, 1880-05-10
The Presidential Outlook.

pOlltlCdi Ct'utCStS vi tuC Npuht NV ''''S
has the compromising advantage of views
ing the field from dispassinnate and
disintcrested stand.point-an advantage
not enjoyed by those who have commit
ted themselves to the fortunes of clan
and take their views from the excited
hopes OF their comrades, by which they
encourage and strengthen each other
A confirmed partisan never learns any
thing; political leader never hears a
disagreeable truth from his followers,
and gives it no credencc when he hears
1t from Others We remember that We
once ventured to suggest to President
Pierce, in II friendly and confidential WI y,
that his Kansas Nebraska policy was o.
tensive to the popular sentiment OF the
North West, and that he could not get
vote from that section in convention Tor
re nomination. He was so highly Offend
ed that he forgot for the moment that he
was a gentleman and became almost vi
Imperative. He accused us OF abolition
sympathies, and met our statement with
positive denial and open defiance. He
said that his re nomination depended
solely upon his own consent, and that il
he was a candidate he would he elected
by a larger majority than he was before.
He believed all that he said. for he had
been told so by every man who sought
fayors at his hands. The Cincinnati
Convention, which followed soon after,
disabused his mind CT the false impres
sions received from his flatterers. We
subsequently had the same experience
with President Buchanan, in attempting
to represent to him the popular aversion
to his policy of using Federal power to
force pro>slavery Constitution upon the
unconsenting people OF Kansas. He had
better information, and positively knew
that his Administration had the support
aud approval of every Democrat VIII"
was not seeking to promote the interests
Of rival candidate. 1t was subsequently
demonstrated that the only supporters OF
his policy in the Northwest were FEEDER
al office>holders and their immediate
friends, and upon them he depended for
all the information he had in regard to
IL hn Ut fur We
it stated by late interviewer OF Presi-
dent Hayes. that he, too, has the idea
approved that he could get the nomna-
tisn of the Chicago Convention if he de
sires it. We have no doubt he believes
this, and that ninety-nine in every huns
dred of those who visit the President from
interested motives would cheerfully add
their testimony to confirm this belief; yet
who on the outside believes it, bey"mi
conceding the fact tI.at his Adminisirs-
ton has been exceptionally tree from
scandal. Even Tyler, Fillmore and An
drew johnson were deluded by their
seyerel toadies into the belief that re-
election was almost assured. Having
occasion to visit President Polk on State
affairs, the first time we were ever in
Washington, we were accompanied by
Senator. We presented oar business and
were promptly promised immediate at
tentlon to, and compliance with our re-
quest. There were other parties present
at the time diecussing the Presidential
nomination then pending. We heard one
of the gentlemen telling the President,
the others all confirming it, that he was
their first choice for the nomination. and
that if his name had been presented in
time, he would certainly be nominated.
On leaving the presence, we expressed
our surprise that honorable gentlemen
would attempt to gull the President with
sucl, absurd lies. Our friend laughingly
answered: Diplomacy, my boy! Diplo
macy! Polk believes them; he has near
y year yet to dispense patronage, and
they have anxes to grind. All politicians
lie to the President and we never expect
him to keep his promises if he has any
motive tor breaking them. The promise
he has jus, made to you will be utterly
disraga, ded if Buchanan objects" And
80 it was. Three days afterwards we res
ceived a telegraph, at New York, from
the same Senator, informing US that Mr..
Buchanan had set aside the Presidents
unconditional promise. The foregoing
incidents are cited to show that men in
positions Of power, with patronage to
-. =. Aa>a II, .,xoc.aanf