The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1870-11-09
Grants Unconditional Surrender.

The letters of Secretary Cox, which
we print elsewhere in full, will be
read with painful interest by all true
friends of General Grant. They con-
tain,in fact the announcement, of the
Presidents unconditional surrender to
the "men inside of politics"
p. The new President promised moth
inc so often as that he would rot ap-
point or remove for merely political
reasons. Merit was to be the test; if
a man was faithful he might even be
a Democrat, and keep his place ; if he
was unfit, he might be ever so Jealous
q Republican, and yet he should not
get a place. -a
This was the most distinct pledge
General Grant gave, in regard to the
conduct of his administration ; it IA
almost the only pledge. 1t meant d
reform of the civil service it was -ac-
cepted by the country as a promise
that the abuses in the civil depart
ments of the Government, which had
grown to be a monstrous and fertile
source of corruption and q serious
cause of weakness to the Executive,
should be reformed.
unfortunately, the President joined
in n condemnation all men who had
been engaged in politics; he rejected
.tke advieeiof the statesman as much
as of the merest political hacks of the
party which elected him and SO, far
as he could, selected for office his own
intimates. So far as these were good
men he did wisely; but the mere fact
Of friendship or relationship to the
President was perhaps as poor a test
of fitness for public place as any
Having isolated himself however, in
the beginning from the statesmen of
the Republican party, men who need
to be sought and had no favors to ask,
he was. the more ready to fall into the
hands of the hack politicians, among
whom it was before long whispere d
with no little amusement, that "Gen-
eral Grant would, after all, make a
frst:rate politician" m
If he meant to ego into politics.
as the phrase is, he had at his hand a
very-shrewd master otItheignbble art
in; Mr., Boutwell,, who, unless he is
greatly belied, knows more about
"making up a slate" and about the
mysteries of dispensing office with a
view to party effect, than any other
manIini the Republican party. 3s65 #.
Whoever was the President'ss" tutor,
he has been, it seems, a willing,
though not, in OR Judgment, an apt
Fscholar. Il He has, learned the rules,
and has fastened to apply them,-
Not even Buchanan's interference in
Kansas vas more gross and unhlush-
ing than President Grants attempt to
coerce the Missouri Republicans to do
lis will and not their own. No Pres
ident except Andrew Johnson has
ever SO openly tried, by wholesale re-
moyal from Office, and by appoint
ment of his favorites, to impose his
"policy'' upon the party. has9sD 79i
The letters of General Cox, now
published, show that in sthe practice
of the smaller, devices of politicians
the President has been no less ready.
The Secretary Of 1.-THE Interior, who
came into the Cabinet as the especial
friend and representative of civil SER
vice REFORM is forced to leave the
Cabinet because the, President insists,
contrary to General Cox's desires, up
on letting political committees levy
tribute upon the poor clerks in the
Interior Department. edt rs u,3J su
This is the end of all the promises
SO repeatedly and openly made by