The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-04-29

Attorney General will be regarded as COM
pliment to the loyal republicans of New York.
Mr. Pierrepont has been true TO the President.
His first conspicuous act as a republican was
to subscribe twenty thousand dollars to the
election fund for the first Grant campaign.
Before this he had been democrat and at
the time of his conversion to repubhcanism,
or, to use more expressive word, 'Grantism,
was sachem in Tammany Hall. II the con-
version was late it was none the less sincere.
He has never wearied in his friendship for
the President, and during these six years the
question has been asked thousand times,
''What is the President going to do for Pierre
pont?" He did try to send him to Russia,
but Mr.. Pierrepont had no fancy for an icy
exile. lie made him District Attor-
ney, but ii was a trivial station
and he declined it, There was a story
that he would become Secretary of State, but
Mr.. Fish comes from race with staying
Dutch qualities. There was purpose on one
occasion to make him Secretary of the Treas
ury, but this did not ripen. And all this time
Mr.. Pierrepont has never faltered in his de-
votion. Other men we're promoted, but he
never repined. The President went of into
the Dismal Swamp after his Akermans and
into the lava beds after his Williamses, ut
terly neglecting his eloquent and learned and
munificent supporter. Every now and then
we had rumor that Pierrepont was~becom-
ing restless, that he meant to assert himself
like Carl Schurz and John Cochrane, and
break party bonds. But these rumors never
ripened. 1t may be that Mr.. Pierre
pont did not feel altogether sure of
his welcome at the Manhattan Club
if he returned as an independent states
man" The Manhattan Club is always glad
to welcome the "manly' and courageous
and Enlightened" gentlemen who leave the
republican party and crave ''reform." But,
when it comes to welcoming one who was sin
dependent enough to vote against the Man
haitian Club it is quite another matter. So
that if our distinguished townsman in those
moments of despair which are said TO attend
impatient statesmen who lack appreciation
or recognition ever contemplated secession,
he never carried out his threat. He meant
the Cabinet all the time. For this lie resigned
one Office and declined another, and he now
sits in the seat Of Alderman and Williams
When public man actually wants seat in
the Cabinet we presume it does not much
matter what kind of o one it is. The waiting
virgin is not always coy when the chance Of
marriage arises. Mr.. Evarts once went into
the Cabinet under circumstances that would
test the courage Of any man. 1t is something
for lawyer, we presume, to be able to write
Attorney General after his name. 1t is the
highest plume, the crimson berTettd of the
profession, and the temptation to wear it is
natural enough and commendable. So we
shall not criticise the taste which finds honor
in the remnant of discredited admnistra-
ton. Mr.. Pierrepont will give the President
good law. lie will not allow booty
Judge to issue midnight orders for which he
has no authority. Nor will he be as
unreasoning partisan as Williams He has
no motive and no desire Mr.. Pierrepont
never allowed his political convictions to be-
come an enthusiasm. Somehow they always
seemed to be a part Of his profession. lie prac-
tised politics as lie practises law, and when
the democrats did not suit him he at once
took the republican brief He was never an
actual bodily leader in the party. He had
little association and no sympathy with the
rank and file. Pierrepont has always been
regarded as a good thing to have in the
house--a kind Of political parlor furniture
to be used on State occasions. We have heard
OF him as chairman and president OF conyen-
tions or as making one or two elaborate
speeches in a canvass. But he was never 10
the heat OF burden OF the fight. II his repub-
licanism ever went beyond his devotion to the
Presidents personal fortunes it never became
apparent
There is a story that the President meant
to have made General Butler his Attorney
General, and that upon informing the Cabinet
of his purpose two Of the present members
threatened to resign. If this is true il pos
sesses varied meaning The fact that Gen
eral Grant means to defer to his Cabinet in
anything indicates change Of heart and ten
dency to seek counsel on tic part Of the Pres
ident. 1t means, also, that The soul OF our
Cesar yearns toward the one statesman of his
party VINO hos 10 doubt about the third term.
whatever the views of General Butler may
be, on one point he is sound-the third term.
1t means, Also that a sentiment o. independ-
ence has entered into the higher walks Of the
party, and that tho men who advise the
President % not mean to commit suicide in
his interest. General Butler would make
lively administration, which is what
we do not expect from Dir. Pierrcpon;.
But We can hardly think the President
really contemplates asking BIN into the
Cabinet. Third term or not, General Grant
must want quiet administration. Tie Graves
calm summer and some little time on the
sseshora and at the Missouri stock farm,
which, We are pleased to learn, Is hourishing,
and in those gentle amenities Of travel and