, 1875-10-09
4 Modern Letter of Resignation.

The Hon. Columbus Delano's letter to the
President resiynIng the Office of Secretary of
the Interior, Is a contribution TO the materials
of history It's value ike that Of any similar
contribution, depends upon the truth The
retiring official takes the trouble TO recount
many things that must be familiar TO the
President TO whom ostensihly he writes, with
s. view, probably in this indirect way, to :e-
ceive for his statements circulation through
~. -h, e.'snrrg. Tic lEfOr-,'s s,iu p----l---r
that the President has been aware fos some
time of the Secre,ary's desire to retire from
public life, and mentions the number of times
his resignation has been placed at the Presi-
dents disposal He refers 10 his services As
Commissioner Of Internal Revenue. and his
more recent services A. Secretary Of .he In
terror, which last named position gave him
the supervision Of the Indian Bureau He
speaks also Of the oarrous nature OF these
duties, OF the conflicting Interests Of which
he Is arblter, and IN i'naJes that the ugly
stories that have obtained currency concern
ing his administration had their origin IN
the jealousy and ill-will Of the persons whose
Interests be had in the performance Of his duty
opposed. To his vInlication the President
replies briefly that h. believes the pers, cniion
Of which the Secretary Is the subject Is IN
Just He believes that the Secretary has per
formed every public duty confled to him
with ability and integrity. In other words,
he allows his Secretary 10 be driven out OF
offlcr. fully believing him innocent. If the
PreNiden''E expressed views are honesty en-
terrained, very serious question is presented
TO the American people. Il It possible that
an honest and Efficient Cabinet officer can be-
made 10 wear such an appearance Of guilt
that the most reputable public journals In
the country demand his removal On account
of lack Of integrity? The journals which
have condemned Secretary Delano's manage
ment of the Indian Bureau, are not partisan
hacks, which condemn anything and any
person "f different politics from themselves.
These Journals include not only the demo-
crutic but rhe great indep-nacut ucwspuprrs,
such as the New York Herald and TiI,e.e,
Springfield Esg,J.ican, Chic,go Tribune and
Times, and many oyhers Of less note. These
journals do NOT 5eHounce any public Off
Ger On general principles, 70 make a point
against the administration On the eclntrary,
th,y give to Messrs- Dri-tow, Jewel, ana
Piyrrenont a support that Is almost partisan
IN irs friendlIn--s. Thes. gentlemen are
republicans, and support o. them = Just as
much support of GTautis'n as support Of
Delauo would be We must look, therefore,
to somo other than political reasons &c account
TOT the uuanimity with which the iudr0-u-
dent press calls upru Secretary Drlano TO re-
tire. One reason Is furnished in the devcl-
opucnts from different qug- ers III regard 10
he mI-management Of Iai.an afflIrs- An
other viii b. found in :he iaut that tn cost
II the Indian Bureau hus increased from
s, 500, 600 III 1895. TO s., ,}2, ,c53 III 1874 -.
Now, however honest and cfiicl-nt Mr. De
Iano may be, according to President Grants
undeTstas ding Of those terms, the people nat
urally crit!ci~e d public service which pro-
dnces the results. The Secretary retirts with
certificate Of chlr-cter from the President
but neither his lab,r.d letter nor It's repl
will greatly influence public estimation. an
less n new -, Of facts can be presented a. the
groundwork OF a different opinion.