Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-03-05
From the New York Times.
The Presidents Position.

One of the Washington dispatches states that
the friends of the President are chsgrined at the
want Of respect shown toward his veto Message
by the Senate. The House, II seems is accustomed
TO do rude things, aud is contemptuous indifier-
cnce therefore excites surprise. But the more
digniied Senate was expected 10 act differently.
1t has usually treated veto with at least pre-
tense of considt ration, always discussing it re-
specially, and d, ferrng that proceeding until the
document has been printed In the present ln-
stance the Sena' ors were as ill-mannclei as the
demagogues of the House, and the courtiers who
antter in the sunshine of the Executive Mansion
are piieyed in consequence. They protest that
the President ha. been cruelty used by the oppo-
nents of the bill, and particularly by symPathzers
with his Administration. The compliments for
get apparently, that those who are supposed to
occupy the latter relation in special degree in
either chamber har pen to be strenuous supporters
of the new law, and are themselves aggriev,d by
the Presidents disregard foI their wishes.
PERSONAL mortifyng the incident may he,
ii will not be without compensating advantages if
it lead the President and that small and select cir
Gle who constitute his friends to reflect upon the
the course of legislation and the outside currents
of pubic opinion. There have been Presidents
and Cabinets who towards the close of the four
wears term have found themselves deserted by
the party that created them and de pissed by the
party that had profted by their policy. Such q
state of things before the expiration of the first
year is, however, unprecedented, and that must
be marvellous selfcomplacency which ignores its
existence or its lesson. The jolly miller of the
Dee might be happy while Boosting that he cared
for nobody and that nobody cared for him, but the
Pres ident cannot afford thus to confound isolation
with indepe ndence. The old song describes his
position, nevertheless. He chooses his own path
and follows it, never psusing to seek counsel and
never condescendng to profit by it, and the result
is that with three years of service still bo fore him.
| he stands all but alone, with scarcely soul who
cares enough about him to ask whilher he is GO
| ing or what ae proposes to do. When he does
spt ak, as in his remonstrsDce against the Silver
bill his words are UNDECIDED. Having decided
upon attempt to conduct the bus ness of the
| Presidency with proud indifference to party, and
| with sublime INCONSISTENCIES of the value of
friends he is left to realize the embarrassment and
humiliation which he has brought upon himself.
To what extent this position is Attributable to
want of familiarity with practical craftsmanship
or 10 actuai inaohly 10 discriminate oetweeh par.
tisan subservlency ana Inc proper conditions OF
party allegiance, others may determine. Inc
truth Is. that the ffesident, though entering Of
nee WIN Just scnse oi It's Responsibilities, mas
IRON tle hrst peen unaoie OF uh"liling 10 COM
Ply with the ,elns essen''ai 70 success.
lie oesah as Aeaous ieio' nleI anu hooei con
clla'of' auu ne p PERSISTED 'n lying 10 pay ooth
parts III spie U, ACCOMMODATING PIoois thst, son
tary ana aione' ne eoulu ho' ue ehvetFe III eHher'
Now ana tneh d man apPeaIs upon the punlic stage
Wnose genius VI ioloe ,eueehs suon al enoil liom
i'ucuie; lles'oeul Ia,es was not css' III this
ihoiu' he - 'u". ne - uu'ole W con
pfeheIu uSho'enees "n'.n W o'ne's are pain
enough. Heeuins neiP' nc 'eiu i1 ~ accept II
"heh 'ehueieu ui9in'o'es'euiy nc seems 10 sus-
pect tnese "nose pa', leOo,u s , P,ace tneh
aoo'e susl icio"' anu W us oounuepces LOT
persons bo'"'lous'y uunVeu W iSIc"e 'ueth' AZ
every sVeP' oou5e u9 nas ounoe'co' Enc
lnes navy e.; mui' i,' VIII ii~ nus n"Ve u5aP
Peafeu' ine oh'y aoeonp'isnou i"o' III we poHcy
nc mstseu outIthe "nuui a"ei vi hilitaiy au-
'uoIl.! liou tne er III ils a'teuuint CIR
cumstahc.s p zen 80 "oe'u.iy in'shanageu 'nat
mas Drought nun ne'.nei stene'il nor glory MS
civil seiNice ieio' n"s ueon ~ oeneu III Plac'ice
tnat II mas oecouie con'e,hpIioie' tne reform eie-
hent Ia tne iepuoO"n PAi', .utu iloh the iieth-
0d pursued ano irVin It's Iesu'is Id ossus' anu the
ueVotees u tne on sysem IAush at Ptetehslohs
whose lruits are as pau as Tue worst Oh those ior
which apoiosies nave peeh c1nslueIeu necessary
ANA now comes 'he nhahcia question:, win Inc
President playing last anu loose Win important