Year: 1874

lower the hopes of the exultant democracy,
and it is quite natural that they should be-


little its importance and try to enlist the Pres


ioent's pride against it.


Blu: the HERALD gives him impartial disin-
terested advice. 1t has no motive but the
public good; it would as willingly see the
country well governed by one political party
as by the other. But rs the democratic party
can by no possibility govern the country Mt
all, either well or i'll, for the ensuing two
years and a half, it is matter OF great public
interest that the republicans should promptly
learn the uses OF adversely and do their best
to wisely bridge over the dangerous interval
while legislation will stand at a deadlock be-
tween the republican Senate and democratic
House, and the President can expect none of
his recommendations to &c adopted, the bad
ones being certain to be rejected because
they are bad and the good ones because the
democrats will not permit the republican
party to have the credit Of them. All patriots
have reason to feel solicltude for the imLc-
cility OF the government during this period
and the HERALD would fain have the repuh-
lican party improve the golden opportunity
which remains to it between now and the
4th of March to put public affairs ON such a
basis that they may go through the two years
Of inevitable deadlock and divided councils
without detriment to great interests
Moreover, we look upon the republican
party with the sentiments which every patriot
ought to feel towards q great historical party
which conducted the country successfully
through the most dangerous and momentous
crisis in our annals, and we should be sincerely
sorry to see it go out OF power covered with
odium and disgrace. 1t will retain complete
authority over every department of the gov
ernment for nearly four months, AMI no wise
act of legislation which it may confer on the
country in this interval can be reversed by its
opponents during the subsequent two years
while it will control the Senate But unless
it makes the most of this long respite the
republican party is irretrievably doomed.


The great point of all is tor General Grant
to promptly construct a Cabinet Of such po-
litical weight and moral ascendancy that the
Presidents recommendations can be carried
through Congress, as Hamiltons fiscal meas
urcs were under Washington and Chase's
under Lincoln, and that the administration
may not be fatally damaged, as it has been of
late, by well founded attacks on the heads
CT departments The democratic party
does not want such change, because itwould
cause an ominous cloud to gather over its
Frightening prospects; but the President
would do an exceedingly foolish thing if he
were to please the democrats in this particu-
lar. He is q far weaker man than we ever
supposed him if he permits them to practice
on his vanity by telling him that he would
merely ''play President if he were to replace
his Cabinet Of staff officers by Cabinet Of
statesmen.


The occasion justifes US in repeating our
respectful advice to Secretary Fish. who holds
the key OF the situation. It is as consistent
with his self-respect to resign as it was with
Gladstone to resign when the English elec-
tions went against the liberals. The other
members Of the Cabinet would be forced to
follow him, which would give the President
an opportunity to foil and disappoint the
democrats, and infuse fresh life, hope, vigor
and confidence into the depressed and humil-
lated republican party. Mr. Fishs fellow
citizens of New York would be proud to see
him act noble and magnanimous part on SO
great an occasion.