National Republican., 1877-03-13

things and viii be ofespecisl interest to our
readers q, this tine. We give IL ss follows
In full:
The question which J. MADISON WELLS sd-
dressed 70 DuDLEr FIELD, TnpES's lawyer,
and which has n0r passed into the political
history Of the country-"Am peer or q
yassair'-nisht be appropriately repeatedly
President Hans in his controversy with the
machine politicians His struggle for his
rights involves all Of this, s11 he must make
the fight pov for his vhole administration.
To yield al this point VII be to part with his
rreros s,iye, and TO exclude himself for the
whole term from the power Of carrying out
the pledges ard promises Of the party plat
fern, Of bis letter OF acceptance and his in
srsursl address There Is no doubs In the
world ths. TIE machine men accepted all
thee pledges in = Pkkuiekisn sense. They
looked upo1 :hem as mere generalizations,
sTrings TO catch wooieocks, deceptions to
bcodsipk the inDoeen. and deiuie the liberal
and patriotic men OF the party who were dis
rcsed 20 shspson the machine. II Is equally
certain that Mr.. HkTES meant every word he
esid. Here is the issue: The machine men
Insist that their Construction shall be aiopsei
far Prsssdent HhITs has insisted that his
coustrueiIoa and irisS;sOn be respected, and
that faith be kept viih the people.
The critical period Of the controversy is At
It's very beginning. lftAe machine can so far
asert is strength as to prevent the President
from selecting bis Oun Cabinet advisers, then
be becomes inevitably victim Of the machine
ard he will Derer be able to escape from Its
tolls. The objeciica of the machine to men
Ike EvARTs. SCUHRE and kEI Is not based
rpon any allegation Of unfairuess, bu. on the
ground that they vii not submit to Couxres-
s,onal dsciaiion In the Distribution Of the Gov
eminent patronage. They are I'm favor OF the
1. L. nj NJ ths "a
form OF the civil service throughout the entire
courty. They are not the kind Of men the
machine can use. Their rejection, then neces-
sArily implies the iniention to eoerce the
President TO call absui him as counsellors and
ehiefs OF Departments men Who will do the
bidding Of the machine, for the appointment Of
other men like EvkRrs, ScHCRz and kEr
would encounter iuss as fierce opposition. IL
Is necessary. therefore, for President HtIIS to
maintain the position be has taken al the out
set. II he hopes TO attain 10 Il al any time. To
yield 10 hull -dorinS nov viii necessarily make
him . vassal during the -four years which he
oueht to govern. He viii nos even be peer,
for the precedent will have been established
that will enable Congress to dictate new terms
at any point. He Will become . mere registry
clerk to rcoord the appointments OF Senators
and members, and write out to his Cabinet
the policy whieS the machine shall outline for
him.
Ire country vIll watch With intense inter.
est the result of this preliminary struggle
between the neu President and the old ma
chine, as Indicating with reasonable certainty
the position which Presiient HArEs Is des-
tined 20 occupy In the present Administration.
II has been said that he has not the strength
Of character TO resist formidable pressure, and
his best friends have denied It. II has been
said that he viii not be equal to the policy
vhich be mapped out In the quiet Of his home,
nor dare 10 intruss his Administration in the
hands Of the conservative men whom he
would BY preference call sbou; hin, and hi.
best fritpds have dsnied Il. Nov "a the hour
OF trial. Retreat or undue concession at this
time will leave him weaker than he wa
before, white the naehine will be stronger
than ever. Success nov vii make resistance
In the future the easser, and insure . eomplett
triumph in the end. SES