The New York herald., 1877-01-10

| clans in Washington concerning Governor
Hayes. We take leave to doubt the correct
ness Of at least some parts of this tale.
That Mr.. Hewitt should have made o mess
of his interview with the President is prob
able enough. In fact, it is old news. He
fell into trouble with General Grant almost
as soon as he had talked with him, and for
the reason that-not to put too fine point
on it-he "blabbed." The President spoke
with him in confidence he evidently dis
cussed with him, very frankly, the political
situation, and Mr.. Hewitt is reported to have
said here in New York that what the Presi-
dent said was very honorable to him. We
Judge that General Grants conversation
with Mr.. Hewitt was an ingenious honora-
BILE and unreserved discussion of the politi-
cal situation, without reference, IN the Pres
ident's mind, to the effect that situation, If
it were continued, or if subsequent circum-
stances should not change it, must have upon
the decision of the Presidential election.
That is to say, we suppose the President
spoke as on impartial bystander, and not as
partisan politician. 1t is not to Mr..
Hewitt's credit that he was unable to put
himself into the same impartial attitude as
the President. No sooner had he left the
White House than he began to make known
to his party friends, here and in Washing
ton, that there was o better chance for Mr..
Tilden; that the President had committed
himself to view which would elect Mr..
1ilden and so on. Now it is conceivable
that the President was considering, not ways
and means to elect Mr.. Tilden, but the
actual situation of the disputed States and
it is conceivable that he should resent Mr..
Hewitts Interpretation of his remarks; as
in fact he did, and to so unreasonable
degree that but few days later he COM
mitted the blunder Of calling himself
representative of his party" In plain
language, anger at Mr. Hewitt's misuse Of
his confidence led him to the other extreme.
That Messrs Chandler, Cameron and
Morton, alarmed at the widely bruited in
trigue of Governor Hayes or his friends
with certain Southern democratic politi-
clans, have taken measures to secure their
own positions by written or other sufficient
guarantees from him, seems to us not un-
been weak enough to submit to their coer-n
cion. About that we are unable to judge.s
Mr. Hayes silences are likely to be famous
in this campaign, yet less famous than the
confidential utterances which are reported
of him. If one may believe what one hears
Mr. Hayes, like Mr.. Orator Puff, has two
tones to his voice. We are assured on one
hand that he has satisfied certain Southern
democrats that his administration will be
pleasing to them, and on the other hand
that Messrs. Chandler, Cameron and Nor
ton are happy and contented with his en-
gagements to them. There is something
bewildering about all this. 1t has the effect
of one of Hermann's best tricks, where
you think you see what you evil
IDENTIFY don not see, and end only with the
pleasing certainty that somebody has been
cheated. The Graphic's paragraph indeed
processes to clear up even this difficulty.
Mr.. Hayes, according to that journal, has en-
gagged to retain Messrs. Chandler, Cameron,
Morton and company in his administration;
he has made them promise to cut adrift
the carpet-baggers of the South, and let the
Southern States enjoy local self-government;
and he on his part has assured his allies
that Messrs. Schurz, Bristow, Halstead and
Curtis shall be sent away to foreign parts,
where they can Aave no influence on public
affairs This isXvery pretty arrangement.
When the ingenious Hermann explains"
one Of his tricks the more ingenious youth
in the audience rejoice, because they think
it is now all plain; and yet they are no
nearer knowing how Hermann did it than
before 1t is so with this triple arrangement.
1t looks clear and satisfactory at first blush,
but the more you look at it the more puz-
zling it gets Messrs. Schurz and company
are to be sent abroad, forsooth. Was it, then,
only for part of the spoils these patriots
is to 60 to Peru, we suppose; Mr.. Curtis to
Brazil perhaps; Mr.. Schurz is to 90 to
Paris; Mr.. Brstow to st. Petersburg or
Vienna, as he may prefer. Of course it is
all nonsense. Public men of character don
not seek place, but influence. The gentle
men named could not without disgrace
accept office abroad from Mr.. Hayes and
leave the home administration in charge of
men whose principles and policy are hate
full to them. Mr.. Hayes would insult them
if he made such q proposition.
Of course that part of the story which
relates to Mr.. Conkling is ridiculous.
Senator Conkling is not and never was n
place hunter. In this respect he belongs to
the older and worthier class of our states
men; men who acted strictly within party
lines who were ambitious of influence in
the country, but who we're never spoilsmen
and never sacrificed principles for personal
advantage. That Mr.. Conkling should be
left out of On intrigue which is unworthy
and has the spoils of Office tor its object
does not surprise us-that is q matter of