New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-07-12

cedent. Now, look this matter squarely In the
face. Precisely what does it mean In its pres
ent effect and its uses as precedentf What
IL means in its relations to Mr.. Dana has been
made plain by the unguarded utterances OF those
who are said to be waiting for Judge Batch
fords decision to bring similar suits against him.
When IL ia remembered that the living of a
majority of the population from winch jury
must be drawn for his trial depends upon the
will of an administration which Mr. Dana has
pursued for years with relentless and unceasing
hostility; that the tribunal is one OF Federal
appointment, and the atmosphere and surround
ings ara courtly rather than popular-it will not
be difficult to understand the apprehension
that the court is organized to convict. Not
that only. but to convict in multitude OF
cases. which are announced as in preparation,
and if possible to suppress the paper and ST.
lence tho editor. Mr.. Dana can afford this
perhaps better than they who conspirng against
him have not considered the possibility OF
being hoist with their own petard 1t Is more
a question whether the State OF new lork
can afford to have its dignity and authority
80 despised and its sovereignty so invaded ana
whether the people can afford TO nave such
presidents established. For the central power
at Washington thus becomes impregnably IN
trencbed. Is this stretch Of fancy7 Consider
the ganglion of power at Washington and all
its rodiate influences. Review the political
year Just past and note the stealthy steps oi
what we call our progress. To what uoes
tend7 We shall not say it is to absoiutism;
for all the brainless persons who see no DANGER
but great fun in pointing pistols that tney
think are empty at their nervous friends
would break at once into loud guffaw. We
mt into your hands the threadends of few
suggestive facts. Follow them to your own
conclusions.
Last year the President desired reelection.
Not one of 10000 office holders needed to be
told of it. He did not need to utter 1t. From
the ganglia of the departments it thrilled to
the remotest hamlet; and from these smaller
centers of influence it radiated still; it infused
the caucus, inspired the convention and
hacked the assembly that renomlnated him.
He had done many questionable things; not
very many wise ones. He was unanimously
nominated and overwhelmingly reelected, and
in the convention or the party no man dared
oppose him. Let US see what We have COM
mitted to him already and what awaits him.
It made no special sensation among his
sunporters when his conception of his high
Office was disclosed in his request upon enter
ing Office that statute law be repealed to
crafty his personal feeling in the choice of
Cabinet nor did any of his subsequent pro-
ceedings in the apportionment OF offices to
his family excite any surprise. When he
transcribed his powers in the negotiation of
a treaty, his party, so far from rebuking him,
ostracized and accommodated those who crit
icised him. There has been no sense OF
shame in the unprecedented partality shown
his son in connection with the army, no sense
of responsibility or decency in his appoint
ment of his relatives, Casey, Hudson, and
Cramer, in the face of indignant public opinion,
nor any regard for truth in his unfulflled
promises to reform the Civil Service; and yet
his party makes no sign of disapproval. lie
turns and overturns the Civil Service rules
almost as fast as q Commission can make
them and resign; he sets up government In
Louisiana and overturns another in Alabama;
he demands that his salary be doubled, and
trucking Congress votes him the increase and
sneaks away with a commission on the plum
der; he names to Massachusetts her Governor
and to Alabama her Senator; he opens prison
doors to men who have defrauded
and robbed the Government, and he
pardons unpublished the men who
were convicted of fraud upon the ballot in bis
interest. Is this enough He holds through
his Minister of Finance absolute control of all
the industrial and business interests OF this I
country, and can, by word to the Treasurer,
make any man rich or poor as it pleases him.
Give him now a precedent for haling before
a Jury of ofice-holders and ofice-holding de-
pendents in the District of Columbia whoever
criticises the Administration or the creatures
who do its bidding. Does he need anything
more9 You say he does not do this OF
course not, but somebody does. It makes no
difference who holds all this power, or
whether he refuses to grasp the tremendous
possibilities that are so recklessly committed
to him. 1t is the principle that is dangerous,
and to that we call attention.
It is a shadowy line indeed that separates
liberty from license of the press, but the ulti-
mate good sense and discretion of the people
can be trusted to define it. There is no need
of any such interference as is threatened in
this case. With an army of ofiCe-holding de-
pendents oil over the country, great and
powerful party ready to yield unqueshOning
allegiance to the personal fortunes of the E1-
ecutive, and all the signs pointing to con-
tnued Capitalization and third termsis it
safe to add to this power such censorship and
control of the press as this precedent wOuld
afford7 Could the press be more effectively
muzZledf
TIE RETIREMENT OF BLSNARCR.
1t appears from our dispatches this morning
L hoe NJ loe 30