New-York tribune., 1874-05-05
INFLdTION IN THE VEST

Mr. Horace White was approached a few days
ago in Boston by the representative of a local
journal who was anxious for light upon dark
and mysterious question. "Why," he asked,
care the Western people so generally Ignorant
"and wrong headed on matters OF finance
The Chicago editor answered with ready cOur-
tesy. "It arises from their following bad ex-
"amples. The last two Secretaries OF the
Treasury have been distinguished citizens of
" Massachusetts, and therefore greatly esteem
." ed in the West. 1t is their influence which
"has led portion of our people astray." The
Boston journalist did not incorporate this sug-
gestion in his report of the interview, and Mr..
White, who is one of tho most magnanimOus
of men, is said to bear him no malice.
But there is material for thought In
the genial retort of the Illinoisan The East
ern press and people have been too ready to
conclude that the West has monopoly OF
the ignorance and prejudice of the country In
financial matters. If there are three men In
the United States who are more responsible
than others for the chaos of error and IRE
sponsibity in relation to the National cur
rency and the National obligations, they are
Gen. Grants two Secretaries of the Treasury
and the Republican leader of the Holse of
Representatives from Massachusetts. Under
Mr.. Boutwell, and Mr.. Richardson, the man
agement of the Treasury Department has
been one continued series of blunders and
makeshift expedients Mr.. Boutwell, frankly
avows his belief that there is no such
thing as a science of finance or political econ
omy, and if Mr. Richardson does not agree
with him, it is merely because he does not
know enough about the science to deny its
existence. For several years past, the fragrant
errors committed by the Department have
been defended and justified by the great body
of the Administration press, and it is not at
all remarkable that q certain confusion as TO
questions of law and of morals incident to
the management of the finances should have
grown up in many quarters of the
country where the Administration party
is strong When we add to that the
fact that the loudest and most shameless ad-
vocate of reputation in the country is that
member from ew-England who leads the
majority in the House of Representatives, and
is everywhere regarded as the most intimate
political friend of the President, it becomes
mere matter of course that many unthink-
ing partisans, who know and care very little
about public morals, should think themselves
justified in following the lead of such promi-
nent persOnages, and clamOring as loudly as
they for reputation.
But it is not shown, and we believe it is not
true, that any very considerable number of
the people of the West are demanding from
their representatives the measures which the
latter are urging upon Congress. A careful
study Of the Western papers indicates that
not more than one-third of them oppose the
late veto of the President. No authorized
body representing the political sentiment of
single State has yet declared for imitation or
any form of reputation. Our correspondence
from the West shows that the great mass of
the people take no interest whatever in the
clamor of those who pretend to represent
them. 1t is true that many who see that
business does not march, that they
have not as much money as they
want, and who are told by these glib
statesmen that initiation will make everything
lively again, would like to see initiation tried.
But 1t does not appear as yet that these are
the majority. 1t is true that Mr.. Logan, when
the Anti-lnhation Committee had left the
PRESIDENT the other day, took his cigar out of
MS mouth and said he was not a rich man,
Dut he was the representative of two million
people, VINO wanted more currency, and who
were gong to have it," But an eloquent
man like Senator Logan does not stand on
matter OF million or so when his blood
is up, and 1t is highly probable he
had not made an accurate census
of those who think or who think thew
think as he does. There Is, in fact, rebuttino
evidence from Mr.. Hesng, who probably car.
ries fully as many votes in his civilian
rockets Us Mr.. Logan slows away under his