Year: 1874

L


first nomination, in May, 1868, he said, among
other things in the same vein, this :-''New
political issues, not foreseen, are constantly
arising, the views Of the public on old
ones are constantly changing, and purely
administrative officer should always be LETT
free to execute the will of the people" This
conception of public duty is, in some re-
spects, open to criticism but although not
quite guarded enough in expression, it EN-
bodies an idea which can never be safely dis
regarded in a free government 1t is OF the
essence of popular institutions that the adj
ministration should have fexibility enough
to bend readily to the public will when
authenticity ascertained and distinctly ex-
pressed. General Grant entered political life
by formal profession of allegiance to
the sovereignty Of the people and
full recognition of their indefeasible
right to control their own government. He
refused to promulgate sot of fixed maxims,
on the express ground that it would be in
derogation of popular sovereignty. He. of
course, did not mean that he would think it
his duty to resign his Office if his conduct or
policy fell under popular condemnation, but
only to acknowledge his obligation to make
such changes of policy or administration as
might be required by the public will.


The disastrous rebuke which he encountered
in the late elections presents the FIRST serious
occasion for an inquiry on his part as to how
he shall keep the memorable pledge we have
recited. The country, in the most authori-
tative of all ways, has required him to change
his course, and be ought to congratulate him.
self that be has never bound himself by
pledges which can obstruct the freedom of his
present action. He has retained his perfect
liberty to obey the voice of the people. Nor
ought he to be at any loss to per-
celve that the weight of public con-
demnation has fallen chiefly on things for
which he and his Cabinet are responsible
The country thinks he has followed bad ad-
vice. II has pronounced its verdict against
the ruinous financial policy of Secretary Bout
well, which WAS a main cause of last years
panic and this years stagnation. The coun-
try has condemned the policy of Attorney
General Williams in dealing with Louisiana,
which ranks next to the panic in exciting
public dissatisfaction. The country disliked
his St Domingo job and his Cuban apathy.
Most of the incentives to this great political
revolution are incentives having their origin
in Executive measures, and the public dis
content can be allayed only by changes which
will justify greater. confidence in tho Presi-
dents official advisers. In other words, the
first and indispensable step toward a restora-
ticn Of confidence is reconstruction of the
Cabinet. The President must not only turn
over a new leaf but be must give the country
the means of seeing that he has turned over
new leaf. So long as he keeps the same body
of discredited advisers about him the people
will have no satisfactory evidence that he in
tends to fulfil his early pledge by conforming
to their will.


A change Of the Cabinet is evidently the
great thing to be DONE 1t would inspire the
desponding republicans with new hope. It
would convince them that their party is not
doomed to struggle on against the same causes
Of defeat by which it has been so signslly
prostrated and Inundated revolution in
the Cabinet would also inspire Congress with
new life, especially if the new Official advisers
should consist of men Of high standing, Sc
lected less on the ground of the Presidents
personal liking than for their possessing the
full confidence of the party. With such a
Cabinet the republican leaders in Congress
would be on terms of more useful intercourse
than they had ever been with any previous
official family Of the President, and cordial,
concerted effort would be made during the
coming session to rectify mistakes and
inaugurate strong, popular policy, which
would restore party confidence and inspire
the hope of recovering lost ground. If Presi-
dent Grant would reconstruct his Cabinet a
feeling would at once arise in the party which
cannot be better expressed than by those mag
nifcent lines Of Milton's "Lycidas -


so sinks the day star in the ocean bed,


And yet anon repairs his dropping head.


And, after tricking his beams with new splen-
dors, flames in the forehead of the morning
sky" Such are the fresh hopes that would
spring up in the republican heart if President
Grant would at once fulfil his well known
pledge to execute the will of the people,"


But even if we credit him with the sim
cerest desire to do this, candor obliges us to
admit that he must meet obstacles and en-
barrassme nts of q kind which are pecu-
liarly trying to Q man Of strong per-
sonal friendships and attachments like
President Grant. whose faiings In
this respect clean to virtues side" Unal-
terable fidelity to friends is respectable
trait of private character, and nobody who
has observed General Grants treatment OF
those with whom he has formed ties of inti-
macy can deny that he possesses it. 1t is
accordingly the duty Of those Of his friends to
whom his steadiness Of attachment Is likely
to interfere with his public duties to relieve
him, without waiting for hints or intimations,