Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-03-29
President and Party.

plain to see; and useless to try to conceal,
are sadly out of gear. A portion OF the
Republican press-the Montpelier Watch
man and st. AlbaIs Messenger. among the
number-insist that the fault for this condi-
ton of things is all on one side. The Repub-
lican Corgressmen, theS say, have wilfully
and reedlessly withdrawn support from the
Administration and the reason why they
have done so, is the low and selfish one,
that they are no longer allowed to control
appointments We do not believe that the
fault is all on one side; and as for the rea-
son assigned for the GOODNESS of Republicans
in Congress towards the Administration,
it cannot be the only or the main rea-
son, because it does not exist, or exists to
but slight extent. Senators and Represen-
tatves, in spite ofall the talk still practically
decide the great macs of appointments. If
vacancy occurs in a postofhce, the
Senator or Representative who has hereto
fore controlled the place, is asked, as of old,
to name man for the place. Senators
Hoar ard Dawes, of Massachusetts,, made
Mr. Beard collector of Boston the other day;
and plenty of similar cases could be cited.
As for appointments Of a different class,
to diplomatic positions, judgeships and the
like, every body knows that President Grant
was continually, making selections which
surprised and displeased most Of his sup
porters in Congress. He allowed no Con-
gressional dctation in regard to them but
he did not lose the support of his party on
that account. President Hayes allows no
less Of Congressional dictation. but be holds
far fewer Of his natural supporters, and
those who do stand BY him, do so, We sus
pect, at cost of considerable effort. They
are drawn away from rather than towards
the President 1t is not, then, because
they cannot control all the Offices, that the
mass of the Republicans in Congress are
edgewise towards the President. More
over, the reason, if it were the reason,
would not explain the cool relations between
the Administration and the party outside Of
Congress. As general rule. Congressman
are more likely to be Influenced by, and to
represent, the general state Of feeling among
the masses, than the masses are to be in
luenced by the piques and prejudices of the
Congressman What is the state of the case
outside of Congress? This is what the New
York Times says Of it
The forbcarance with which the Admins
tration is treated in Congress is not caused
BY its popularity out of doors. The testi-
mOny from Washington, and from widely
scattered points of observation, all tells the
same tale. Not for years has there been an
Administration SO destitute of popularity. 1t
awakens no sympathy, wins no favor, COM
mands no respect The cordial support it
has lost in one direction was worth infinitely
more than the insincere, tricky federation
which it receives in another. The slienated
forces represent nearly all that gave life to
the Republican Party-the principle which
the President has belied and the eIpeiiency
which, with strange infrmity of purpose, he
has failed to cUnciiate. The small remnant of
the party that adheres to him is powerless in
its councils. The Southern Democracy ON the
other hand, is honest only in its declaration
that it will aid the President az long a. it
can use him. and no longer Personal con-
siderations increase the disfavor with which
the Administration Is regarded. To a Ger
tain extent Mr.. Hayes is esteemed. His
coldness, however, makes free aud cordial
intercourse impossible, while his vacillation
and inconsistencies reveal either an ina le-
quate conception of what principle i'm
| plies or a humiliating lack of the first ele-
ments of craftsmanship. The result, what
ever the relative strength of its various
causes, is uudenable. Among neither the
people nor the politicians is the Administra-
tion popular, or its policy aught but by
word
Why does the Times present such la
mentable picture as this? The Times has lost
no Office, nor failed to secure any appoint
ment 1t cares nothing for, and is not con
trolled by, Senator Conkling or any Con
gresham 1t is the leading Republican
journal Of the great metropolis, and has e1-
hibitod constant devotion t. the best inter
ests Of the Republican party IL has shown
no procliyity to harsh judgment of the Presi-
dent; it would gladly, we believe, draw a
brighter picture, if it could do so with truth.
Its statement Of the situation, if strong, pos
sibly exaggerated, has far too much truth in
it for comfort to any Republican.
1t would be difficult, perhaps, for any one
to set forth all the causes which have
brought about this condition of affairs. But
we are sure that whatever are the
reasons, President Hayes adherence
to the pledges Of his letter Of &C
ceptance and inaugural are not the chief
ones. The party took President Hayes with
his platform. and expected that he would
stand upon it and be guided by it. He could
have done lar more than he has done for
Civil Service reform, without loss of support
from the party which is the real party of
progress and reform. We must look else
where than in that quarter for the springs
of the diseord at Washington.
One great trouble with the President, in
his relations with his party, seems to be his
apparently faint appreciation of the necessity
Of keeping the Republican party in strong
woIking condition, as bulwark against the
return to power Of the Democratic party.
That return means the restoration of the
"solil south to full control of the Govern
ment. Ii means the swamping of the
treasury by an avalanche OF Southern
"claims, and the ruin of the National
credit 1t eau be prevented only by every
where Strengthening the Republican party.
That great party has BEEN no mushroom
growth, and no statesman and patriot will
wisely consent to any serious breaking down
OF its organization, in any State, till he sees
Just how and where something better is to
replace it. President Hayes withdrew the
troops from South Carolina and Louisiana
we have never blamed him for it. President
Grant would have done the same had he had
two years more in Office. But does any
one suppose that President Grant would
have witnessed, without an effort to prevent
it, the entire disbandment of the Republi-
can party in every Southern State2 Presi-
dent Hayes could have Withdrawn the troops,
and yet have given the moral support Of his
Administration to Governor Packard, the
lawfully elected Governor of Louisiara, He