The Republican journal., 1877-03-08

may be grave doubts whether he can be
patriotic and honest if he desires to, after
the public service has become so de-
bauched. Let us hope that he will make
the endeavor.
There ought to be some significance in
the reported appointment of Senator Dan
iel NJ. KEY, OF Tennessee. 10 the Cabinet
position Of Postmaster General-a putting
into practical shape oi the reported policy
to concillate the South. Senator Key has
always been Democrat. was in the Con-
it may have no more effect than did the
giving Of an Office to Gen. l.ongstreet.
Further developments must he awaited.
Can he be Honest. IL he Wants To!
A great deal is promised and predicted
concerning the policy OF the new Pres-
dent 1t is said that he is t. have a policy
which shall comprehend reform every
where, north As we'll AZ south that the
hideouq mockery OF decency and justice
which puts up at auction states like Flor
ida and Louisiana, shall be uprooted, and
which slimed about the White House, and
testered in The whiskey frauds. shall no
longer exist This is all very well, so far
as promises 60 But can Hayes war on
his party and live? Can he fight single
handed against corruption. and come off
victor? We doubt it
Let us contemplate the fate Of an emf
nent Republican whose record was as clean
If not cleaner, than the new Presidents,
who was placed in a position Of great
power and responsibility. who made war
upon the rascality Of his own party, and
went down when the power of the thieves
was turned against him. We refer to Ben
amin II. Bristow. late Secretary of the
Treasury. Mr.. Bristow is undoubtedly an
honest man. He is 4 lawyer Of ability and
experience, an upright, honorable, and
conscientious man. He went into the
Treasury Department with determine
ton to reform its abuses. He found the
sources of the country's revenue tapped in
y thousand places, and streams flowing
steadily into the pockets of roguea. He
found corruption hiding itself among the
officials, and lording it over those who
would be honest, until scarcely one dared
he q man OF integrity. Brstow found him
self thwarted on every point. And when,
by the employment OF special detectives.
from outside his department. he succeeded
in bagging a batch OF offenders, they
were mysterionsly set Tree by power elna-
mating from the White House itself Off
Gals who were Jealous iii prosecuting OF
tenders were suddenly slenced and re.
moved And at last the chivalrous Ken.
tuckian who had enlisted to fight the bat
tie for honor and honesty, found the league
OF officials and conspirators against the
laWs--the agreement of the watch dog and
tie wolt-to0 strong to be combatted. He
resigned aud retired, haltled aud discom
fitted
Can any man tail to see 10 The history oil
Bristow, the impending tate OF any official
even the highest. who shall dare step be.
tween the robbers and their prey? The
kentuolii ian not only went out Of office tOl
the time being, but he faded from the pub
lie mind and the thoughts of those who
control the means by which party men are
made and unmade. and became sub7tan-
TALLY diagracrd because OF hia battle i'll
the cause Of honesty and decency. He
represented probably the last effort of the
better portion OF the party in that direction
The thieves that his efforts convicted and
sent to the peniteutiary now Haunt then
pardons before the country, and taunt the
officials who were disgraced for convict
ing them.
Mr. Hayes may have considered this
matter OF he may not If he has, he will
see that Gen Grant has merely been eX.
tracted from the White House and himsel
fitted INTO the place. The same surround
ings, the same official relations, the same
obligations TO the men who pail the party
strings, and make or unmake the reputa
lions Of men, are there and in force |
the new President thinks he can stem the
torrent that overwhelmed BrlstOW, anC
would have overwhelmed Grant if he hat
not gone with it, he will find himself mis-
taken. The thieves that were strong then
are stronger now. The influences in the
returning boards, i'll the Senate and in the
Commission. to which he owes his success,
are, and mean to be, corrupt He may
acquiesce and have smooth sailing, or he
may revolt and be destroyed. The mel
that engineered his success, are not the
ones to stick at trties. He may have AZ
many pretty theories as he pleases, but the
practical course that he will have to adopt
will embrace unlimited thievng from the
public treasury, and another fraudulent
count of the electoral vote, if need be.
A portion Of the cities of Maine hel(
thei" charter elections on Monday, with
the following result-Hallowell, John w
Clark elected Mayor Portland, Moses NJ
Butler. Republican, Mayor by 573 MAORI
ty. Lewiston, re-elects Edmund Russell
Republican. Auburn, Hannibal 4. Smith
Republican. tockland re elects G.. G
Moilit, Republican, by a majority of II
over Geo. w. Kicker. The citizens votet
to reduce the Mayors salary to $500 Bail
re-elects Edwin Reed Mayor Saco electe,
Foss. Republican, by So majority