Year: 1870

political bearing Of the Presidents Message
and the position Of parties at the comm ence-
ment Of the present session Of Congress as q
standpoint for looking at the prospect around
US, we may form some idea Of the future. The
political situation was never more tame, fat
and devoid Of excitement in this country.
Never was there such lack Of strsng public
men, of leading and powerful minds, either to
arouse popular fervor on questions already up
or to create new stirring issues. 1t Is the same
| with one party as with the other. The demo-
Gratis and republicans alike are without strong
leaders or popular issues.


| AS President Grant Is the head and repre-
sentative of the dominant republican party
and must be the candidate Of that party in
| 1872, his Message may be regarded as sort
of platform on which the republicans will
stand. True, some new issues may be raised
between the present time and 1872, either
through the course of coming events or by the
party in Congress. But we see none at pre-
sent. Well, what are the republicans going to
make the contest upon? The Message of the
President to Congress is highly respectable
State document, remarkably conservative and
peaceful, but tame and negative. The
| negro is used up as a political hobby.
The war issues have been exhausted.
Both the odium and the expected
benefts Of reconstructing the South have been
used nearly as far as they could be by both
parties. Reconstruction is virtually finished,
and little more can be made out of it. The
negroes as well as the white people Of the
South will henceforth range themselves with
political parties on questions affecting their
material interests AS to financial questions
neither party has a comprehensive, well
defined policy. The rapid payment of the
debt, which Mr.. Boutwell, endeavors to make
80 much of, through the burdensome taxes
wrung from the people, cannot make much
political capital for either the Secretary Of the
Treasury personally or the administration.
And as to revenue measures, the republi-
cans are divided according to the interests Of
the sections Of country they represent. 1t
is the same, in a measure, with the democrats,
though they are more united thaa the republi-
cans on such measures.


On questions Of foreign policy or our Ella
tions with foreign countries neither the admin
istration party nor the opposition has any policy
to awaken the popular mind. The Alabama
claims, the fishery question and the navigation
of the st. Lawrence, which the President has
discussed pretty fully in his Message, might
bring up popular issue; but we rather think
General Grant will not force one, and that the
DS:X L. 80
peace with this country that these matters will
be smoothed over or remain in q quiescent
state. The Presidents mind seems full of the
st. Domingo annexation scheme, for it is
dwelt on at great length in the Message; but
there is not enough in that to make any political
capital. Indeed, the suspicion is generally
entertained that there is job in the scheme,
and that the President, though not party to
it, is misled by those having his confidence.


The annexation idea is always popular one
with the American people, but in the case of
st. Domingo they say cui bono? or, what is to
come out of It? The island is naturally very
rich, as most tropical countries are; but If
there be not the population, or you cannot get
the population there to develop this natural
richness, where is the value? The st. Do
mingo question cannot be made popular one.
1t is different with Cuba. That island has not
only as much natural wealth as st. Domingo
or more, but has all the developed wealth Of q
prosperous country-most valuable and large
productions, large population, extensive
commerce, railroads, telegraphs, great cities,
splendid ports, and all the elements of a pro-
gressive and civilized country, besides being
almost within gunshot of the United States.


Then there is the popular sympathy Of the


American people with their neighbors strug-


Cling to shake off the yoke of European des-


potism and to establish republican institutions.


This would be popular question for the Pre-
sident and his party; but he chooses to Ign ore


Cuba and the Cubans.


Neither one party nor the other has any


striking policy on the questions referred to-,


and both are drifting along lazily on the slug


gish stream Of used-up political questions.


Sometimes the want of stirring issues is COM


pensated for in measure by the towering


position and influence of great party states


men or leaders. sort of hero worship may


sometimes serve party purposes. Look at the


influence General Jackson and Henry Clay had


over the people. Such men can inspire en-


thusiasm in the masses But at present the


country has no such leaders. We are without
great men as well as great measures. The
most prominent figure among the group of our
leading public men is General Grant. His
glorious war record gave him that position and
made him President. Though he makes
respectable and safe President, he does not
show as much ability in politics and states
manship as in the command of armies. He
fails to initiate policy that would touch
the popular heart. Yet he stands like a
| Cnliath ahoua tho ofhar nraminppt mon and