National Republican., 1874-06-05

instance, and fail to make them for want Of
coin. They never 'bore large holes with
small augers;" not they.
The Secretary disdained to defend his
policy. He did not offer to compromise
with the Row. He did not either solicit
or retain the services Of the press. The
latter. knowing full well that he could not
afford to deny or otherwise notice its ao-
surd statements, continued to fulminate and
circulate them. His annual report full of
sound financial views did not elicit from it
a single word of praise. His name was
rarely mentioned except in ridicule or
abuse.
When the panic struck the nation in Sep
tember like clap Of thunder from clear
sky the metropolitan press joined the Wall
street mob in their infuriated clamor for the
circulation of the reserve. The Secretary
hesitated, opposed, advised against its use,
but finally yielded, in company with the
President this point to stay the fright and
recall the money-kings to reason. In less
than ninety days the same press that clam
ored for the reserve in their extremity com
meneed to abuse the Secretary and the Ex-
ecutive for the use Of it. The danger being
over for the present they forgot their former
supplications for succor, and Joined in
hue and cry against the execution of law
of Congress by the Secretary for the collec-
ton of delinquent taxes from rich
estates and corporations. Here, again,
the metropolitan press became the
organs of the merchants and banks and
bankers, and railway, insurance and other
corporations, who were able and willing to
pay, in war upon the shrinking and sensi-
tive Secretary, who felt that he was right,
but in the consciousness of his rectitude
chose rather to leave his vindication to time
than to make a fight in his own behalf.
Deserted in the most cowardly manner, and
thrown into the hands of the Democrats by
his friends In Committee of Ways and
Means and in Congress, at the behest of the
wealthy law breakers, it is no wonder that
he shrank appalled, from the thunders of
the press, armed as it was with misrepre-
sentations and lies, which were glibly
reiterated upon each refutation as blandly
as though they had never even been de-
MED. What could he do but tender his
resignation
The President and Senate have stood
nobly by him and vindicated his fair fame
and his spotless integrity by investing him
with the judicial ermine of the next to the
highest tribunal In the land. He will no
doubt grace this position with dignity and
honor to himself and country. But the
pack which has bounded him from the
Treasury has already notified his
successor that his success in the
administration of the Treasury Department
must depend upon the amount of their
counsel and advice he is willing to receive.
If he succumbs to them they will fawn
and fatter him, and eat the crumbs lie filings
to them. If he ignores them and their ad-
vice, simply attending to his official duties,
they will bark at, and, II he scares, they
will bite him. But if he Is able to accord
to the representatives of the press their Just
privileges as the medium of communication
with the people at the same time that he
administers his Office, and
thus frankly keeps the country advised Of
his policy, and the success with which he
is inaugurating and administering it, he can
with safety rest the vindication of his
course with the people themselves. They
candid honesty in officials above
everything else. An error ever, candidly
acknowledged. is always readily forgiven
by them.