New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-08-19
BRIBERY OR NEPOTISN'

We have not yet published or referred to
the serious statement made in recent num-
Der of Tie Chicago Tribune in regard to an
alleged transfer of valuable piece of prop
crty in the outskirts of Chicago from j. Rus
sell Jones to President Grant, without any
further consideration than that which might
be inferred from the fact that Jones was
about that time appointed Minister to Bel
GUM. The ground in question belonged to a
Swedish colony, and their Trustee sold it for
. an inadequate sum to Mr.. Jones, as it is said,
without proper authorization. He transferred
portion of il to the President for the nom
inal consideration of One Dollar. A suit
against the Trustee is spoken of, which will
probably bring out some of the facts in the
case. But before the subject is thus dragged
into the courts. it is a matter of the
first importance that the friends of
Gen. Grant should pay prompt attention
to the case, and make some satisfactory ex-
PLANTATION of it. We had hoped that this would
have already been done. These statements
have been some two weeks before the public
They are made by paper of the highest char
acter and influence. AS long as they are I'M
explained they are extremely discreditable
We have delayed referring to them in the
hope that they might be explained away. We
hope to see Gen. Grant de seated for reelection.
and expect to bear hand in the work. But
we should greatly prefer seeing him beaten
without any more of those sordid scandals,
which are not only disgraceful to him,
but in some sort disreditng to the Presi-
| dental Office.
We receive every d,y circumstantial and
| apparently truthful stories about the Pres
| idents misconduct in various ways which
we steadily refuse publish, believing
| that enough is already known to enable
| the people to make uD their minds in re-
gard to the personal aspects of the campaign.
The Misrepresentation Of the Liberal can
didate-a man blameless in all personal, social,
and domestic relatiOns-are so foul and SO
reckless that we prefer t. let them pass with
out answer, and without retaliation. We have
therefore forbOrne to ref,r TO incidents in the
life of the President which are the cause of
sincere regret to all who ave any respect for
the Office which he fills. But case like the
present, if it Is true, is no a private or per-
sonal matter. 1t is case of direct and posi-
tive malfeasance in Office which cannot be
overlooked or pardoned. 1t cannot be dis
missed without an answer. We have waited
long enough for some explanation from the
President OF his friends. w. should have been
glad to see refutation whih would have re-
lieved us from the necessity of publishing the
charge. And even now, We earnestly hope
that full refutation may not be long delayed.
The appointment of Mr.. jones' though he is
totally unfit for any diplomatic position, was
boll inc all
have said. He was brothG-in-law of Mr..
Washburne, for some days Secretary of State,
and it was natural enough thst the fashion of
providing for ones household which had been
set at tho White House. should be adopted at
the State Department We ale still not with
out .hogo that this matter. which looks like