The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-01-21
SPIRIT OF THE PRESS.
EDITORIAL OPINIONS OF THB LEADING JOURNALS
UPON CURRENT ToPIcs--CoMPmED EVERY
DAY FOR THE EVENING TELEGRAPH.
General Grant aud the JacObins.

Fortieth Congress. There is heavy calendar
of bills and resolutions awaiting the action of
the two houses within this interval to the 4th
OF March; but from present indications little
will be done beyond the passage of the annual
appropriations. There is one measure, how
ever, depending upon the action of the Senate
which the conservative supporters of the Pre-
sident-elect lshould insist upon bringing to a
definite and decisive vote-yea or nay. We
refer to the bill of General Butler from the
House for the repeal of the Tenure-of01lce
law, and as simple matter Of fair dealing
with General Grant.
The question in the Senate has been referred
10 the Joint Committee on Retrenchment, with
q proposition from Mr. Wilson to amend the
Tenure of Office law so far as to exempt Presi-
dent Grant from the shackles which have tied
mn President Johnson in reference to his
Cabinet, and to relieve Grant of the reasons
exaoted of Johnson in the matter of suspen-
sious from Office. But it is still proposed by
wilson's bill to hold any suspensions from
office which may be made by Grant in the
absence of the Senate subject to the approval
of that body at its next session. What does
this signify? Plainly that the radical faction
in Congress distrust Grant and intend to hold
him, ii they can, in the distribution of his
Offices as they have held Johnson, under the
thumb of the Senate. Now, this Tenure-of-
Office law is a new thing in party strategy and
tactics. Many other new things in the expan-
sion of the powers of Congress have resulted
from the late Rebellion; but we have had none
SO broadly and deeply cutting away the autho-
dity exercised by every President from Wash
ington down to Johnson over his executive
subordinates as the Tenure Office law. This
law was passed, in the late demOralizing and
costly struggle between "the King and the
Commons" as a measure of party safety
against the terrible Johnson. With Grant in
fhe place of Johnson, then, the question re-
ours, What is the object of the Jaoobins in the
continuance of this lawl
We may fairly assume that there are two
purposes in view-the protection of the
whisky rings and ofice-holding leagues of
Treasury robbers, and the retention to make
all sure, of a wholesome party check in the
Senate upon the President in the general
division of the spoils and plunder. The de-
Tense set up for President Johnson concerning
the stupendous spoilations upon the Treasury
Through frauds upon the revenue under his
administration, is that the ofHce-holding con-
spirators in these frauds could not be reached
6y him. protected IS they have been and are
10y this Tenure Of offics law. Nor can it be de-
MED that there is too much truth in this defense
10 Justify the continuance of this law as pro-
posed by Senator Wilson. Let the tree be
Judged by its fruits. But why, on the other
hand, should there not be in the Senate
movement to retain this law, when it is backed
10y lobby rings whose pickings and perquisites
from the leaks of the Treasury run up to the
handsome figure OF one hundred millions a
year upon the single item of whisky? What
hope, under this law, is there for General
Grants sweeping ideas of retrenchment and
reform, with such enormous resources of
active capital against him!
Next, in regard to the retention of the check
upon the President for the protection of the
Office holders in the absence of the Senate,
the reason for it may lie in the fact that the
fnlf uNyN ,pr1 IND l..
of the Senate, will be more reliable radical
in this business of parcelling out the spoils
than President Grant. Hence, no doubt, this
shTewd device of Wilson Of making ColfaX in
this business, as the head of the Senate and OF
The radical faction, the real master of the stu
alton. AS one of the original supporters of
Grant for the Presidency while Chase was still
regarded as the embodiment of radicalism,
Wilson, probably, has been put forward in
the defense of this o1ice:holders' protection
law in order to deceive Grant. But whether
considered in regard to faithless Treasury de-
Spelling otfce-holders or in reference to q
safety check in the Senate upon General Grant,
this scheme of Wilson involves an insulting
distrust Of the President.elec that has no pre-
cedent in the ups and downs of any party in
this country from l776 to this day.
Looking from Wilson to the league Of Jaco-
bins behind him, we apprehend that even The
passage of the halfway bill which he proposes
is not contemplated, but that 1t is merely de-
signed as a decoy. We apprehend that the
object is, by parliamentary tactics and delay,
to carry the Tenure-of Office law through to
the 4th of March untouched, so that the
radical managers on the incoming Presidents
inaugural may be able to deal with him as he
may show his hand. But has he not already
shown his hand The Chicago platform of
May last is the latest official creed of the Re-
publican party. Among other things,
it approves and upholds the recon-
structiOn policy of Congress, deplores the
death of Lincoln, denounces Johnson as a
usurper, who has corruptly resisted the
authority of Congress and perverted the pub
lie patronage into an engine of wholesale cor
ruption, and iustities his impeachment. These
were the extreme tests OF the party faith. Put
TO General Grant, he approved the proceedings
of the Convention, and said, in his letter of
acceptance:-"I indOrse their resolutions" :"
What more do they want In the face of this
Endorsement of their paper is not this bit OF
humbug of Wilson, This development of a
design to hold Grant bound hand and foot, as
they have held Johnson, au outrageous insult
TO General Grant as q man and soldier,
whose word has been enough to the American
people
We call upon the conservative men of both
parties in Congress who honestly desire re.
frenchment and reform, to apply themselves
to the task of bringing this Tenure-of-Olic
law to direct vote in the Senate during this
Congress for if IL goes over to the next
Ahere is every reason to fear that the for
midable rings of Treasury robbers, under the
wing of this law, will still levy their tolls on
the taxpayers to the extent of at least
bundrad millions q wear. The JacObins of thu