The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-01-18


President Grant has issued an order which
will cause some commotion among those
federal oface-holders who have been inter-
meddling with local politics, and who have
imagined that they were gratifying the Presi-
dent and doing good service to the repub-
ican party by getting themselves elected to
Office in the States to which they belong. 1t
is announced that in the opinion of the Presi-
dent it is not consistent with the in
terests Of the States OF Of the United
States that a person should hold
q federal Office and State or
municipal Office at the same time, and
notice is given that on and after the 4th OF
March next any officer in the service of the
United States who fills also State or munich
pal position will be regarded as having re-
signed his former Office. The abuse which the
President thus checks and promises soon to
eradicate has increased at an alarming rate for
the past two years and has been the main
cause of the discussions that have arisen in
the republican ranks. The power and infu-
used to control conventions, dictate nomina-
tons and rule the machinery of party,
and in number of notable instances
the principal offices in States and municipali-
ties have been seized by federal Office
holders. The trouble that is now distracting
the State of Louisiana is traceable to the
intrigues of the New Orleans Custom
House. Governor Warmoth commenced his
Objectionable career as the tool Of the Custom
House clique, and after his quarrel with them
their whole strength was put forth to crush
him. The last Republican Convention in that
State was presided over by the Collector Of
the Port of New Orleans United States
Marshals and their deputies held the doors,
and nearly all the nominees were officers in
the service of the United States The dis
graceful character of the proceedings in
Louisiana no doubt melted the step the
President has now taken.
The evil has not, however, been confined to
the South. In our own State much heart
burning and jealousy has resulted from the
prominent position taken by the federal Office
holders in the political conventions of the re-
publican party, and the Custom House and
other federal departments have supplied q
good proportion of the candidates for the
most prominent local Offices President Grant
is right when he declares that this double
allegiance is not beneficial either to the State
or general governments and we congratulate
the country upon the step he has taken
to remove the evil in the future The
proclamation which we publish to-day shows
how untrue have been the statements which
have associated the Presidents name with the
intrigues he so roundly condemns, and proves
the earnest integrity Of his character. He has
no sympathy with political chicanery; no OBJ.
ject but to do his duty in plain, straightfor.
ward manner Men will always be found dis
honest enough to pretend that their selfish
acts are approved by the President; but they
will no longer be believed. President Gran,
will adhere to his resolution, and every federal
ofHce-holder who has made use of his position
to obtain State or municipal preferment may
rest assured that he will be called upon t.
make way for q successor Immediately after
the 4th Of next March.