The New York herald., 1877-10-01
ssTurn Her Ahead"


laid away, and the wounded put in the doc
tors hands, We may, to use western
pilots phrase, ''turn her ahead" again. A
lot Of busy men may stop for moment TO
look over each others shoulders at street
fight; but they cannot stay long. More I'M
portant affairs claim their attention, and
they presently leave the affair to 1.-The
fancy" and the police, and hurry on to busi-
ness.
Does any sensible man believe that the
country is going to drop business and stand
gaping for the rest of the Presidential term
at the quarrels of the politicians over two
questions, one of which is dead and the
other concerns no interest except that Of
the noble bread and butter brigade? We
hear exacerbated political fuglemen talking
about the President "Johnsonizing," as
they call it, and predicting that the exciting
and demoralizing scenes Of the troublous
Johnson administration will be repeated by
IAN insulted and outraged party" These
gentry imagine, apparently, that they are
to keep the country in hot water for the
next three years; to destroy confidence,
prevent the revival Of business, keep open
old sores, revive old hatreds and sus-
picions between the sections and all
to defend the sacred right of postmas-
ters and custom house inspectors to
run ward primaries and manage conven-
tions. The country would be in pretty
condition if these people had their way.
But we believe we can prove to them that
they are grossly hattering themselves when
they imagine they can thus exalt their petty
squabbles into matters of national interest
The johnson times, as they are called, were
very welcome times to the bread and butter
brigade One had only to cry out ''rebel"
in those days to have big party behind
him at once. The war was scarcely over,
and not only were very important questions
to be settled Ms to the status of the negro
and the control of the Southern States, but
the party in power had large majority in
both houses, and the President had On un-
fortunate temper and SO little tact that he
soon fell under the fatal suspicion Of
having designs inimical to the safety and
rights Of the blacks. In spite Of all the
great advantages which the conduct Of Mr..
Johnson and the circumstances of the time
gave to the anti-administration republicans
Of that day the fact is that they lost ground
with the people to such an extent that in
1868 they dared not nominate civilian, but
were forced to take General Grant for their
candidate to save themselves from defeat.
But ''things are not MS they were" The
ks 4 z.
balanced that the anti-administration re-
publicans cannot hope to control it; the
Southern question is settled to the great sat-
istaction OF the country, and the President
is man whom not his widest opponent
would be silly enough to accuse Of careless
ness Of the negroes rights and safety.
Under these conditions, SO very different
from those Of the johnson times, what
can the dissatisfied republicans do? They
can indulge in invectives but, unless they
can get the Southern democrats to come to
their help with a new crop of ''outrages.
they are no better of than if they were tied
hand and foot.
Congress meets on the 18th of this month
One Of the first acts in both houses will
probably be the offering of resolution
by the democrats heartily and entirely
approving of the Presidents Southern
policy. What are the republicans going
to do about it? Those Of Massa-
chusetts, Minnesota and several other
States will vote for it, because their
State conventions have formally approved
it. The anti-administration men may op-
pose it, but will they? Can they afford to
fly in the face Of the country? If they do
they will be voted down and will know
that their defeat gives delight to the bulk
Of their own party. They may debate and
fight it of, but unless the democratic reso-
luton is drawn Extensively or with uncom-
mon democratic clumsiness, it will have
members and Senators large enough to
bury with due foImality this deceased
Southern question and when that is thus
permanently put aside, with the general and
free consent Of the country Congress will
undoubtedly turn its attention with little
delay to that other which SO exasperates the
bread and butter brigade the question of
CIVIL service reform.
Tlare are SO many ways to reform the
civil service the doctors who promise a
''sure cure or no pay" are so numerous,
ths.t no sensible person expects Congress to
adopt any general scheme for this end.
Whatever the opponents of reform might
do its friends would be sure to defeat
II through inability to agree among
themselves. Nor do we think this
u calamity. We have never thought
that Congressional enactments could pro-
vide panacca for the evils which undoubt-
edly exist What is wanted in this case, as
in I'D many others, is not a new law, but the
repeal of old and bad laws. And this, we
are inclined to believe, the new Congress
will consent 10. Two laws only need be
rcfoaled IN enable the President IN mako