
men by whom ne has surrounded himself to
manage any practical reform of the capaci-
ty of some of them for any actual conduct OF
public affairs. The most common criticism
made by many of Mr.. Hayes's warmcst friends,
who have no private grievances and are only
distressed when they see laundering where
! they prayed for a successful and brilliant man
! agement, is that many acts of the Admins
traton seem to he the work OF political green
| horns, who would ike to serve a great cause,
| but don't know how, and are too conceited to
! learn.
| As matter Of course, the dissatisfaction
| which has already been so freely expressed mt
| Washington will be strengthened by the events
of the past few days. The disgracelul and
| alarming attack by the Democracy upon the
| National credit will give honest and sensible
men a sharper realization OF the danger OF
| Democratic ascendancy, and the figures of the
voting will enable caphOus Republicans TO say
! that whatever may be the Presidents inten-
| tions. he certainly seems to be adding little
to the fighting strength of his party. Criticism
urom his course may become more frequent
and more bitter. His mistakes may be mag
mfed; and we may naturally expect to
! hear on all sides that he has diSorganized his
own friends and thrown away victories which
were within easy reach.
We are not considering the justice of these
| complaints 4; but it seems to lis important that
the President should realize from what sources
they come When he understands that his
critics are not protesting against the reiorma-
ton OF abuses. but are earnestly struggling,
as he is, for the pcrpctuity OF the only party
under which reform is possible, it will be
simple enough matter to arrive at
better understanding. Both sides have the
same object in view, and neither is blind
enough TO imagine that il can be reached
unless they pull together.
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THE INTENT or THE SILTER ELL.