New-York tribune., 1875-11-16
THE PRESIDENTS FRIENDS.


Grant since he entered Office have come from
his friends He has lamentable facility Tor
picking up the most disreputable associates
and a dangerous but not altogether odious
habit of sticking to them, perhaps not through
good report but certainly through evil How
much he has been damaged by his connection
with the Shepherd set of spectators i'll Wash
ington how often. his good name has been tar
nished by the completely of those OF his house
hold in transactions which will not bear the
light of day, and how many OF the ofenses OF
the Indian Ring he has recklcssly taken upon
his shoulders, he and his political managers
probably do not yet understand. 1t was his
dishonest and disorderly friends who defeated
the Republican party in nearly all the States
last wear: and now that fortune smiles once
more upon the followers of the Administration,
these same mischievous friends seem to be
drawing him into fresh trouble.
II is not very long since the President In
promugating the rules of the late lamented
Civil Service Reform, took occasion to say
some very sensible things about the practice
of taxing government employees for politlcal
purposcs. He then promised that honesty and
efficiency, not political activity, should de-
termine the tenure OF Office The whole
country praised his action, and though " slls-
"pensions" of the rules soon became disagree
ably frequent, the people took comfort III the
hope after each violation of the promise that
il was "just this once" and that Cen Grant
would not do it again. At any rate the principle
had been laid down, and that was something
gained. But when Mr.. Chandler took posses
sion of the Department of the Interior, he gave
immediate notice that there was to he no more
nonsense on such vital subject as cam
paien contributions. Civil Service Reform,
with all its connections and belong
ings. was as dead as Andrew Jackson
The rule has been reversed. Political ac-
tivity and not honesty or efficiency determines
the tenure of Office. Accordingly the Secretary
is stalking through the Department with an
TX in his hand choppng- off the head OF every
clerk who failed to put his name upon Judge
Edmundss subscription list. They tell us thai
some capable and cstimable men have thus
been demolished Perhaps their places can be
filed: but the serious evil of the deed is the
iutimation il CONVEYS to the hundred thousand
Federal placemen all over the country that in
the next campaign they will be required to
give their money, their time, their labor. III
short their political activity to the support
of the candidates indicated for them by the
central power at Washington.
1t happens that just while Mr.. Chandler Is
making this carnage among the 0iice-holders,
two newspapers at the seat of government as
sure the world that Gen. Grant must he nom
mated for third term IA the only means OF
saving the party. There is great deal OF
uncertainty about the precise relations OF
Washington newspapers to the Government.
Some of them have no reason for existence
except az tenders to the Administration, and
vet their position as organs is not officially
recognized. Probably it is convenient to use
them or repudiate them as circumstances may
suggest Mr.. Chandler's name, however, has
been connected with both the thrd-term pa
pers. and, rightly or wrongly there Is gen
eral belief that they speak from inspiration.
If the Presidents friends arc now making Use
of his name against his desires, If is another
illustration of their fatal propensity for load
| ing him with discredit, and he cannot diSavOw
their proceedings too soon. the country IA
not willing to trlilc with the third-tcIm ques-
ton any longer.