Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1877-01-13
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
Special Correspondence Of the Standard.

WASHINGTON, Dec. Is, 1876.
One of the inevitable compensa-
tions of life has come to President
Grant. From the day when he first
organized his Cabinet to the present
time, his selection of ministers has
been such rs to excite the derision Of
Democrats and Republicans alike.
With rash, despicable exceptions,
like Mr.. Fish or Jacob D. Cox, he
has appointed to these high positions
men unknown to the public and un-
acquainted With the duties of their
offices; or men, who, being known,
were of bad reputation. Now, when
he ardently desires the Inauguration
of Governor Hayes, he finds his
Cabinet. instead of being a powerful
help to him, is an incumbrance; not
that Chandler and Cameron and
Robson are not bold enough and
skillful enough in political manage
ment, but because he knows that the
thinking people Of the country are not
prepared to applaud mere trickery
in the settlement OF the Presidential
question; and he is being made to
understand, day by day, that, while
he has tho power to appoint Cabinet
ministers, he cannot compel men to
put confidence in them. Perhaps
the most infamous dispatch ever sent
over wires since their first use, was
that from two Cabinet ministers an
nouncing, on the Sth Of November, the
election of Hayes. There was not,
in the country, On intelligent man
who did not, on that day, know that
Louisiana without which Hayes
election was impossible) had given at
least 5000 Democratic majority.
The announcement, by Cabinet Of
icers, that that majority would be
counted out was simply an order, to
the Returning Board of Louisiana,
to count it out. It could mean
nothing else. This is one of those
crimes that no statute reaches; but
the ordinary rough, who steals q
ballot-box, is ON angel of light to the
high officials who commit the other
offence. It is not strange that the
people, looking on the proceedings
after the day cf election as only a
continuation of the political CAM
paign, are rapidly coming to take q
juster and higher view of the sub
ject. With the disappearance of
this Administration let them insist
upon a character qualification for
Cabinet officers.
While on the subject of the Pres
idential election, q word is in place
commeadatory Of the rapidly increas-
ing organization, throughout the
country in the interest Of President
elect Tilden. Now that through the
investigating committees, the whole
truth will be known concerning the
inf. nous frauds in Louisiana, Florida
and South Carolina, such organiza-
tione, if their proceedings are pru-
dent and fair, will not fail to procure
support from Republicans in every
neighborhood. Senator Conkling is
credited with the remark, referring
to the attempt. by the use of United
States troops to bolster up the Cham
bsrlain sham government in South
Carolina, that " if things are allowed
to 60 on in their present way little
while longer, Senators may be
obliged to have their tickets punched
by q military officer before being per-
United to take their Seats" His re-
marks is worthy OF attention, rs the
administration is supporting Cham
berlains' fraudulent government only
to prevent the action that Hampton
would take. AZ Governor, - TO the
false counting in Of Hayes electors in
South Carolina. Even Senator Conk-