The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-03-11
The Secretaryship of the Treasury.

From The N. Y. World.
The Republican journals throughout the
country have helped Gen. Grantdig the ditch
into which his first step tumbled him; and,
what is worse, the Herald, Tribune Times, and
Post have persisted in inviting him still deeper
into the mire.
Had General Grant, inexperienced himself
In civil affairs, taken of experienced and able
men in his party that advice which none of
the most experienced statesmen, his predeces-
sors, ever disdained to invite from their con-
temporsries, he would not now be- naked to
the derision OF his opponents and the con-
tempt of his party. The hostile criticism
of the Democratic press, had it had some
slight intimation of his designs to proceed
upon, alone might have resc ued him from
accomplishing his blunders.
But these very organs of Republican OPT
nion fed fat the presumption and the conceit
which led General Grant to think himself
superior TO public opinion.
They told him and they told the public
marvellous things that plain common sense
would do. They cast scorn upon ''politi-
cians," upon experience in civil affairs, upon
learning in the law, upen an acquaintance
with the traditions and the practices of states
manship. They added the Chief Msgistracy
of thirty eight millions of people to the num-
Der of things which-as Sidney Smith said of
driving gig and editing newspsper-every
man was entitled to think himself competent
to, without experience or education. They
applauded his reticence as If it were sub
stantial kind of power or quality of genius
which was going to help him administer the
Government. They co0perated with General
Grants own ignorance to keep him from the
knowledge which he lacked and the counsel
which was indispensable to him. Itturns out
that public opinion, which is worth states
mans heed, might have been useful also to
General Grant. Il turns out that knowledge
of the laws might have helped him in dis
charging his promise to execute the laws.
But why did these blind leaders persist in
dragging on their blind man deeper into the
mire. The Tribune hailed Mr.. Stewart as the
Financial PrOspero," whom it is useless to try
to match, and who, being Secretary of the
Treasury, would 'be as impartial and sternly
just as an drchdnget" in passing on his own
transactions as an importer. The iatuOus and
| llllterate Herald wanted the law of 1889 to be
submitted to the Supreme Court" %, where
1t would at once be condemned as 'feudal,"
whatever that may mean, and "unconstitu-
tional." The Times disgraced its intelligence
! by urging, rather than ''the repeal of the law"
the exemption OF Mr.. Stewart from its opera
tion by joint resolution. The Post, with due
servility, declared itself all ready to applaud
| the Presidents town deliberate Judgment"
whatever it might be, and then advised him
that common law maxim controls q statute
| speaking in positive and decided language
| Was ever such chorus
Now, the statute of 1889 is entitled to great
weight as mere authority. 1t was enacted,
after delibeTaioD, by the splendid statesmen
OF the revolutionary and constitutional era of
our Government. Human affairs nor human
nature have not since altered in kind. If it
was wise then, it is wise now. Oar growth
and greatness as nation only add to the
number and weight of the reasons for its esta-
lishment AS for Mr.. Stewart, he is the first
man to whom its provisions apply, but he is
also first aud chieiest of that class and descrip-
tion OF men now alive to whom it was meant
to apply.
That provision of the act of 1889 prohibit
ing the mansger OF the national finances from
being at the same time engaged in any private
business which would give him personal in
terest that might bias his mind in his public
action, is founded on the most obvious and
elementary principles of prudence and moral
ity. It is the same principle which the law
applies to all trustees and fduciaries of what
ever sort: that they must have no intesest
which is or may be- in conflict with their duty.
II the founders of the republic had enacted
no such law as the eighth section of that
act, il ought now to be enacted at once. Il
il were not the law, the principle upon
which it is founded ought to be respected
as a rule of prudence and dictate of morality
The unadvised common sense OF which We
have heard SO much has not been com petent
to this sense of decorum, of proprety, Of
morality; for General Grant appointed Mr.,
Stewart. And If Mr.. Stewart at first accepted
the appointment, no man can say that life