New-York tribune., 1874-04-14
THE PRESIDENTS LUCK.

Among the many feminine quantles OF FOR
tune, the most marked is her persistent devO-
ton to the men who are unworthy of her. If
a man once strikes what the miners call "pay-
streak" it seems after that impossible for any
bad luck to befall him. His follies lead him to
profit; his mistakes are lucrative; misfortune
grows si,y of him and dares not approach The
gambling classes catch the infection and believe
blindly in him. When Mr.. Buchanan was
elected to the Presidency, Kentuckan at the
Gait House offered to bet large amount that
he would die before his term was out. "What
care you betting on 2" asked friend "On
Breckinridges luck" was the reply.
President Grant seems accompanied by the
same powerful protecting Damon. From the
time he came out of the lanyard at Galena,
he has never been able to meet a piece Of
bad luck He frequently trifed with his good
fortune during the war, but never knew how
to estrange it. After the cessation of hostili
ties, he continued to suffer the same immunity
from the consequences of faults. He could
"whitewash" the South and not lose favor
with Republicans. He could quarrel with
johnson and support the impeachment, and
not cease to be an object of desire to the
Democrats. Without .the first qualification
for high civil position, he had his choice
of the nomination to the Presidency
from both parties. After four years of
consistent demonstration of his unfit
ness he was unanimously renominated
by his party and reelected. Nothing he could
do had any effect upon the devotion of his
adherents He sustained the harpies who
plucked and plundered the commerce of New
York, and our merchants and bankers sub
scribed money enough to buy two or three
States for him. He quarreled with Mr.. Sum-
ner, grossly injured Mr.. Motley, affronted the
whole State of Massachusetts, by appointing
Collector whom both Senators and most of the
Representatives protested against, and yet
Massachusetts dares not elect a Senator ex-
cept by his permission. He treats both Houses
of Congress as his supporters in them deserve,
and they never object. He has made the
worst seriesI of appointments in the Civil
Service that the country remembers, and vet
Mr.. Eaton and Mr.. Shellabarger do fervently
believe that he is laboring with them, even
unto weariness and perspiration, for the re-
form of service which he5has degraded past
reformation.
Events are as stupid as men in ministering
" hio iuChs lIC oCtupiCb tO-udy tuc Key or
the political and financial situation. The old
issues have gone by the board and with them
the former conditions of his success 1t ia
rather too much to hope that another election
can be carried on the burnt powder of ten
years ago, or that the men disgusted with
Jayne and Sanborn can be rallied round the
alag" by the Union League Clubs. Congress
itself is divided by more momentous issue.
On one side there is majority, com.
posed and kept together by Ignorance
knavery, and blind prejudice, which is
bent upon measures which are full Of disaster
to the country. On the other. there is a mi
nority embracing every member of Congress
who is honest and intelligent in the matter of
finance. The former have q large ignorant
following, and control to a great extent the
nominating machinery of the Republican party.
The latter are supported by the great mass of
intelligent and honest men everywhere. and
by the almost nunanimous opinion of men in
legitimate mercantile and financial affairs.