The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-02-27


bearing towards the party that elected him,
or, rather, towards its representatives In
Washington. II his sphinxism has proceeded
from calculation instead Of natural retioeuce,
he may have thought that by keeping his ap-
pointments mystery, and extnguishing no
hopes, he would more easily secure the repeal
of the obstructise Tenure. OF. Office act. IL
was natural enough to suppose that those
members Of Congress who wished to inhu-
eDoe his appointments in their own States
or districts would be forward to please him.
and would shrink from making a record which
would interfere with the success of their soli-
citations. After the patronage had been be-
slowed or promised the number of active
politicians interested in the repeal of that
law would be diminished or reduced to
nothing; the disappointed becoming Indifferent
from despair, and the successful desiring the
continuance of law which would insure
what they had gained II General Grant |
reasoned in this way, he was the dupe of his |
inexperience. The reasoning would have |
been correct enough II he had not left out of
view the peculiar relations Of Congressman to |
the patronage. The majority OF both houses
are not new members, but old members.
Few of them expect Office for themselves, but
they wish to dictate its bestowal as means
of strengthening their influence at home and
insuIing their constant reelection. The pre-
sent holders of places in their districts are
mostly their friends, appointed by their in
Auence, and protected against removal by
their passage of the Tenure-ot-O Office law. The
Republican members have, therefore, as a
general thing, something to lose, or at
least something to risk, by the re-
peal of that act. 1t would be certain
to dispossess many of their friends,
and might substitute their enemies,
or, what they reckon as the same thing, the
friends of their rivals. 1t is on this point that
they want assurances, and no such assurances
have been given by General Grant. II the
Senators could have felt certain that they
could control the appointments in their own
States, the Tenure Of Office at would have
been repealed without opposition. And, on
the other hand, if the Republican members of
the House had not acted on this subject before
the attitude of General Grant became known,
the repeal would not have passed the House.
| Probably it could not pass now IL the House
had not expended its liberty of action. The
most important thing for every member of
| Congress-, in his own estimation, is to
strengthen his credit and influence in his own
district; and the Federal patronage in his dis
trict is the capital on which he trades. If it h
known at home that he can fill every off 70, or
that nobody whom he opposes can get ap-
pointed, the patronage of his district is great
lever of influence. 1t compels all the aspiring
local politicians to court him. 1t enables him
to reward his friends, punish his enemies,
supplant his rivals, and disseminate among
man of Importance at Washington.
The personal interest of the Senators in this
method of distributing Federal offices is
greater than that of members of the House.
The Republican members Of the House claim
control of the patronage only of their own dis
tricts. But many districts are represented by
Democrats, and from the fact that the strong
holds of the Democratic party are the great
cities and populous towns, the offices to be
filled in them are the most important and lu-
crative of any in the country. The Senators
claim these as their peculiar heritage, and
the Senate will not repeal the Tenure-of Office
act unless they can be assured by General
Grant that he will take their advice in filling
such places.
So far as General Grant has been man@u
wiring for the repeal of the Tenure of Office
act, his strategy has been defective. His
independence and reserve may have been
very WE'LL but his ostentation OF them has been
great mistake. The distrust of Congress
which it evinced was certain to be repaid with
counter distrust. He could take no security
against Congress, and Congress has COM
plete security against him in leaving things
: as they are. He might have succeeded
. better if he had not made his bearing to
wards his party so marked an exception Il
: the ordinary practice. man of strong
character may counsel freely with others
without any surrender of his independence
To consult is not necessarily to conclude
: and if General Grant, instead of affecting I,
T act solely on his own judgment, had taker
! the attitude of man feeling his way
y soliciting advice, and disposed to lean upor
, the sense of the party in Congress, he could
. have postponed any actual decisions anG
= yet have excited no distrust among those
% who have so much power to obstruct him
: 1t is not his reserve, but his suller
y ostentation of it, that has lost him tn,
- - favor and confidence OF so large portion O
~ the Republican party. But there are mauy
., who will think his soldier like freedom frou
"a dissimulation does him more credit than tn,
y : most consummate skill in manipulating
~ ~ political party And it may be good strateg,
~ ~ in the long run, if he means to rely on th
y great body OF the people instead of the part,
"a "a that elected him.
70 Within the last day or two General Gran
o has thrown out more than one intimatiop tha
"a he is revolving in his own mind the extent G
ID his allegiance to the Republican party. TIL
most remarkable of these is what he said O
OF Thursday to Mr.. Mcclure, who undertook
~ pump and badger him about the Pennsylvf
W MIA appointment to the Cabinet. Accordin
no to one report, when he was told by this frien
-, OF Governor Curtin's that a particular sele
VI VI tion would defeat the Republican party
Va VI that State, General Grant replied, wit
u u- prOmptness and spirit that he did not col
- slider himself representative OF the Republ
~: ~ can party, although elected by il. II the il
A's treatment he is receiving provOkes him to a
in this sense, he will not lack popular gu,
port; but he will subject himself to great a
noyance during the first part of his term, uni
the people shall have had an opportuni,
OF to make their voice heard through the ele
a tiOus.