The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-07-24
General Grant and His Cabinet.

/ STUBBORN local lrrlJauOn exceedingly PtOo-
/ trating in its effects. If the party is able to
throw off this irritation and to separate the
administration in its worst forms from the
ensuing Presidential canvass, with good can
didate and strong platform, it will have an
open field before il with every prospect OF
success. This is the difficulty and tins in
reality is the meaning of the Cabinet struggle.
! Curiously enough the Cabinet itself is divided
on the issue. In the beginning the President
viewed the members of his Cabinet as his
official family, each OF them being regarded by
him as little more than personal retainer of
the Executive. Time overturned this happy
arrangement Creswell gave place to Jewell.
The Boutwell, ichardson regime was sue
ceeded by the advent of Bristow.
Even Williams was compelled to sue
cumb to public opinion and was replaced by
Pierrepont. Although Fish and Robson and
Belknap and Deauo remained mere personal
government was at an end The issue raised
by this attempt at personal rule was not
ended, however, and the abuses which grew
out of it presented new complications, both
to the President and the party. First of all
was the question of a third term for Mr..
Grant. The Cabinet dared take no strong
ground in its favor in opposition to the evil
dent sense of the country, and at last the
President himself yielded sufficiently to de-
clare that he would not accept third nomi-
nation if it was not offered him. Being out
OF the race it became all important that
neither be nor his surroundings should be a
lightweight upon the party in the ensuing
Presidential campaign. This necessity APP
pealed most sensibly to the newer members
of the Presidential family; and to Jewell
and Bristow the continuance in Office of
O man like Delano was hindrance not
to be endured. The Secretary of the In
terror had brought the administration and
the party into discredit with the country.
His management of the department, espe-
cially in regard to Indian affairs, was, to say
the least of ii, disreputable. If the party
was to be saved it was plain, even to the
meanest understanding, that Delano must
retire. Nobody knew this better than the
Secretary, and at first he was willing to CO.
Just here General Grants faculty for stolid
resistance manifested itself, to the detriment
of the party and to the discredit of his adj
ministration. Because the newspapers said
Delano ought TO go the President determined
that he should stay. The country accepted
the conclusion rs it is apt to accept all such
conclusions-with rebuke for General Grant
and for ali who advised or countenanced the
position he had assumed. No administration
surrounded by the political influences which
are inseparable from every administration in
this country could long withstand this opposi-
ton, and now the signs Of surrender to an
overwhelming public sentiment may be said
to be complete.
In short time the republican party will
have its organization and policy in its own
hands, or the rank and file will be arrayed in
hostility to the ofice-holders, with all the po-
ltical chances in favor Of the democracy.
Last year this result seemed already to have
taken place, but the ebb and flow of politics
have brought another opportunity for the
party if feeble administration can only be
induced to yield to wiser counsels and to give
up the policy of ruin in the endeavor to rule.
1t is to be hoped this wiser course VIII be
adopted, and that the President will yield to
the almost universal desire of his political
associates. If he does not, we shall see what
has not been seen in fifteen years-a demo-
cratic administration in power at Washington
and the republican organization destroyed.
The promise of different result is to be per-
celved in the compelled resignation Of District
a -, t1a
to Delano. The retirement of the one is the
entering wedge for the displacement Of the
other. Even General Grant can scarcely save
his Secretary in the face Of the Indian Ring
exposures, and with at least two members
of the Cabinet hostile to their associate. No
other President would attempt to save him,
and any other official except Delano would
not ask to be saved. 1t will thus be seen
that the issue which 50 seriously threatens
the party comes out OF the Cabinet itself. 1t
is the struggle between the real and the ac-
cidental leaders of the republican organlza-
ton, and as President-making is always the
test OF partisan supremacy every political con-
sideration is weighed and tested in the light
of the Presidential contest. More than one
Cabinet has been broken TO pieces upon
that ISSUE and the present administration
cannot prove an exception to what is almost
q rule unless Delano's retirement gives it CO.
hesiveness both with itself and with the
country. 1t is an event as necessary in its
way as was General Grants third term letter,
and compliance or noncompliance with the
demand Of the people in this matter will de-
termine, possibly, the unity of the Cabinet,
but certainly the political future OF the repub-
lican party.
We would not lay so much stress upon O
matter apparently so insignificant if We were
not persuaded of its importance. The repub-
licans cannot afford to enter the next Presi-
Dental canvass weighed down by the corrup-
tons Of General Grant administration. Even