New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-07-23
Nr1u vopv nAuY TRIBUNE TUESDAY, july %, 1877

stocking the favored parties, are, Win soo es 60
tions OF the system, in the Generai oruei ' "
day -. ,.,,,srrn.rtos
A, invaa,,caton was demanded Of the sales OF arms
to French agents during the Franco'uo,n'n war ino
men who advocated the inquiry were heu up ~ traorS
o., th pon,bIican Marty as enemies OF their country,
and IA monsters of wickedness generally Again. not
one Of those who denounced the scandal was appoeu
n member of the Investigating COMMITTEE Tue inquiry
was made The testimony showed III the ciearest ah
nor that the laws OF the country regulating such safes
had been systematically trampled under foot; that In
iract violation of the orders OF the War Department
nroninent officers had INDUCED In indirect transaetohs
with welknown French agents ana that un ,. tn1
,rary, eves of the department large QUANTITIES, ol
arms had been delivered 20 such agents aIter tneg
had been discovered-an act reckessy TIM sas
proyen SO clearly that sensible man could douo, IT.
And what does the Comtee REL a arf fhemslyes
and thew knew best what was for the pubic interest,"
and as their direct transactions win frehen ~
blame In order 10 make so pleasant cOhcuson PVa
siblc we told that laws may be violated IL Az te
man the observance and doctrine OF internaona II"
upon which 'P pn9 amid no 0GF the laughter Of the
universe. But at any cost inc ADMINISTRATOR ""'' ~
protected.
THE NAVAL AND NEw-oRLEASs INVESTIGATIONS.
Certain charges made against the Secretary OF
tho Navy An Investigation Is ordered. 1t Is clearly
proven that he paid large sum of money IN direct
violation of the express language OF statute But "a
s tbe report of the Committee He may have reasonably
thought the claimant equitaby entitled 10 Tue honoy
and construed the law for himself accordingly NooouS
10 blame and the Administration Is yirtuOus' certain
Government officers at w-0rleans, one OF whom az
least il dear TO the heart of the President are charged
with scandaous abuse OF official power, III m,oIlcins
with the politics OF the state, ana other IasuaiS o
investigation il had Fragments OF the ltsV ., M
have reached the public, making 1t certain tat tne
inquiry terribly damasns 70 b bnG'c does ths
Committee dor II does not report at all trying TO con
vince the people that nobody is TO blame Ny Tue
truth ia secrecy The policy Is iouoWed Will ~
gard 10 the INJURY the disappearance OF important
official from the War Department eti
to say report OF neither oi thes9 t%o
tions will see the light before the Presldentid
The people must restrain their curiosity anu rest "a
WHILE belief that there Is n0Oouy 10 fhat
now what does all this signyf what does II mean ,ss
when the abuses of the Governments OF tho
of the Administration come lnt9 quosoon' 90 !" tho
matte whtewashing Is cultivated as one Oh INC sne
arts. nay party duty What does !. mean YEA E T'
ttutional power as did when ordering the navy 70
protect the ruler OF onnto Dongo ~ Insf His avn
against any foreign asslilan ana even nS %
subjects that the President may ever SO Wlilusy w
late the laws of the land and the commands OF pubnc
decency; that the officers OF the Administration may no
things ever 80 arbitrary and mlscmeVQus; tnaI tno
pnbc service may be shown ever 80 gross 1uu ot ~
Independent criticism is sienced win tle enarge VI
party treason, and every source or ingenuity Is eA
hausted ON the floor of Congress, as wen as
Committed, to protect the guilty parties, 70
conceal the truth and to throw dust into inc M
of high public station who might be presumed 70 resPeGs
openly before tnc people ueionu hc Sodhuo
OF Presidential nepOtsm, thing so dissracetui IN he
public that with the spirit anu prlle OF an Amer
lean citizen should be able to mention ana lar ss 70 %
fend the Illuminating fact without ieens tne Dnsn ~
shame tin gle ms cheeks WHAT does 1t mean TINS reek
less abandonment of truth and right ana decency anu
duty, ana manly pride
TIE MEANING OF ALL THIS.
1t means that the party to be served at any cost IL
means that party controlled and animated by such
spirit demands any sacrifice for partisan success t
means that neither the restoration OF fraternai teeg
between the different portions OF the American people,
an need TO our national existence and welfare nor our
abhorrence of that system of wholesale ROBBERY ana
scandalous misrulo prevailing in the South nor the
anotity of the Constitution of the country
the interests Of the people they are bound up
in an honest and economical administration
OF public affairs, nor even the PRIDE ana ana
way of the effort to elect candidate
and to retain partisan power It means that Repnb-
can must presume TO serve his country ny speaking
the truth if he wants TO remain good party standing
1t means that selfish party aespotlsm has developed
itself which, by all the OF reward and punish
ment appeals to the low and sordid instincts OF human
nature dragons the ambitious into obedience by the
attempts to drag into net the we-meanng by artiul
and systematic conceament of the truth and ny rann
and deception. party despollsn when ren.
ders true reform impossible by making IL
a partisan duty to whitewash abuses, instead
OF correcting them; by Obscurng our moral apprecl
ton right and wrong and teaching us 10 see IN sesh
advantage the supreme rule OF action do you want 10
discover the full power OF decentralization OF that deS-
potism and the whole degradation Of its vicms Look
at them as they are lying the feet of President Grant
should prefer not TO speak OF him did he not stand
the embodiment aud personheaton OF the per-
nicOus system which derives from his indivldnallly
its peculiar character. Gratitude for his military
services and respect for his Office have long restrained
many from expressing their real opinions concerning
HIM shall be the last man to forget or 10 carp az ho
great services he has rendered in the field Of The
hOnors he has won aures he has gathered shall not
be touched. But he Is civil officer ana ne ASKS us
10 continue him head of the civil government OF
this Republic With this question his laures nave no
thing 10 There battles to be fought anu no
strong places be taken and now 1t becomes our dh
10 tell the truth concerning him, as we understand ~
shall do with frankness. but not without oderasoh
THE PRESIDENTS SPLENDID OPPORTUNITY.
Cen Grant came into Office under circumstances OF
extraordinary promise. He had, as General-in-Chef,
directed the closing operations OF the war His success
had conferred upon him the gratitude and esteem of the
loyal people. and In granting to the defeated foe gen.
erous captuation he had in q high degree won even
their respect and confidence There was scarcely man
I'm the nation to whose voice they would have more
willingly listened when admonishing them TO submit to
the inevitable to accommodate themselves in good faith
TO the legitimate results of the war; to respect the
rights OF their nelghbors however humble, and to
develop for the common good the opportunities pre-
sened by the new order OF things such admonitions
being accompanied by words and acts Ot Cancellation
and good will No could have done more TO revive
their hest and most patriotic impulses quiet their
apprehensons and their minds as to the safety OF
their rights citizens; to them feel that they
were NOT TO be the stepchldren OF the Republic 10
inspire them with interest IN its fortunes thus
neutralizng their old heartburnings and anmosities.
giving the peace of measurable contentment
to their country. aud restoring the long,lost
c0rdaty OF feeling between the different parts OF the
Union President Grants position was equally fortu.
nate other respects He had never been identified
with party strife. Its entanglemens, animostes, and
resentments, were foreign TO him He owed his eleya-
ton to no particular set OF politicians to whom he might
have been bound by a debt of gratitude. He was not
borne aloft the shoulder of faction while the very
opposition he had to encounter as candidate was re-
spectul in the appreciation of the services he mad
rendered No President would have had less DIM
cnrse of minded, selfish, partisan rule, In dis
trbuting the offices OF the Government with single
eve 10 the true interests of the public service and in
thus inaugurating his Administration with reform
eIeyating the whole aud temper OF our political
life When ne assembled the Presidential chair IL may
he said that the whole people surrounded him with
cordial offer of their confidence aud willing AID IN all bo
might do to give the country good government There