Year: 1869

Do-Nothing Pslicy and Its Dangers.


The President, Vice President and half the
Cabinet are absent from Washington. The
government, like railway train in the absence
of the conductor and engineer, is standing
still. Yes, standing still and losing time which
may never be regained under General Grant.
The country is perplexed and disappointed,
the outside world is incredulous; but still,
while at home the impression is daily gaining
strength that We have nothing to expect, the
idea is beginning to prevail abroad that we
have nothing to fear from General Grants
administration. Dry rot has seized upon
the Cabinet, and the republican party is
falling to pieces. The Secretary of the
Treasury is doing something to stop the leaks
and keep the ship ahoat, and we see occa-
sionally some spasmodic signs of life in the
Navy Department and the War Office but
otherwise, like an abandoned hulk, the gov
ernment appears to be drifting along at the
mercy of wind and wave.


Strange questions are beginning to be asked,
such as these, concerning General Grant -
Is he a man of genius or man of luck
Has he any of the qualities of statesman, or
is he simply soldier? Has he any desire to
make his administration famous in history, or
is he satisfied with the honors he has achieved? !?
Or is he afraid to move on the right hand or the
left, or to push forward, for fear of making a
mistake? Is it Grant or Mcclellan that is
fan ho hat borO Of oI-
son, Shiloh, Vicksburg, Chattanooga, the VIII
derness Petersburg and the vigorous chase up
to ''the Appomattox apple tree," has become
the head of an establishment of Quakers, from
the State Department down to the Indian
Bureau? Can it be that, too much impressed
with the misfortunes of Andy Johnson in his
efforts to maintain his own policy, General
Grant has resolved to do nothing without eX-
press authority from Congress? Or is it pos
sble that he does nothing because he knows
not what to do? Are his designs so broad,
deep and comprehensive that we cannot grasp
them? or has he any clear perceptions of the
duties, advantages, opportunities and respon-
sibities of his position?





the do-nothing policy of the administration
answers them to the prejudice of General
Grant. We had supposed that in rushing
through the repulsive drudgery of the division
of the public plunder he was anxious to get at
the more important matters of business before
him, touching Our foreign and domestic affairs.
1t would appear, however, that he was desirous
Of getting this distasteful job of the spoils off
his hands in order to have longer enjoyment
in the summer recreations of Congressional
recess; and that, come what may in the inter-
val to December, he has made up his mind to
let our domestic and foreign relations take care
Of themselves, SO as to be free, at any inviting
call, TO 60 anywhere, and take his afternoon
lrive and smoke bis evening cigar in peace.
We cannot imagine that General Grant is still
fasting about for his policy. His inaugural leads
ls to different conclusion. We believe that
he has policy matured-a broad, progressive
and comprehensive American policy; but that
he thinks the Treasury needs repose, and that
he and the country, and England, Spain, Cuba
and Mexico can wait till the reassembling of
Congress in December.


In this view the executive branch of our
government becomes cipher. 1t was a
department OF recognized power in the worst
days Of Buchanan, and its strength even
against q two-thirds vote in both houses of
Congress, was still made manifest under John
son. With do-nothing President in 1861 the
would have gone to destruction
without battle, and JEFF Davis would have
taken the place of Lincoln and so, with do
nothing President in 1869, in the absence of
Congress-, the administration signifies nothing.
Hence it is all the same whether the President
and his Cabinet are in Washington, at West
Point, Long Branch, or the Great Salt Lake.
The chief clerks Of the departments all the
same can dispose Of the routine business Of
posting the books. General Frank Blair has
expressed the opinion several times that Gen.
eral Grant, if installed in the White House,
would become despot, and take good care to
hold his place to the end of his life. One
would suppose, however, that he is satisfied
with one term of four short years, and means
to enjoy it; that he intends to leave oil respon-
sbilities with Congress, and does not care
snap of his finger for his policy, his party, or
for Cuba, the Alabama claims, Mexico, or the
succession, or anything else. One would
think that, in avoiding the troubles q
Andy Johnson, be has resolved, in having a
good time, to follow the example of Captain
Tyler.


This, indeed, is a most lame and impotent
conclusion, and will not do. The country de-
mands something better of General Grant, and
the time demands it. His opportunities for
great things, looking to the extension of the
borders of the republic and of its name and
weight and power among the nations, admit of
no trining. The crisis demands business be-
fore pleasure; and the people, in view of the
glorious results promised, expect their Presi,
dent upop several great questions To assume