The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-06-01

can defend. Ipass TO gift-taking which with our
PTesldent has assumed an unprecedented form.
taken gts but It is not known that any President
REPAID THE PATRON WITH OFFICE.
FOR public man to take gifts is reprehenslble For
president to select Cabinet Councillors and other
0mcers nom among those from whom he has taken
sir that speak gently, unwilling to exhibit the
Indignation which such Presidential prctension is
an exam HSSnr }h s S Says bsea
throughout history corrupt characters in onlcial
station stale But whether In ancient or modern
sne taking mSre ,o Of ggts; and now here,
thou shalt not respect persons, neither take giit
for gift doth blind the eyes Of the wiss"~here Is
observation shows to be true. Does not cift
blind the eyes OF the wiser The influence of gifts
Is represented by Platarch in the life Of Spartan
King for he thought those ways of cntrapping
men by gifts and presents, which other kings
use. dishonest and artificial and 1t seemed 60
BILE to a king to win the affections OF those that
came near him BY personal intercourse and agree
mercenary tho only distinction is that we gain the
one by our character and conversations and the
other by our money. What Is done under the in
huence Of gifts is mercenary. But whether from
ruler to subject, or from subject to ruler the gift s
equally pernicious. An ancient patriarch feared
the Greeks bearing gifts, and these words have be-
come proverb, but there are
GREEKS BEARING GIFTS ELSEWHERE
than at Troy Apubic man can traffic with such only
be said "Lead us not into temptation"
the best examples testify. Thus, In the a1tobio-
graphy Of LORD Brougham published
five hundred pounds were subscribed as q GIFT
to him for the public service, to be put In such
He required he records, much consideration,
as such gifts were liable to abuse. Not content
Wn Is he or@ his
Romilly and Barring, and he wrote Earl Grey,
afterward Prime Minister, who replied as fol.
plate from the Catholics In Clasgow-0f no great
value indeedafter we were turned out. II you still
feel scruplcs, can only add that 1t Ia imposs bic to
err on the side OF deicacy with respect to matters
Of this nature" 1t ended In his accepting small
gold inkstand In our country washington keeps
AGAINST GIFT-TAKING AS AGAINST NEPOTIsM.
In 1885. while in private life, two years after he
ceased to DO commander-in-chiefo Of our armies and
four years before he became President he could not
be induced to accept . certain amount of canal
stock offered him BY the State Of Virginia, as ap-
great pleasure to inform you that the Assembly,
without a dissenting voice, compllmented you
with nifty shares In the Potomac Company
Fully to appreciate the reply of Washington
it must be borne in mind that, according to Wash
omy was necessary, for his nancia affairs had sui
fered during the war, and the products of his es-
tate had fallen of. But he was not tempted Thus
the eye Of the world, and what would be Its opinion
when 1t comes to be related that George Washing
ton accepted $40 600 under whatever pretence and
cOuntries2 II accepted SHOULD not a~ss
HENcEFoRwARD BE CONSIDERED AS DEpENDENTS
never for q moment entertained the idea of &C
cepting It," How admirably he touches the point
when he asks:-"If | accepted this should not
hencefOrward be considered as dependents" Ac-
% to our @ 3 sa s
dependent. In harmony with this sentiment was
his subsequent refusal to be President, as Is re-
corded by an ingenious writer. He was exceed
Sefvsse no favors Of any kind, and aorupulousiy
1r o
by the Pennsylvania University, which he refused
to accept BY such instances, brought to light re-
Gently and shining In contrast with our times, we
learn to admire anew the virtue OF Washington.
1t would be easy to show how In oil ages the refusal
RECOGNIZED AS THE SIGN OF VIRTUE,
II not the requirements OF duty. The story OF st.
Louis Of France Is beautiful and suggestive Leav-
ing on crusade he charged the Queen Regent,
who remained behind, 'not to accept presents for
herself or her children" Such was one of the in
on pious expedition impressed himself upon his
country My own strong convictions on this Presi-
Dental pretension were aroused in q conversation
Adams, as he sat In his sick chamber at
his sons house, in Boston, q short time
Representatives. In voice trembling ' with s age
and with emotion ne said that mo public man
that his own judgment had been quickened by the
example or Count Romanoff, the eminent Chan
ceor OF the Russian empire who, after receiving
had negotiated treaties, felt q difficulty Of con-
science in keeping them, and at last handed
to Mr. ADAMS then Minister at st.
The latter was impressed by the Russian
example and through his long career as Minister
sentative always refused gifts, unless a book or
some small article in its nature
A TOKEN AND NOT A REWARD OR BRIBE.
The constitution testifes against the taking OF
gifts by officers Of the United States when 1t pro-
vides that no persons holding any office Of profit or
Congress, accept Of any present or emolument
from any king, prince or foreign State. The
our own was left without nhlbon
to be constrained by the public Conscience and the
just aversion to any sembance of bargain and sale
or bribery In the public service The case OF our
President is exceptional. Notoriously he has taken
gifts while IN the public service some at least after
tanner OF few hundred dollars a year, to
borrow the words OF my colleague, Mr..
Wilson, one of his supporters, sis now, rich
in houses, lands and stock above his salary"
being probably the richest President since George
Washington. Notori0usly he has appointed to his
Cabinet several, among these Greeks bearing gifts,
without seeming to see the indecorum, II not the
indccency Of the transaction. At least two II not
three, Of these Greeks having no known position in
the republican party or influence In the country,
have been selected as his cOunSellOrS in national
affairs and heads Of great departments Of govern
tures:-1A gift doth bind the eyes Of the wise.t"
Again the words OF Washington eff accepted
this should not henceforward be considered de-
pendent2 p" Nor does the of the first Secretary
of State differ in character from the other three.
The President, feeling under
PERSONAL OBLIGATION TO MR.. wASHBURNE
for important support, gave him complimentary
nomination with the understanding that, after
frmaton, he should forthwith resign. cannot
forget the Indignant comment OF the late Mr.. Fes-
sender as we passed out Of the Senate Chamber
Immediately after the confirmation. Who" said
he, sever heard before Of man nominated Secre-
tary OF State merely as compliment" But this Is
only another case OF the public service subordnated
to personal considerations. Not only in the Cabinet
but In other offices there is reason to believe that
the President has been under the influence OF pa
trOns Why was he so - a. a'"''as~A'''e. 49,
es.%c BLIND TO THOMAS MURPHY
The Custom House Of New York, with all it's
capacity as political engine, was handed over to
this agent, whose want OF recognition In the re.
publican party was unbalanced by Presidential
iavors, and whose gifts have become notorious;
and when the demand for bis removal was irresls.
tible the President Accepted his resignation with an