The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-10-08

but to purchased, underhand pressure,
whose steps were a. stealthy AS those OF a
thief in the night Mr. Clews began his
secret operations by making written con-
tracts for partition Of the spoil if he should
succeed Mr.. Cheever, q noted lobbyist,
was one Of the parties his share Of the
profits being one-fourth, which he stipulated
to divide equally with Mr.. Louis Dent; an
other one-fourth Of the expected profits was
to be given to Mr. "James Van Buren,,
fictitious name, invented to mask parties to
this disgraceful transaction who have not
yet been discovered Mr.. ''James Van
Buren," is a man whose name the public
never heard until it appeared in the evidence
before the Register in Bankruptcy. 1t is a
name not to be found in any directory, and
this fictitious gentleman's place of residence
was unknown to Mr. Cheever, who engi-
neered the transaction. He is evidently
myth, to cover parties who would be ruined
if their real names were known. Who are
these parties that skulked behind feigned
name? II deeply concerns Mr. Boutwell,,
it vitality concerns a still higher officer, to
have it proved that this mask was not worn
by them.
1t is possible, but it does not seem proba-
BILE, that so important change was made
by Secretary Boutwell, without consulting
the President. The public will demand to
know whose reluctance it was that it re-
quired two years Of secret effort and bargain
ing to overcome Was it Mr.. Boutwells, or
was it the Presidents? 1t could have been no.
body's else for nobody else was entitled to
voice in the decision. 1t is a curious,
almost fearful, question, Which? Was 1t
Mr.. Boutwell, who stood out for two years
against so unfit change until the President
overruled him; or was it the President who
stood out so long against Mr.. Boutwell,? 1t
has become necessary that the responsibility
for that indefensible act be fixed upon one or
the other of these functionaries, and that
the recreant officer, whichever it may be,
should bear the load The evidence which
has now come to light in q judicial proceed
ing demonstrates that it was a corrupt trans
action, and the country has right to know
who is responsible.
This is one of the many unpleasant things
which the new House of Representatives will
have to investigate We cannot doubt that
the democratic House will do this part of its
duty with unsparing vigor 1t is altogether
the most important task which will devolve
on the faithful representatives of the people.
The tariff question and the currency question
ION both of which the House will be power
less until there is q change of majority
in the Senate) fade into insigniicance
in comparison with the supreme
necessity of honest administration. We
have had tariffs more or less protective since
the beginning of the government, and the
country has prospered in spite of them.
The currency question is certainly of great
importance, but no legislation on it is pos
sible within the ensuing two years. BY that
time the initiation craze will have run its
course. 1t cannot stand against enlightened
discussion. But corruption can stand
against everything except the consuming
public indignation which follows clear ex-
posure 1t is impossible to concentrate the
public mind on more than one great reform
at time, and purity OF administration is so
paramount to questions of policy on which
honest men may differ that it seems almost
an impertinence to lay much stress on other
topics until the Augean stables shall have
been cleansed by turning in upon them
the mighty river of honest, popular indigna-
ton. Every other question must, for the
present, be subordinate to that of purifying
the government and scourging knaves from
power.