The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-02-24
PRESIDENT CRAMPS ADVISERS.

The Washington correspondent Of the Bos
ton Uerall, writes
''The two men who have been more infuen-
tial than anybody else with Grant since
Rawling died, are Gen. Babcocb, his score
tary (reputed to be worth million of dol
lars and the partner of the President in vari
Gus financial operations), and Boss Shepherd.
The latter has been for the last two years q par
ticuar tavorite and II the secret history OF the
White House could be told, it would proba-
bly, appear that Grant has cared more for him
personally than for any man IN the country.
Not only did his great executive powers and
the grandeur Of his scheme of local improve
ments impress the President tavorably, but
he WAS socially very acceptable to the Presi-
dent When the District Ring broke
down, the Presidents sympathies We're with
| Shepherd 50 completely that he became
more friendly to him than ever. Ind =. he
made Shepherds case his own, and befrlend-
ed him in every possible manner, even APP
pointing him one or the new Board Of Com
nissioners last spring, when the District gov
eminent had been legislated out Of existence.
1t has been evident all along that, however
odious Shepherd might have become outside
of Washington, the Presidents regard for
him was undiminished. 1t is true he failed
to save Mr.. Mullett, but then Muulett was not
so very anxious to remain in office, and Bris-
tow was very emphatic. Being so powerful
as he is, 1t was not strange that Mr.. Powell
Clayton should have enlisted his aid in behalf
Of his sinking political fortunes How
ready the President still is to oblige
him the country has seen. 1t seems
we have President who is even ready
to stultify himself to oblige friend. Stultiti-
cation is the only word which completely de-
scribes the action Of the President in this
IL - bat ~,
ton given is correct one SO far as it goes
The Arkansas message was written at the re-
quest Of Mr. Shepherd. 1t would be for
tunate for Gen. Grant and for the country if
this strange and contradictory communication
to the Senate were simply freak Of the Presl-
dental mind and if there were not too many
indications that he is pursuing line Of policy
which made it Only too easy for him to con-
form to the request Of Shepherd and Dorsey
in this case There is every reason to believe
that Grant is now listening to more reckless
and violent counsels than have ever been
poured into his ears in the past years OF his
administration; that the number OF bad men,
extreme men, desperate men around him is
constantly increasing, and the number OF
decent, wise, and honest ADVISERS con
SANITY growing smaller. Some Of the worst
men of the party, as old newspaper readers
know. have long been very much at home at
the White House. The number, or the pro-
portion Of such, believe to be increasing.
1t is not necessary to beat about the bush to
discover why this is so. There may be in
nocent and trusting patriots in the rural DIS
tricts who still believe that General Grant is !
determined to be again candidate for the
Presidency. There are none such in Wash
ington. 1t is noteworthy that the question
Of whether he is DESTROYS Of a second re-
l,toI Il
cussed in the newspapers, has almost ceased
to be a topic Of remark. Very little is said
about it here now, and the reason is that it |
has become a settled conviction, in the minds
OF nearly all, that Grant is bent On a third
term"