Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-12-30
From Washington

The fear among the Republicans OF 9
rupture between Grant and the Radical
party Is deepening daily. Grant is known
TO be in favor Of repeating the tenp1re-oi
Office law, Of the passage Of Jenokes civil
service bill, Of the transfer Of the Indian
Bureau 10 the War Department. o.
stopping subsidies TO railroads, and Of
breaking up all the Radical thievine
rings throughout the country. Fearing
his power the Radicals appear deter
mined to hold on TO the civil tenure
act, in order that when they get one Of
their own kind in office, they may
be able to keep him there. By the trans
fer of the Indian Bureau to the War De-
partment they will lese q large amount
Of patronage in the appointment OF
agents, superintendent and other OIL
GERS. and q large amount of percentages
In contract annuities. Jenckes' civil
service bill would cut OF the immense
revenue of public plunderers, whose az.
monuments the Radicals hope to control
for party purposes, instead OF making the
offices contingent on the capacity OF
candidates. To all Of these sorrows OF
the Radicals is added feather which
will probably complete the burden OF their
endurance. This is the assertion OF
Grant recently, that he considered the
faithful administration Of public business
head and shoulders above the claims OF
marty, and that he is an enemy hence
forth Of the principle that party services
are a claim for public office. Grant de-
clares that he will not remove officers who
have been faithful to their trust, merely
because any political party demands Il.
This being his declared intention, the
question comes as to the disposition OF
the large number Of faithful officers al
ready in the Government whom the Rad
icals desire to get out of the way, in or
der to make room for those who have been
of greater service to the party. The Radi'
Gals are also incensed at Grants reticence
on Cabinet matters. They advise him
very freely, but they complain that he
does not manifest any disposition to act
on their advice, and that they are ig-
norant as to his preferences of men.
Altogether, the fight seems to have fairly
begun, and it may be looked forward to
by outsiders with rare interest.
The Alabama claims, for which anthem
ticated accounts are filed in the State
Department, amount in all to something
over eight million dollars. - Courier
Journal special
Last night the Executive Mansion was
the scene of universal goyeiy aad plea
sure. Three or four hundred children
were entertained BY the Juveniles OF the
house. 49,.
Senator Morton, of Indiana, has re-
Piled to Mr.. Greeley's letter, addressed
to him on the 2lst instant and concludes
his response as follows: 1.-THE fact is,
our bondholders understand perfectly
we'll that. whatever may be said on the
question, neither the bonds or any
considerable part of them can be paid in
coin, while the currency remains depre'
ciated, and that it is folly to talk about
paying the bonds in gold. If the Govern
ment cannot procure gold enough where
with 10 redeem the greenbacks, the
redemption of the notes and a return
to specie payment is a necessary condi-
ton precedent to the payment of the
bonds in gold, and they look more to the
return Of specie payment and the estab-
lishment of cur finances thap to the mere
form of the contracts and as to how they
shall be paid, the gold payment should
begin with the debt that is dae--whieh is
the currency, and not by issuing bonds
that will not be due for fourteen years.
The currency lies at the foundation Of
the whole financial structure, and if it
be unsound, the whole structure above
must be insecure and dangerous. When
it becomes good By being convertible
into gold, then the national debt may be
funded, by which onethird of the present
volume Of interest can be saved, and the
nation will carry the burden with an ever
ease, until its final discharge |
snail come.