The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-08-03
ENGLAND AND the UNITED STATES.
The Difference Between Disraeirs Admins
tration and that Of Grnnt.


An event has just occurred In England,
attracting little notice and creating no surprise
there. which, u II happened IA this country.
would be nailed aa tho dawn Of n political mill
leunium. Lord Henry Lennon has resigned the
once OF Commissioner Of Puuio Works for no
stronger reason than because Lord Chief Justice
Coleridge indirectly censured mot ny name, his
connection Hs director with speculstive and
ruinous scnome-tho Lisbon Tramway Company,
one OF Baron" Grants bantlings. No Parlis-
mentary committee mad been appointed to in
vestieats his relations to TINT alleged fraud, and
quested him to resign. Had hts conduct been
made the sboject OF inquiry, IL " likely that no
intentional wrong. or anything moro than n too
. common carelessness among directors, could
have been proved against him. lie had become
connected with the comp ny Eve vars ago long
before his acceptance OF high ONCE frou the
Governnent, at time when many mon OF In
nuental character and rank were lenuing
their names TOO freely to spec citations. IL was
the bad fashion of that day for directors
OF companies To accept free allotmcnts Of stock.
Lord II. LennOx took one hundred Of those
qualification shares" but. on tnc other hand,
he bought and paid for three hundred. He With
drew from the concern as soon US ne found out
its real purpose. Ihe chief pUiut MADE against
nim WAS tnis-tnat no aud his associate directors
had persisted 10 going on wi tue work after
competent engiueer b I'd reported against IL.
with this fact before him, Lord Chief Justice
Coleridge IN summing up the case OF " IwycrOss
the directors "requir explain All n" Ihv adj
monliion was slight and oniy implied; but to 4
man sensitive and self-respecting IL sum ed
Lord II. Lsnnox not only exl lained the case to
| tue country from nis seat IN the House, but he
promptly resigned bis honorable and important
ONCE IN the Government IN order that the MIN
istry might not be embarrassed BY his presence.
HIS statement WAS fsvoraoly received IN mo
House. and was considered to acquit MIN Of all
blanc. except that Of receiving the "quAlinca-
ton shares gratis
Lord Ii. Lonnox's fault amounts to nothing
compared to the offences openly charged and
sustained by evidence against members Of
Grants Cabinet. II not against the President
| confessions, IKE Lord II. Lennox. seek ny all
ms Us TO keep the tdth from coming out. They
ments at every stage. They use the whole
| power OF their Offices TO punish men who dare
To tell the truth. They reward all those VINO
ing, tn It Is the one step that guilty officials I'M
der this Administrations never take-with the
| solitary exception OF Belknap. anu ne Resigned
| only when "cofnered," and solely IN oroer to
| escape impeachment, as he fOndly hoped. IL Is
| not the dishonest men VINO quit the Cabinet
and otner respon IDLE places, but the honest
ones who can n longer endure the shame Of
their false position under Grant. LORD IL Len
nox resigned To avoid possible scandal which
might be visited on tue Premier for retaining IN
| Office a man who bad thus been adiuoaisned
| from tne bench. What CabiueE oficer Or mead
| Of a bureau In the UnIted States wOuld think Of
| throwing up his place ana pay tor fear Of wouud-
ing the sensiOilities Of tue President, or BRING
| ing new disgrace on the Administration Our
| public functionaries know too well that the
President Is totally indifferent to the re.utntion
OF his app0intees as Of uis own. lie only vans
them to execute hts policy and play into the
hands Of his friends. For the rest they can do
what they please.
sucn Is the painful contrast between the
| standard Of public duty aud person.l honor Ia
the government OF England and IN our own. In
the one the suspicion or appearance OF eyil I'M
| pels distinguished Official to lay down his
trust. In the other, men stay until they are
| KICKED out. II would be sad indeed to note h w
| far inferior Is the moral tone OF our rulers to
| that OF England. II We did not remember that
| the shocking deterioration OF Washington Cabi-
nets has been Comparatively recent and sudden
In former years they were composed OF the uIost
| upright ana the aoiest men In the country. IL
would be a great Day for the Republic nd the
| truest Centennia al mmemoratiou-if po.ttlc al
| revolution should bring back those old days vi
| administrations honest and strongi