Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-03-15

Editorial Correspondence Albany Journal
WASHINGTON, March 2nd

WASHINGTON, March md.
The President ought to be powe
in an emergency. His declaration ought t
bo ii bugle blast calling his party together
Instead of that, We see his veto in tn
gravcst crisis since the war not merel
futile but hardly treated with common res
pect. Ills closest friends, like Stanley Mat
thews, were the most eager to trample o.
his protest, while on the other hand-b
the blame where it may-it is unhappily to
true that a ehasm has opened betweel
him and the men who are true to tn
nations honor.
The Republicans of the country wanted tC
stand by their President. They wen
through fire to elect and seat him The,
believed in his upright character and goot
purposes. Even when, az time went on
they saw what they could not understand
they still trusted and hoped. They would
to-day hail and welcome evidences Of positive
earnest, sagacious and practical Republi
canism in their administration Their mel
in Congress, who rest on public sentiment
have no wish apart from the public feeling
and would sustain and support wherever thu
people would uphold. No party wants diff
ference and disorganization No wise re
presentatives desire the decentralization
which comes from laxity or perversity or
weakness at the head. A President will
good counsel and positive force might have
used this natural party feeling to hold hi,
organization and check the tide which ha.
now swept over the land. He might have
defeated this dangerous movement at tht
outset. Such an effort meant no dishonor
able action. Ii involved no dickering oil
bargains. 1t required nothing but the
practical craftsmanship without which
government is little more than chao.
nothing but the natural organization
which is vital to every vigorous party and
every successful administration. Mr.. Liz
coin called men about him who represented
political forces. When Mr.. Seward, Mr.
Chase and Mr.. Cameron counselled
they spoke for party and carried the
party with them. If Gen. Grant had less
of this political force in his cabinet, he
found where it did exist and summoned it to
duty. There is such thing as the prac-
teal science Of government there is such q
thing as the honorable art of applied poll
tics; it lies at the foundations of free in
stitutions; it is simply Indispensable in
WY VI 'otSSos
ful ruler of a free country must be a politi-
elan in the best sense and that kind of pol
tiles is only another name for the highest
statecraft. If President Hayes has mastered
it, he would have nipped this silver blight in
the bud
With all his amiable goodness. the Presi-
dent is not potent influence. lie is not a
ruler. lie does not command men. If there
are those who think he should simply sit in
the White House, TRANQUILITY meet each ques-
ton only as it comes to him. and perform his
individual duty in perfunctory way. caE-
not agree with them. lie ought to be the
recognized, undoubted head Of the party ;
he ought to impress himself upon its poll
cies he ought to be the central force in its
organization. If he had intelligently grasp
ed this obligation, he would have united the
Republican leaders and called the party back
to its highest pledges and principles. In
stead of that what do you see? do not stop
to weigh the exact measure of blame. The
consequences are what now concern US
The causes are past in part-the effects
are here. A veto overridden without the
poor respect of days delay, divided
counsels. disorganization and indiffer-
ence, the partial lapse of the party from its
true and high position as the defender of the
public faith-these are some of the evils.
The President was right in Withdrawing the
troops-but in doing it he might have spoken
the word which would still have vitalized
the Republicanism of the South and braced
up the Republicanism of the North. lie
was right in saying that the public service
should be eleyated-but in proposing such
work he might have acted with the Republi
can representatives and need not have shown
so many self-contradictions. Instead OF
course of wise counsel and cooperation, it
has been a course Of isolation. What is the
result? 1t is true that in executive session
the other day, one Of the oldest Republican
Senators from Now England. turning to the
Democratic side. said Take him he is
yours you are welcome to him." And
Democratic Senator answered back: mo
We want no political foundling left on our
doorstep" To every earnest Republican
the situation which flashes out in the vivid
light of that colloquy is deplorable. But
nothing is gained by shutting our eyes to it.
The chapter OF the veto told the story
There were no knights ready to draw the
blade The men whom the President ought
to have with him had been estranged the
other sde-the GOrdOns, the Hills and the
rest-are glad to he served. but unwilling to
support.
Through nil this turmoil. the President is
calm, serene and self-complacent lie
appears all unconscious of the situation.
Perchance, there is fear Of the bold,
unscrupulous men OF the South who have
seemed to ralsy the administration and
who are said now to threaten more in
formation but if the President would
throw off this dread incubus and speak out
the true, living Republcanism which eall
so ache to hear, how the Republican party
would be glad to respond Mr.. Evarts is
the leading spirit of the ca )inet, and We can
all vcneratc him IA the elder Weller vener-
ated Mr.. Solomon Pcll. as "a limb O the
law as has got brains ike tine frogs. di'
pcrsed all over his body, and reachin' to the
VERY tips o his fingers" A great and
brainy lawyer, indeed-but would that he
had the political sense in an equal degree
There are experienced, sagacious men about
the administration who appreciate and de
plore the situation, but their counsel is not
sought. have talked with men Justly high
in the confidence of the party, who are near
the administration, who see the tendency,
and whose comments would pain the Reput
ican heart of the land. But nothing dis
turbs the serenity which broods over the
White House.
What is to be done? The situation is de-
and weakening Ii tend. to i'm
pair the morale and force Of the party. If
the administration could be recalled to its
true position Republicans would heartily
welcome it. Dissension and conflict are as
.epugnant to the wishes as tbev are opposed
to the interests of the party. But if the ad-
l.inistration ceases to be factor in the
great problem of politics, if its work is con-
lined to mere appointments, if it abnegates
,ll influence on the large issues. then the
party must 90 on in its own way. The mi,-
ion of Rcpubicanism was never more vital
han c-iay Whatever becomes of indivii
nails. the grand work before it remains. 1t
must be toned up on the financial questions
md must be rallied as the only safeguard
against the dangerous elements which are
now aiming ut the control Of the govern
nent.
A CRUEL Joke was recently played in Chica-
y upon u sltClll IeNcuuo hbtut, W Ho uhu
ONE up from Florida ON n special tou of in
peetion through the Marquette district of
AXE Superior. lie was exceedingly Jealous.
nd noticing this fact practical Joker eau
ously told him that ho could everlastingly |
distinguish himself 10y ferroting out II band
t smugglers on Isle ROYAL, mineral knob |
hich lifts itself out OF the northern central |
ortion of Lake Superior, 100 miles from |
nywherc else. The agent accordingly start |
A forthwith, but took the last boat OF the
cuson to tho island, So there he still romans.
nd will remain, until next June, when navi-
alton reopens, enjoying ns best he can the
Dciety of the few Cornish miners and In
ians who alone form the population.
\ REMARK ABLE railway accident happened
ot long ago on the Northwestern road be-
yecn London and Liverpool. A man and
is wife were travelling III compartment
one, tho train gong at the rate OF 80 miles