The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-02-17

The constant denials every day sent from
Washington that there is any difference be-
tween the President and Secretary Bristow
must be interpreted with proper regard to
the facts of the situation. There need
be no hesitation in giving full credit
to such dispatches when they as
sert and reiterate that there has been
no personal outbreak nor any Interrupt
ton of the forms of official courtesy
between the President and the Secretary
of the Treasury. Secretary Bristow has,
of course, no motive or incentive for
official or personal rudeness to the Presl-
dent, even if it were in his character to
violate the proprieties of intercourse. He
has simply discharged the duties imposed on
him by law, and he is bound to suppose
that he has the appreciation of the President
until The contrary appears by some official
expression. On the other hand the Presi-
dent cannot afford to have Mr.. Bristow leave
the Cabinet while the whiskey trials are
pending, and he WILL of course, do nothing
which would furnish the Secretary with
good excuse for resigning and
Nothing could be more awkward
for the President than the resignation
of the Secretary of the Treasury at this june
ture on the ground that the President had
sought quarrel with him because he was
not sufficiently tender in his treatment of the
Presidents friends. We do not doubt at all
that there is the utmost appearance OF cour-
tesy and cordiality in the personal inter-
course of these officials. The Washington
correspondents who base their dispatches on
these specious appearances are as correct
in their facts as they are wrong in their in
ferences. The intercourse between Presi-
dent Grant and Secretary Bristow will be
kept on a footing of the most perfect exter-
nal courtesy until matters are ripe for the
final rupture There can be no doubt
that Mr.. Bristow understands his posi-
ton. He knows that he retains his
Office by the fears and not the
good will of the President; he fore
sees that he will be forced out of the Cab
met he knows that the President is only
awaiting an opportunity and an issue which
will enable him to do with safety what
he would gladly do at once. Since
General Babcocks indictment, or rather
since this indictment came in sight, Mr.
Bristow has received no sign of
encouragement from the administration.
On the contrary he has met with nothing
but indirect rebuffs. The dismissal of Mr.
Henderson was his first warning President
Grants open espousal of the cause of Gen
eral Babcock was a still more marked ad-
monition that his prosecuting energy was
distasteful The extraordinary circular of
the Attorney General was signal warning
that he was going too fast and too far. He
finds among his subordinates in his own de-
partment too many evidences that he is not |
supported These people have quick per-
ception of coming events. They know
that President Grant will not go
out until the expiration of his term,
and they see so many signs that there will be
new Secretary of the Treasury that they
are unwilling to risk their places by devo-
ton to their present chief. The consequence
is that Secretary Bristow has hardly anybody
about him whom he can trust, and the per-
Torrance of his duties has become exceed
ingly irksome. He knows that the President
intends to force him out by making his
position intolerable, while observing toward
him all the forms of official courtesy. Such
a state of feeling will necessarily lead to an
open rupture, and both sides are man@u-
wiring to put the blame on the other. While
the Cabinet is Happy Family" externally
it is too evident that an angry breakup
cannot long be delayed.