, 1876-02-24

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THE PRESIDENT AND MR.. BR1sTOW.
Tho Washington special dispntch published |
inTnE TRIBUNE yesterday, concerning thocon-
dition of tho disagreement between the Presi. !
dent and Secretary BH.srow, was n revelation |
which tho country will receive with painful |
regret. The substance Of the information is, !
that tho Secretary Of tho Treasury is waiting ?!
in expectation for M order Of dismissal from
tho President; that suc1, III order is consid- |
ered inevitable; md that tho producing
cause il tho prosecution Of Col. BAncooE.
In whatover light this proceeding may DO
viewed, it cannot help to be regarded with
regret by every honest member Of tho Ro-
publican pnrty md by every personal and
political friend of President GRANT. Wo foar
it will 10 tho great blundor OF his otIicial lifo,
will strip his Administration Of much Of It's
distinction, and will do moro than any other
act ho could commit to create sentiment
among the American poop9e Of modification
and resentment.
The President cannot satisfy the country
that lo is not governed i'll s1ch an act by
personal feelings aud sympathies which arc
opposed to considerations Of tho public good.
It Was not until his private secretary, BAR
coCK, became involved in tho prosecutions
ngaiust tho revonue thieves md robberH tint
tho President has discovered any fault with
the vigor with which tho Treasury Depart
ment has performed its duty. There is
nothing 80 offensive TO tho public scnso OF
propriety Is to have tho criminal law nilmin-
istercd according to tho personal or oiIicial
relations Of the accused Aud the Government.
That tho President has wnr1n personal re-
| gard for Mr. DAncocK, md strong conviction
Of his innocence, is no roproach to tho Prcs-
! dent; but when that personal friendship and
personal confidence III his integrity aro om-
ploycd to obstrrct tho regular coarso Of tho
administration Of Justice, and to excite tho
| personal wrath of the President against tho
officers charged with the administration of
| tho laws, it becomes one Of tho most offensive
Of oil Executive acts
Tho Secretary OF tho Treasury, with m
ability, an energy, courage, and IN integrity
which have had no precedent in any other
Department Of the Government under Con.
GRANT, uncarthcd this widespread md in-
famous and successful conspiracy to rob tho
Treasury Of tho United States. and he
brought certain officers Of the Government
to tho bar OF justice. At that timo ho had
no knowledge or suspicion Of any interest or
| participation, real or suspected, Of Col. BAH-
coox in the frauds. It ,sas not until the trials
Of JOYCE and Med guilty
mon-that there was any disclosure Of any
acquaintance or correspondence betweon them
antl AVERY and DADcocK. Then AVERY was
tried and convicted, aud then the Grand Jury
Of twenty-three men, after long deliberation
and delay, united Ia finding an indictment
against DAncooK.
Even surprising that tho Secretary OF tho
Treasury Ind been weak enough to inter-
poso his authority to provont tho trial Of
one person after four othors had boon con.
victed, whnt act could ho do that would lend
to tie roloaeo Of DAHcooK from tho legal sus-
picion which had been cast upon him? Had
he undertaken to screen BADcooE and pro-
vent trial, he would simply hive converted
public suspicion into conviction Of lis guilt.
Everybody then would havo believed BAD
COOK guilty, and though perhaps innocent,
4o would havo gone forth leper In public es-
timation. There was no way to sayo Bad
COOKS character after tho Grand Jury found
true bill Of Indictment except by an open
! trinl, whore tho world would hear the testi.
mony. bnisrow would simply l.ayo ruined
himself while vainly trying to screen DAp-
cocK. So thoro was no other way by which,
1}ADoooH could be sayed except by standing
his trial, and We arc surprised that
tho President hos not seon 1t in that LIGHT.
, hut tho President, with tho impulslyo energy
AfSuA1
separated from tho vulgar herd o, other nc.
, cuHoa persons, and slonld bo tried by mill
tary court! Could anything have been NOR
, fatal to BApuocK's character than to re1nov
! lia case from tho ordinary tribunals Of til
law to DO heard before military court hav
ing no possible Jurisdiction Of crimes com
nitted against tho roycnuo laws2 Tho &C
. quitsal by military court would have lei
| him In tho estimation Of the country with
, blackonet reputation, aggravated by th
inuuendo tha. hs had escaped tho fnte Of th
: other accused because Of the act Of takin!
d: his caso ont Of the civil courts. Had th
0 sccretary directed that tho prosecution q
O Col. Hancock should be abandoned, ho wou]
have taken the case from the investigation O
jury,-a proceeding which tho Court itsel
X refused to permit,-aud an acquittal by th
n secrstary Of tho oTrcasury. taken with the cor
0 viotion Of all others, would havo left Col
|. D4Dooon under the presumption Of gull
. aud a. escaping BY Executive favor, and /
|. what plight would this hayo left the Pres
10 dent2
!, Tic only possible course tho Secretary {
. tho Treasury could take, consistent Wit
" friendship for Col. DAnoooH, was to let Il
I. cAse tAka lss regular ooasss and be- taat