The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1875-11-05

Comment. of the Press On Grants New
Secretary ot the Interior.


Nothing happens, except the unfore-
seen. What seemed yesterday so
amazing Tin spite Of the authentic re-
ports) as 10 be incredible, is to-day an
accomplished fact. Zachariah Chand-
Ter is sworn into Office As the successor
of Mr.. Delano!
just a the new Secretary of the In
terror steps into place the lies and mys-
teries which accompanied the retire
ment Of the old one seem To be dispers-
ing. We understand now the whole
history of Mr.. Delano's removal. The
frauds which pervaded the Department
under his administration have long been
known TO the entire country. Ii APP
pears, however, that 80 long ago a last
spring the proofs of specific rascalities
committed by Chief Clerk John Delano,
together with strong circumstantial evil
dence that the Secretary was aware OF
them, were laid before the President,
and Mr.. Delano's resignation was de-
manded in consequence. Young De-
lano's otfense was levying tribute from
the Government contractors in Wyo-
ming Territory, the agreements for his
benefit being made out in the name of a
mythical John l.. Merriam, just a MIR.
Henry Clews stipulated To pay quar-
ter of his profits to a supposltitious
flames Van Buren," To avoid the APP
pearance of retiring under fire, Secre-
tary Delano held on until last month,
and when he finally departed the Presi-
/ dent gave him the usual letter Of recon
mendation and thanked him for the
liability and integrity with which he
had discharged every public trust COM
mitted TO him. He is not likely TO
make any further figure in political life,
and we need not trouble ourselves To in
quire how far he was aware of the
things done under his eyes and In his
own office. But no one will deny that
if Mr.. Delano was an incorruptible and
high-minded officer he must have been
a phenomenally incompetent one.
Will his successor be any better? The
gross absurdity of Mr.. Chambers APP
pointment is no laughing matter. If
the President had searched the | nited
states from coast To coast he could not
have found man more likely to per-
petuate the abuses Of Mr.. Delano's adj
ministration, and to add Others Of his
own. The Interior Department j. es-
sentiallv "A business, Office which ought
10 be managed ON the strictest business
principles 1t has the control Of very
large sums Of money. and more than
any other division Of the Government II
has 10 deal with rogues, thieves and
liars. Mr.. Chambers best friends are
we'll aware that his habits of life and his
disposition Of mind entirely unfit him
for the close and continuous work re-
auired from the head OF such a depart
ment On the stump. twisting the tail
Of the British lion until that miSerabl,
beast howls with anguish, Mr.. Chand-
Ter is ALWAYS a noble figure. In the
midst of a Knot Of working politicians
al the rooms Of Judge Edmunds in thu
Washington Post-oifice, discussing the
state Of the country and the plans of the
campaign, he viii be in his element
and there are topics upon which he cat
talk 10 the President with all the fervol
of a congenial soul; but for the man
agement Of large administrative bust
ness he is most unfit, and we greatly
, mistake the penetration OF the lndiar
Rings. the Land Rings. and the Timbci
Rings. il they are not already rattling
with delight at the news of his appoint
ment.
This is probably the worst nomina
ton Gen. Grant has ever made. lh'
nomination OF Caleb Cushing for Chief
Justice shocked and outraged tn
, whole country. but il was not 20 bad a
that Of Mr. Chandler. Cushing wa
grossly untitled for Chief-Justice. bn
al least he was not intellectually incom
petent. The circumstances of hiS char
! acter and career make Mr.. Chandler
F, nomination a. di~graceful A. that Q
Mr.. Gushing. while he has none o
Cushing's ability wherewith 70 redeem
IL.
a few months ago. when the pros
poets Of the Republican party wer
particularly black. Gen. Grant mad
/ several Cabinet appointment whicl
\ commanded the approval ~ the entir
! country. But no sooner has the folly @
the Democracy ~ Ohio and PennStl
/. vania produced "a slight reaction thar
he throw. away whatever advantage b
4. may have gained IN that brief spasm q
, reform. and crowns All hi, preyiou
blunders bv one Of the worst appoint
(. ments he ever made Ia his life. II j. a
! il he were bent upon persuading tn
!, country that il j. a. dangerous to trus
= Republicans in the White House a
4 Democrats in Ohio.
q THE SORT or A MAN ZACH. CHANDLER u
n fFrom the Springfield Mass Republican,
II il a very GrantiSh selection. Thi