New-York tribune., 1873-03-06
HORACE GREELEY IN 1872.
NR. CREFLRYs POLITICAL PCifloN AND
MOTIVES IN THE LATE Pki@SiDhN ii""
CONTEST

CONlECls
TO the Edftor OF The T''O""''
SIR: In the numerous notices and "reconections VI
Nr Greeley by partisan hands. since the ueath oi
that distinguished man. the ntimation Is often mnue
,ha, no NOT only lost caste as Republican, but lost
character by becoming the candidate "a the oppoSr
tion At the late election; and this chapter OF his hie
is patronizingy passed over as one which msht oo'-
fer be treated with silence and left to oblivion
In the first paee no such thing rs possible in life
rs eminent and as conspicuous as that OF MI "Ioo
lev. In the next, it is an impertinent impulauoh
which every frond Of his desires promptly 10 iopci'
No snch forbearance is asked desired HIS iIlehuS
challenge the closest scrutiny this as on every
other cbouter Of his eventful life Mr. Greeley Threw
himself into the canvass as the deterihiheu
of n sordid corruption that he beieVeu was 49,
craoinC the Republican party and dcsuoSi"s w
nubio morals Tho late numerous ana pa''iu fN
lie disclosures Of Credit Mobilier Sena'0i'"i, GU
other corruptions, that have slmultaioouoS =, tba
upon and sstounded the country, denoS''a'o W
world how well founded his convlotions w.
These developments threw noou oi 'fnS uFO n-
,ho Iate canvass by making plain to all What was
;"..I, 'po .'s Lnown to but comparatively few;
anov that our national politics had long been Oe-
oon;nc thoroughly corrupt. They have also
r;1ored the basis of the knowledge possessed Dy
those few and more than confirmed all then "oiS'
snspjcions There is no longer any douO' tu"'
,videspread rottenness prevails IN our puDhc iaiiS
and among our public men, The question now
getting TO be, how much have we lett 'haV is
sonndf How many States and how many Cons'os'
Districts exist that are not under the control OF COZ
rupt agencies and influenceSf
TIE BEGINNING or PUBLIC CORRUPTION
Tho fruitage season of corruption. now run-
ming TO seed in Washington, and all over
k.,Al l,,,n
the country was preceded by Its ouddlns
and blossoming time at the Capitol ltbegan IN tne
period of war contracts IN the time OF Mr. LincOin
il contiuaed under tho hybrid administration OF
Andrew johnson and lowered vigorously at the
close of the war when Gen. Grants military and per-
sona friends took possession Of our civil affairs ts
growth was at that period viewed with the deepest
concern by every observer cognizant of public af-
fairs The Inauguration of Gen. Grant became an
epoch in its progress The instant raid then made
upon Che Offices 10y a rough-shod and eager crew,
who knew what they became Republicans for was
one of the most significant events III our poticai
history The old Republicans were everywhere I'M
mediately displaced by the new crowd.
IL was not long before there came reports of nu-
merous ACCOMPLISHED and attempted thefts, robbie
ries defacations and swindling transactions in the
various Departments, in addition to the usual sup
ply in Congress. The most conspicuous OF these
and the one which first excited wide attention
arose in the Post-Ofice Department.and subsequent
ly became notorious as the "Chorpenning Claim
Mr.. Postmaster-G General Creswell had deliberately
sanctioned attempt to take from the Treasury the
sum of Si4sOOO. on claim urged by his former law
partner, which the House of Representatives,, by
nearly unanimous vote. declared fraudulent ant
void This was deemed proper occasion by some
of the best Republicans ia Congress 10 break ground
and make q resoute stand against an evidently still
rising tide of corruption, which, if not checked By
some concerted and authoritative measures, 1t was
seen would soon debauch the new Executive Gov
ernment further demoralize Congress and the coun
try and result finally in endaDgerng the ascendency
of the Republican party. In the event of Gen
Grants falling to invite Mr Creswell to resign II
was suggested that Congress should give signif
cant hint to that gentleman to retire But while
Congress was prompt TO stamp Mr.. CresweiPs action
as Infamous it exhibited an incredible reluctance t.
do ANYTHING which looked like personally antag
onizing members against him. The reasons for th
reluctance were not then understood and until late
ly have OILY been but partially disclosed They be
surprisingly clear in the light of recent devel
opments.
MR. GREELEY ENTERS TIE LISTS AGAINST COR
RUPTION.
1t was at this period that Mr.. Greeley was ap
against the Creswel transaction and throw the whole
weight of The TRIBUNE into resOlute demand fol
his removal Mr. Greeley at that time warn
friend and supporter of Gen. Grant and the Admin
istraton. Ii was urged upon him that the goOC
name and honorable character Of the Republican
party demanded that CreSwell should go over
board; that in no other way could so much be done
10 check the bold march of venalty and corruption
that it was the duty Of the Republican press to call
epOn the President to set his face like flint against
this first open and hagrant attempt at public rob-
berry; that 1t might be early understood that the
new Administration would not for one moment toll
crate transactions like this. 1t the first actual
and threatening crevasse that had opened, and il
must be promptly stopped if ON inundation was to
De avegted. These views were enforced by suggest
ing the inquiry as to what would probably be Mr.
Creswes fate if instead of Gen. Grant, Mr.. Chase.
or Mr. Fessenden. Mr.. Charles Francis Adams.
at the head of the Administration. There was no
one to contest the conclusion that in either Mr.
Creswells place would not be worth an hour's pur-
chase. Mr. Greeley recognized the force Of the
sderations alleged, and offered to print anything IN
aid of the object in view, and did publish some
structures on the transaction but, it was thought
that Gen. Grants pertinacity and pride of opinion
in the selection of his Cabinet officers, was not
likely TO be overcome by any mere newspaper
solicitations Mr.. Greeley did not his way clear
TO make such pronounced effort as desired. II
proved subsequently that this view of the case was
correct, 50 far as any action of Gen. Grant in the
premises was concerned For the President was
afterward approached on the same subject by emf
nent Republicans in Congress, who were his sup
porters then, and who are his supporters now and
reconstruction of his Cabinet urged on the ground
of this and other scandals, of which it was argued
the Republican party ought not to bear the weight
but the attempt TO secure such reconstruction sig
naly failed, though backed by high Senatorial
names. The President thought that Creswen and
Robeson were as good as any of the rest of bis
Cabinet.