The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-12-02
sPIRxx OF xHn PRzss.
Editorial Opinions OF the Leading Journals
upon Current opios-co npiled Every
DAY for the Evening Telegraph
GRANTS POLITICAL STRATEGY.

ofice would be nlied before the meeting OF Con-
gress I'm order to avoid the pressure which the
to bear General Grant 1t is limited that the Pre-
sdent may possibly intend TO recommend again the
conversion Of the Internal Revenue Bureau into a
department, by combining with 1t the Customs or
some other bureau OF the Treasury Department. and
70 place as its mead some prominent man OF the Re-
publican party. Secretary Boutwell, would probably
oppose such measure, and would be strongly sup
ported In congress. .-bdHfgtoH 9espatch 10 Ne ITi-
bUne.
Since General Grant has surrendered to
the men ''inside politics and the virtuous
Simon Cameron has become the Presidents
keeper, matters are managed with q sharp
eve to Grants denomination. He fears Bout
well as a rival, but don't exactly see how he
can get rid of him. Boutwell, is the sole prop
and pillar of the little popularity which
still remains to the administration. The
Treasury Department is the pivot of all the
praises which the Republican stump speakers
and party press bestowed on the admins
tration during the late political canvass for
members of Congress and State officers. The
collection of the taxes, the reduction of the
public debt, were dwelt upon as the great re-
deeming traits of an administration in other
respects weak and indefensible. But these
eulogies belong to the Secretary of the Trea-
sury rather than the President. Boutwell, is
known to be ambitious; he would gladly run
for the Presidency; and Grant, though full of
jealousy, dares not remove him. Aided by
the QoXt6rOuS auVlc6 Oh cameron, Uo Is In6r0-
fore scheming to flank an obstacle which he
cannot attack in front.
The plan is to clip Boutwells wings by
divesting him of his patronage as Secretary
of the Treasury. The machinery by which
the revenue is collected is very wide and ex-
tensive in comparison with that by which it
is disbursed. The Presidents project to
create Department of Revenue with new
Cabinet officer at its head is the Joint off
Of md
sdroitness. 1t would strip Boutwell, of all
his effective patronage. All the officers
for collecting both the internal and
the customs revenue are subor-
dinates of the Secretary of the Treasury,
and subject to his direction. They exceed in
number every other class of officers except
the postmasters; and in influence they over
top all the other officers together. In the
late Republican canvass in this State, for
example, everybody looked to Collector
Murphy as the ''head centre" of political
movements while scarcely thought was be-
slowed on Postmaster Jones' The revenue
service is the most powerful branch of ad-
ministration; and as Grant has no pretext for
removing Boutwell,, he and his advisers have
concocted scheme for neutralizng his infu-
ence by transferring his patronage to a new
officer, less Independent of the President.
The fact that the Tribune is the vehicle
for exposing and reprobating this scheme is
significant, as showing that General Grants
slaughter of MIR. Greeley has alienated the
most powerful organ of the Republican party.
The vast army of subordinates in all the
custom-houses are appointed by the Secretary
of the Treasury. To be sure, they are named
by the collectors, but they cannot be ap-
pointed without the approval of the Secretary.
MIR. Boutwell,, therefore, as the laws now
stand, can prevent the appointment of
any subordinate revenue officer who
is not committed to his interest. Grant is
unwilling that this formidable power should
rest in the hands of suspected rival; and
so he postpones filling the vacant Office of
Commissioner of Internal Revenue, in the
hope that Congress may be persuaded to
erect new department, and create a new
Cabinet officer, transferring to him all the
functions which give political influence to
the Secretary of the Treasury. Mr.. Bout
well would thereby be dwarfed to a mere
custodian of the public funds and dis
bursing officer to make payments. He would
also retain power to manipulate that financial
laughing-stock, his abortive funding scheme,
and to advertise, as at present, sales of gold
and purchases of bonds. But his effective
political patronage would be made over to
the new member of the Cabinet, the head of
the new Department of Revenue. The pro-
posed officer would be selected by General
Grant, who would take good care that he
of his own, nor favor those of any rival
The fact that such scheme to supplant
Boutwell, is planned by General Grant
evinces his misgivings and his consciousness
of political weakness. He has expended the
great stock of military popularity with which
he came out OF the war and to which he owed
his nomination. Were it not for the patron.
age of his Office, he would be political bank.
rupt. The insignifcance of the President
was truthfully depicted by General Butler in
his recent conversation published in the
Tribune, as follows
The Republican party, he said, is, not now united
Hp0n single question OF public policy Upon the
the Alleghanies Upon all financial issues the divi
sion is almost as marked. The party has no loage
any coherent force, sad recognizes no leadership
1t gives no support TO the administration it hal
chosen, which was not able at the last session o
Congress to carry single one OF the measures Il
Senate in spite OF all the influence the Presden
could bring to bear. Creswell's idea OF abolish
ing the Thanking privilege was lost The Secretary
for to carry on his department. The army was re
duced, Notwithstanding the protests OF the Wa
Department The Attorney-Generals office wa
Knocked into pi. BoutWells financial measures
WEI e badly cut mp. There was never before ad
ministration possessing SO little influence with
Congress OF its own party
The sole reliance of this discredited Presi
dent for a denomination is upon the Fedora
patronage, and upon the tactics of veteran
knaVes and wire-pullers inside politics, lik
bis new "guide, philosopher, and friend,
Simon Oameroa, with whom he sealed al
alliance in the famous trout-fshing excursion
in the Pennsylvania mountains last summer
The Tribune is no doubt corrsc ia it
prophecy that the scheme for stripping Bout
well will be frowned down by Congress. No
tbat tha RapuhIicape faal anv intaraat i,