The New York herald., 1873-08-09

them in order, and completing the work on
the avenues, boulevards and parks. must add
greatly to the value of property, increase
assessments, promote the health of the city
and bring many millions of money yearly to
New York, through the attractions it would
present True economy is in spending money
judiciously and literally to improve the me-
tropolis, and we have no doubt our citizens
generally heartily concur in this view, what
ever Mr.. Green or other city officials may
think. There is great latitude afforded for
this under existing laws, even if strictly con-
strued, and whatever additional legislation is
necessary can be easily obtained All that is
wanted is broad view OF the matter and pub
Lie spirit on the part of the authorities
General Buffers Defence or the Back
Pay "Steai."
In the far West it has been usual in weigh
ing mans moral character to make 'tgame-
ness balance multitude of moral ohlquities.
The mail robber won certain respect from
the Sheriff if, when the latter shot him down
after three days chase, he was still ''game"
enough to kill couple of the posse comisatus
before yielding up the ghost The feeling
exists everywhere Under certain notifications,
and General Butler, in his salary y-grab letter,
addresses himself to this sympathy with
criminal 'spluck'' instead of to a GER
tain Mr.. Briggs He defends the
salary bill on grounds that few
understanding the matter have attacked.
Where it is utterly indefensible, except on
Rob Roy's cattle-lifting principle
That they should take who have the power,
And they should keep who can
he quotes precedent. Outside of this he
is savagely personal and shallowly sophistic.
However it may soothe his own soul that
others have done wrong before him, it is
an apology that we shall not endorse and a
principle in ethics the people will not accept
That he hammers away at his opponents in
the republican party is all fair, and the harder
they are hit, when they deserve it. the more we
enjoy it. Bad as his arguments are, they have
the element of courage in them, and although
that is omething in an age of double-dealing
and on the hearthstone Of cant, we shall not
be blinded either by his rhetoric or the vigor
his fight in his own cause.
1t is just here to state that the clamor against
the President for accepting ''back pay is
utterly without foundation. His increase of
salary for the present term was made legal
during the previous one-a perfectly legitimate
transaction SO far as he is concerned, his
having to sign the bill not affecting the just
ness Of the increase one way or the other.
H.
of the Supreme Court should receive salaries
commensurate with their positions and the dig
nifty which the latter forces them to maintain.
Rich as nation, we have no right to exact that
our highest officials should all but beggar
themselves in the nations service
as many of our Presidents have
done. Into this part of the matter General
Butler ingeniousy wedges his boldest argu-
ment for the Congressional ''steal" Poor
members of Congress should be protected
from themselves and their manifold tempta-
ions by salaries giving them enough to live
upon in the costly atmosphere of Washington.
The Congress of the Credit Mobilier revela-
tions and whitewashing sorely, indeed, needed
protection of some sort. Jobbery and corrup-
ton in every form had run riot through ii,
| and General Butler, who defended Oakes Ames,
now admits, in addition to the ancient
plea that rich men found it difficult to
be good there, with poor men it was
impossible. To all who had fallen or were
likely to have done so, he therefore wishes
us to believe that it was necessary to pay a
premium on their iniquity from the national
Treasury. By way of illustration let us sup
pose that servant had dickered, jobbed and
plundered his master in all directions for the
two years for which he was hired and that at
the end of the period he raised his wages for
that two years to guard himself against the dis
honesties he had committed. Outrageous as
this would be, it is General Buffers defence
of the back-pay 'steal." The man who raised
the salary of his Office to prevent himself or
his successors from falling in future into the
slough of dishonesty wherein he had wallowed
we would call a remorseful man, OF, possibly,
o weak well-intentioned man but nothing
would save the servant whose case we have
taken from being considered an audacious
rascal General Butler has made the best and
certainly the loudest defence of the back-pay
''steal, but he has not cleared any of the foul
ness from the stain which the transaction has
left upon the republican party. This letter,
and all the half-hearted apologies already
made to the contrary, the 'back pay" will be
q pregnant question for the republican party
at the polls
Where the General attacks his enemies in
| Stafa in fba ho 10
more effective. He has given Messrs. Sumner,
Wilson, Dawes and Governor Washburn o nut
to crack on this business which may prove too
hard for their jaws. Responsibility and anti
back pay are the points on which Mr.. Dawes
and Governor washburn hope to beat down
| Gararal Rutlar IN tho Stato Tha