Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1876-05-19
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.

The Presidential question increases in in
tensity Of interest as the time approaches
for the Cincinnati Convention. Hayes is
surely growing in favor, and we encounter
no actual hostility anywhere except from
the Bristox men; and they have become so
determinedly hostile to Hayes, here, that
forbearance ceases to be virtue on the
part of Hayes friends. and I propose here,
and now, to give you the true story Of this
Bristow movement, because that / believe
the people ought not to be deceived by pre-
tense and gush. Let every candidate stand
upon his own merits, and throw sentimen-
talism to the dogs. The picture of Bristow
as the one only representative of reforms
and purity in the Republican party, with
the popular voice turning to him as the
nominee, unasked and unsought by him, is
so idealistie and overdrawn, that there is
danger that we common people of average
honesty may be struck blind by the halo OF
such immaculate purity. Let US see.
In the latter part of Grants first admin
istration, Bristow was Solicitor General un-
der Attorney General Williams, filing the
Office with credit and ability. But it GER
tainly was not during his occupancy of the
Office of Solicitor General in the Depart
ment Of Justice, that he developed his re-
markable abilities for reform, for it was up
on his urgent request that the Attorney
General allowed to be purchased fine new
carriage for the use of the Department, and
which purchase occasioned the Iaundelet
scandal, and defeated Williams confrma-
tion as Chief Justice. Bristow resigned the
position ostensibly to take that of attorney
for one Of our great railway corporations,
but we find him soon after prosecuting q
claim against the Government for partie:
in Kentucky, who claimed heavy damages
for losses sustained by them through fail
ures of the Government to accept mule;
that had been contracted. Bristow reeog-
cred sos, 900, and received fee Of $l0,.
600. The claim now turns out to have beer
1 fraudulent, and the Government viii in,
stitute suit to recover from the claimant
the amount of the award paid to him, and
make Bristow party to the suit.
So it was not until he was made Secreta-
ry Of the Treasury by Grant, that he de
veloped as reformer. Grant made hin
Secretary of the Treasury because he was {
lawyer skilled in prosecutions, and emi
nently fitted for the important duty of fer
reting out the whisky frands-existence Of
which had been brought to the President
knowledge, and he gave to his new Secreta
ry injunetions to prosecute vigorously, and
to sslet no guilty man escape" This Mr.
Bristow has done with marked ability
though not apparently with strict impair
tiality, for there has been no searching ou
in his own State, and it is asserted thar
the home product is sold there for less thar
the tax per gallon. I trust that what ap
pears to be SUCH hagrant neglect of dut!
may be so explained as not to mar his 9th
erwise splendid record in the Treasury De
partment, and then we may be somewha
more tolerant towards his scheming for thl
nomination; for certain it is that he is nov
putting forth the most desperate effort
for it of any man who is candidate. II
that end he is using the immense patron
age Of his Department-to that end hi
managers here are striking right and left
with barefaeed assertions, by falsehood, in
situations and inuendoes, at every othe
candidate, and already hundreds of infin
ential Republicans have declared that if h
| is nominated they cannot in self respect en-
ter into an active canvass for his election
unless he shall cut entirely loose from hi
present trainers.
There is no bitterness of feeling among
the friends Of other candidates, and al
other classes of Republicans, no matte
who is their first choice, are very friendly
to Hayes, and would be satisfied with hi
nomination. ABUcKEYE.
Washington, May 8, 1875.