Year: 1874

teal effect on the course Of the government.
This feeling, in itself SO just and SO well
grounded, and which must in the end prove
az efficient as it is earnest, finds expression IN
various crude propositions, which will be
abandoned to give place to a well considered
demand for such changes as will stand the
light Of discussion. One set of ideas has
been promulgated which is weakly querulous.
| We refer here to the disparaging comparison
of our political institutions with those of
| Great Britain, in which change of Ministry
Immediately follows o defeat in the cleo
tons, and the helm of the government
passes at once into the hands Of the sue
cessful party. Even if this criticism on our
constitution were well founded it would be
futile. since nothing can be more idle than
complaints against an evil for which the
critics suggest no remedy. 1t is quite true
that our government must remain for some
time in the hands Of the republicans, but it
by no means follows that nothing can be done
to bring it into better relations with the public
sentiment of the country.


Another set of ideas, seemingly, but not
really, more practical, finds expression in q
demand that either the President, by proclama-
ton, or the present Congress, by a law passed
at its next session, shall secure the convening
of the next Congress as soon as practicable
after the 4th of March. II the House of
Representatives possessed the whole power of
legislation this would be sound proposition.
But no new law can be passed and
no existing law repealed without the concur
renee of the Senate, which is not freshly
elected and would be pretty certain to block
all the measures passed by the new House. II
both branches Of Congress had been revo-
lutionized an immediate session after the 4th
of March would be the soundest of possible
propositions.


The tendency to look to Congress alone for
relief, which is manifested in this PROPOSE
ton, is a consequence of the impotence Of
the Executive Department since the assassina-
ton of President Lincoln. Under his imme-
diate successor the Executive was without in
huence in consequence Of a violent quarrel
between it and Congress. During the six
years that President Grant has been at
the head of tho government the Executive
has been powerless for different reason.
The Pr esident, being no statesman himself,
and failing to supplement his deficiencies by
a strong and able Cabinet, has exerted no
positive influence on legislation. By his veto
strong negative influence; but it is an imbe-
cile administration, which merely prevents
mischief but is impotent to carry affirmative
measures. Up to the time Of Andrew john
son great Legislative measures originated with
the Executive, as they do in England. But
under General Grant the Executive ascendancy
has been lost, and it is not surprising that in
telligent public journals look to an extra ses-
sion of Congress instead of a change of the
Cabinet for recognition of the just authority
of the people in the new political circum-
stances II is, nevertheless, mistaken view.


President Grant has SO egregiously failed
because he has totally disregarded the plainest
requisites of political success. When Mr..
Gladstone was Prime Minister Of England he
put into his Cabinet the most eminent liberal
statesmen of Great Britain. When Disraei
succeeded him be composed his Ministry of
the ablest men on the conservative side But
President Grant, though utterly wanting in
Gladstone's and Disraeli's political talents,
has always preferred Cabinet OF political
nobodies. 1t is not in this way that political
influence is built up and consolidated. An
administration can be strong only by combin-
ing within itself the most powerful political
talent available in its party. Grants eyre
f.. .I,,~ &c
his disregarding the most obvious rules of po-
litical success.


We might go through Ills Cabinet in detail
and point out the unftness Of every incum-
bent. But let US take Mr.. Fish as the most
favorable specimen. AT the time of his ap-
this State, and from that day to this he has
been as much separated from the politics Of
! New York as if he had been laid in his grave
when he retired from the Senate of the United
States quarter of century ago. But Cab
met officer ought to be man who influences
the politics OF his own State and section. 1t
! is only by taking statesmen from various parts
of the country, vino exert an ascendancy over
the politicians and members of Congress of
their own sections, that an administration is
ever strong. Mr. Fish, since he has been n
the Cabinet, has had no more influence in the
politics of New York than the humblest citizen
who casts vote, and this remark is equally
true of every member OF President
| Grants Cabinet in respect to his own
State or section Of country. Cabinet officers
who have no influence with their local con-
stituencies cen exert no control over the mem
bers sent BY the same constituencies to Con-
gress, and, accordingly, the admin istration of
President Grant has been without influence
in the legislation of the country.


The important thing for him to do now,


when his administration has been rebuked by