The New York herald., 1876-08-16
How the Presidents Interview
Affects the Politicians.
A POLITICAL BOMBSHELL
Opinions Of Administration Republicans In
dependent Republicans ana Democrats
POLITICIANS PUZZLED

the HERALD has been much discussed here to day and
exctos somewhat varying criticism. Among those
who profess to be the friends OF the President
feeling of satisfaction is expressed that he has at last
joined issuc with the who. alleged, have been
his secret enemies and maligner and In such quarters
his apparently frank utterances to the HERALD
spondent. accepted conclusive evidence OF his
integrity and simple sincerity. Others who good,
earnest republicans not well pleased with the
interview while the democrats OF course, pretend to
regard 1t political blunder and additional evil
dencc of the uIptude OF the administration
THE OPINION or GRANTS PERSONAL ApuERESrS
Among those to whom the Presidents unbos oming
given entire satisfaction are such personal adher
ents George ". Chids, the Drcxcls, x-Colector
Thomas Murphy and lew others who have been al
of the Presidents household during his summer
sojourns at Long Branch One Of this class said
conversation today:-''Therc is only thing in tho
Presidents statement to which object He gives a
great deal too much credit to Bristow and is
and indulgent toward that prince of frauds.
Buord Wilson only tool in Bristow's hands. l
told the President myself when this thing first
mcnced. that Brisow and that lot were playing gamo
to smut him aud his administration for the purpose
OF making Br,stow the Presidential candidate. |
knew that Brstow had his spies into the
New York custom House in the shape OF
special Treasury agents, and to other places, and
pay throw out dirty insinuatons against Grant
and opuT up Brstow. OF tho President found
out the truth this in the end but he ought to have
known and acted upon 1t long since"
.'What does The President by saying that he
received charges against Babcock and Porter IN
necton with tho Black Friday gold operations from
General Sharpe, the Surveyor of the Port Of New
YorkY'' inquired the HERALD correspondent
ale does not say that Sharpe made charges against
thcm," replied the faithful follower of the house OF
Grant; ''he only says that Sharpe left papers
with him relating to thoso operations and that when
examined by young Grant he found they did not mpl
cate Porter Babcock The truth Is that Sharpe, in
justice to the President gave him history of tho
that circulating In the city and Of
which very absurd, mixing up tho President him.
sell as we'll as Babcock, Porter and others with Fisk
Gould and the Mansfield woman In the Black Friday
business. These rumors were known to the President
to be all scandal out OF whole CLOTH"
PRESIDENTS STATEMENT
The satisfaction felt by the Presidents more imme-
diate companions at his bpen talk with the HER
correspondent is not, however. shared by less prcju
diced and more discreet republicans gentleman
who held an important position under Mr.. Lincoln's
administration. and who supporter OF Hayes,
expressed his views to-day very freely the subject
and OF his criticisms appear to be worthy OF
slderation.
"I must confess that not pleased with the Presi-
dents statement he frankly replied when asked his
opinion OF the interview; land for several reasons.
understand him to charge that Mr.. Bristow was mp
Gated In conspiracy to fasten some appearance of
completely IN the unfortunate corruptions that had
crept into the service upon the President
those Immediately surrounding him.
.'But are you not mistaken? The President does not
say that
''No; no does not say II in many words but he
speaks OF having the 'facs of we'll considered
spirncy' laid before him, which his innocence
Induced him regard With Indifference and he afror-
ward says that the conclusion has subsequently,
forced upon him that Brstow took part q conspiracy
pertaining to the Presidential candidacy or
this have but one moaning, especially when taken
in connection with the Interpretation put upon Blu
ford Wilson'S letter. Now, / have had no political
sympathy with Bristow because regard him as more
than halt a democrat But believe him TO have been
strictly honest public officer. l have evil
dcncc whatever OF ony conspiracy such tho Presi
dent discovers, and | not foolish prclu-
diced to close my eyes to the TACT that tho
depreciation might be put the acts OF officer
who does his duty iearlessy and without regard
to political consequences Then again ths people
will ask We're the whiskey fraud prosecutions a
smracyr' Are not The prisoners IN the Western pen
tentaries proof to the contrary Was not General
Babcocks connection with tho dishonest operators
however innocent 1t may have been, beyond dsputcg
mcnts and convictions all the result Of n
spiracyf' think thoroughly understand the prcsi-
dents meaning. He intends TO accuse Mr. Bristow
and his co-operators of desire to show that he
personally implicated in these corrupt practices; bur
AS have said, have seen evidence to warrant
grave charge, and The people WILL fear, be apt to
put wrong construction on the Presidents language,
aud to suppose that he means TO denouncc as a con-
spiracy the whole business OF the whiskey prosecu
tions. F"
~ hat other objections, If any, do you make to the
Presidents statementln
''wc, regard tho ausion TO the Black Friday
scandal, and the alleged connection OF Babcock aud
Porter with IT, unfortunate IL the President could
have satisfactorily disposed OF the scandal IN a few
words II might have been well enough 10 have done
But what docs he sayY Papers were laid before h,m
charging army officers the nearest him both IN
his political and military household with compicty
in one OF the mos. Infamous conspiraccs ever con.
coctcd; aconspracy that was calculated bring and
did bring disgrace on the nation and ruin to thousands
The President rolled these papers up put them Tor
handed them over 10 his son, wholly inexperienced
young man, 10 examine and report upon 1t not
cts, but contcn;ed himself with the report
made upon them by his young And
how does he say Babcock aud Porter cxcu-
patedY Babcock could not have been shown
have connection with the Black Friday plot
spiracy Ike the Black Friday infamy not concoctcd
the day IL is put into execution. IL shown
that Porter ever bought dollar of gold in his we
But who supposcs that any OF the participants in
Black Friday plunder did pay dollar OF gold pcrson-
ally Mind am not insnuating that either Babcock
Porter did have anything whatever do with the
Black Friday scandal only say that The Presidents
aliusion TO that affair was Unfortunate, that his lame
defence OF his secretaries will be likely 10 damage them
still further in public estimation and that
advantage TO him 10 appear as their indorser."
"Are there any other points in the HERALD inter-
view OF which yon disapprovc g''
al do not think Il cxncty dgniied in the Prcsi-
dent TO accuse Mr. Bluiord Wilson OF cndeavorng alb
s,Iact the indorsed letter and other papers tho
Treasury Department do not think the evidence
warrants such charge from any quarter and coming
from the President It could only tho effect of
ducng personal controversy IN which IL would be in
decorous for him TO engage. Indeed, think the
preston must have escaped him unawarcs ~
FRIEND or BLuroRD SPEAKS.
gentleman who Is connected with Mr. Bluford
Wilson Dy marriage, and who Is ut Long Branch,
expressed himself very Indignantly to that portion
OF the interview rejecting on the cx-Socltor's
duct. The President would not have vcnturcd TO
make such a statement" he said. 'if Congress were
not on the point OF adJourning. I happen 10 know