The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-04-15


The opinion that the President favors the
nomination of Senator Conkling is supported
by evidence which has appeared in the
Washington correspondence Of leading
newspapers in all parts of the country, and
is confirmed by strong intrinsic probable
tiles. Surprising him to have choice it
would be more likely to fall on Mr.. Conk-
ling than any other republican statesman.
President Grant is influenced more than
most men by his personal attachments, and
no other friend has stood SO faithfully by
his side and defended him with SO much
courage and ability as Senator Conkling. The
President, notwithstanding his imperturbable
demeanor, is keenly sensitive to assaults on
his character, rs he virtually acknowledged
in those almost passionate sentences of his
second inaugural address, in which he spoke
of the abuse which had been heaped upon
him and alluded to his reelection as a vim
dication. He naturally feels more gratitude
to Mr.. Conkling than to Mr.. Washburne, not
SO much because Mr.. Conkling's services are
recent as because they were rendered under
moro difficult circumstances. From the
time General Grant began to make his
mark in the army until his election as
President he was the most popular man in
the country, and Mr.. Washburne hazarded
nothing by supporting him. Mr. Conkling
on the other hand, has not been q fair
weather friend, but has stood by the Presi-
dent through all the pelting of political
storms, and has never flinched. Besides, he
is more able and straightforward, as well as
more steadfast, than any other supporter of
the administration. President Grants prefer
ence therefore accords with the fitness of
things and is no enigma.
1t is perfectly natural that the President
should have decided choice as to who shall
succeed him. This desire may not be quite
so strong as it is in hereditary governments,
where ties of blood come into play, but still
it is strong motive with our American
Presidents jefferson virtually designated
Madison as his successor; Madison desig-
mated Monroe; jackson designated Van
Buren,; Buchanan actively supported Brock
inridge. who was nominated but not elected;
and if Polk and Pierce had no influence on
the succession it was because they were
too feeble to cherish this kind of ambi-
ton. Harrison, Taylor and Lincoln, who
died in Office, had no opportunity to express
such preferences, and Monroe and John
Quincy Adams relinquished all power of the
kind by tolerating in their Cabinets several
men who were actively intriguing for the
succession.
None of our really strong Presidents has
kept aspirants in his Cabinet except in
those instances where they have fixed upon
one as successor, and in such instances
they never permitted their favorite
to have rival in the Cabinet.
The famous breaking up of President
Jackson's first Cabinet, in 1881, was forced
by him because it contained two or three
covert supporters Of Mr.. Calhoun, and he in
sisted that on the question of the succession
the Cabinet should be ''unit." Two men,
bers anticipated his wishes and resigned
voluntarily, and three others were forced
out, the President writing them letters prais-
ing their official conduct, but insisting on
the necessity of complete harmony among
his counscllors. President Lincoln, in like
manner, forced Secretary Chase to resign
when he found that Chase was aiming to be
his successor, and Mr.. Seward once ex-
planned that he made his position secure by
utterly renouncing all Presidential ambition
and making his purpose known to Mr.. Lin
coin. President Grant has great examples
enough to keep him in countenance If he
should dissolve his Cabinet for the same
reasons on which Jackson acted in dissolving
his and on which Lincoln acted in getting
rid Of Chase.
President Grant will be thwarted in his
attempts to give the Cincinnati nomination
to Senator Conkling SO long as he keeps at
least three men in his Cabinet who are cam
didates themselves or are industriously favor
ing one of Mr. Conkling's rivals. If this idea
has not already occurred to the President it
will be suggested to him by Senator
Cameron, now that the two are understood to
be acting in concert. The political shrewdness
and dexterity of Mr. Cameron will be q great
assistance to the President in SO shaping the
canvass to promote the chances of Senator
OOnkiInS luc ulSt tuiifE W uC uohc 10 W
make the Cabinet what President jackson
insisted that his should .be-a ''unit." Sec
retary Fish, wise, cautious, polite man, who
knows how to wait and when to act, is likely
to loom up MS q candidate, and strong one
if he remains in the Cabinet. Secretary
Bristow has long been an avowed candidate,
and he is actively Mt work in his own
interest with the immense patronage of his
department. Postmaster General Jewell has
not been much talked of as candidate, hut
If he has entered into league with Mr..
Blaine he will be powerful and effective CO.
worker by means of the vastly ramifed
postal service, which comes in more imme-
diate contact with the whole body
of the people than any other branch Of
the officeholdinu interest There is not