New-York tribune., 1874-06-24

time suspected Of grave irregularities in
Washington, amounting, in the opinion OF
many people, to positive dishonesty, by which
he has gained large fortune and disgraced
the public service. His conduct at last at
tracted the attention of the country and COM
PEELED tho notice of his own party
laborious and protracted investigation in Con-
gress, conducted by his political friends, re-
suited in the establishment of most OF the
serious charges against his administration OF
the affairs of the District. A vote of Con-
gress confirmed this finding and removed him
from the position he had rendered infa-
nous by abOlshing his Office. Gen. Grant
deliberately insults the country, Congress, and
his own party by trying to put this stained
and condemned politician once moro in
charge of the government of the District OF
Columbia. He has never done q more reckless
thing in any moment of oblivion or passion.
This is no vndicatiOn of friend pursued by
partisan malice. Republican conventions East
and West have referred to the District in
vestigations as a proof that the party in
power could reform itself and punish its own
rogues An overwhelming majority of both
Houses branded Mr.. Shepherd as unit to
govern the capital. But the President has
stolidly defed the decent opinion OF the
country, the expedient sense of his party, and
the reluctant judgment Of Congress, to keep
tho head of the Washington Ring at the head
of the District Government
All honor to the Senate, usually so sub
servient, for telling the President for the sec
ond time in conspicuous case, this session,
that the thing was too indecent to be toll
Grated. Senator Allison led in the revolt, and
it will long be gratefully remembered in his
favor.
There will be reasons enough assigned to
account for the Presidents outrageous act
1t will be said that he could not do other
wise; that he is so deeply involved with the
Ring that he must stand or fall with them.
His immediate surroundings will be referred
to: it will be said that he was led by the
bribed hands about him to take this step.
But these concrete motives are not necessary
to explain the nomination. 1t is an act that
nobody but Gen. Grant could have perpe-
trated and being what he is, he could have
done nothing else. He is composed of two
parts; one desiring the public good in an
indefinite and not very intelligent way, tho
other given over to selfish prejudiccs and
passions His appointment of Mr.. DennisOn
and Mr.. Blow was an illustration of the for
mcr He really wanted good mon on the Com
mission-men of character and integrity. He
chose two of the best men in the country for
the purpose. But he could not help appoint
ing Shepherd. He liked him; he had made
money by him he had helped all the White
House people he had done nothing the moral
sense of the President disapproved The fact
that he had a tainted name only endeared him
to the President, who bitterly resents public
opinion finer than his own. Shepherd was
good enough for him, and it seemed to him
gross impertinence that any one should object
to him. So, although the act was plainly
hurtful and unpopular. the President could no
more help carrying it through than he can
resist any other imperative demand OF nature.
We can afford to smile at the fractiOusness
of spoiled children, but a fractions President
is no laughing matter. 1t is hard to estimate
| the effect of O single indulgence OF selfish
caprice like that which yesterday flung Shep-
| herd into the face Of Congress and the ma
| tional decency. No President has ever before
| made so disgraceful exhibition of vulgar
petulance. The dignity of the Executive office
| is lowered by it, and we should be glad If we
could hope that the evil might stop there, and
that the national conscience would suffer no
harm by this spectacle of the President Osten-
tatiously smearing himself with the pitch
which no man of honor would touch.