The Portland daily press., 1878-02-05

NC EEtSl3cuk ana tn6 silver BILL
Thomas Lord and His Wife AddIe
Oakman.
NEW YORK, February 4, 1873.
There has been considerable of a flutter iu
political circles within the past week touching
the occurrences that took place in Washington
Just prior to the settlement of the Presidential
question. Some indiscreet friends of the ad-
ministraion have been putting William E.
Chandler or his mettle by decorating him with
opprobrious epithets. 1t is true be gave them
some provocation by initiating the attack, but
under all the circumstances it would have been
more prudent to have directed the retallatory
assault at his statements than at him. 1t Is
not at all likely that man so thoroughly versed
in political history as Mr.. Chandler would have
opened an offensive campaign sach as he has
embarked in without having assured himself of
the tenability of his base of operations. He
has succeeded in demonstrating that there was
conference between the supporters Of Hayes
and representative Of the Nichols govern
ment; that satisfactory assurances were given
to the latter in respect to the intentions Of the
Republican Presidential candidate, in the event
of his being seated. Perhaps the word bar
gain is too strong term to apply to this ar
rangement, but it is evident there was an under
standing arrived at on the strength of which
Southern opposition to the findings of the
electoral commission was effectually restrained;
that there were promises if not pledges given,
and that Mr.. Hayes through his friends incurred
the obligation, when installed, to throw over
board Packard aud Chambsrlais and recognize
Nichols and Hampton looks probable. The
facts tally precisely with this presumption, and
the reluctant admissions of the parties con-
cerned sustain it. That some sort of agree
ment was entered iato appears to bs tolerably
certain. The actors 10 it were too polite to
ratify it by their signatures but it is significant
circumstance that the alleged terms were strict
ly adhered to, and that Southern influence has
largely predominated at the Executive mansion
ever since.
On the hypothesis that the precedent condi-
ti0ns referred to were exacted aud accepted the
subsequent course of the administration Is
clearly accounted for. 1t is difficult to explain
In any. other way why President elected by
Republican votes exclusively should have turned
his back upon the chiefs of his party and
sought allan 70 with Democratic leaders. No
Republican Senator, uuless Mr. Matthews is
entitled to that appellaton, has anything like
as much consideration shown him at the White
House as the Democratic Senators of Georgia
and Mississippi have; they are more potential
in debating appointments aud directing poll
cies than any of their peers; they have sue
ceeded in obtaining offices of importance for
persons whose nomination could only bs justi-
fed on the theory that the rebellion was CON-
mendab'e and the suppression of it an invasion
of the rights of sovereign states. The selec-
tion of a Marshal for Georgia is a notable case
in point. This official is charged with the
function of taking the census; on that census
Is based the representation of the State in the
lower House of Congress-; the position is one
which ought not to have been bestowed upon 9
man who was Objectionable to the Republican
party; that party has at best very small chance
of fair treatment 10 Georgia. With the federal
patronage turned against it there are discour-
agements enough in its way to render the con-
tinuance of the organization futile.
Instances might be multiplied of the eccen-
tricitiss which have characterized the distribu-
ton of Executive favors, and stimulated the
distrust and dissatisfaction of the Republican
party. The fact is too palpable for conceal
ment that they have occasioned alterations be-
tween the President and the majority of the
members of the great Council of State which
is charged with the constitutional duty OF ad-
vising and consenting to federal appointments.
Efforts at conciliation have not been wanting.
There has been no spirit of vindictiveness
shown towards the President. Friendly sug-
gestions and gentle remonstrauces have been
repeatedly addressed to him, and at times he
has seemed disposed to hear and heed them
BUTT has generally happened that arguments
of the opposite kind have been brought to bear
upon him at the critical moment with complete
effect, and he has adhered to the course of ac-
tion from which his most sapient advisers ear
nestly sought to dissuade him. That he has
hestated between following the pronpsings Of
his good and bad angel there is little reason to
jected him to the imputation of being irreso-
lutte and changeful of purpose. La my view
they are rather to be ascrbed to the embar-
rassments of his position. Even If there had
been no understanding beforehand, as to the
policy he would pursue, the peculiar circum-
stances under which his accession to the Execu-
tive chair was consum mated environ him with
difficulties. 1t is out of the question that he
should feel the same absolutism of authority as
if his title to his office had never been disputed.
The people of America have had occasion
three times before to note the difference be-
tween Presidents chosen by their sutfrages, and
those who were raised to the dignity By unto
ward casualties. In each case the contrast has
haap oe4 4hon
tai incumb ants has tried to spread himself over
surface enough to woo the embraces Of the two
parties, and has only succeeded in separating
himself from both. But if the temptation to
reach out for help in impossible directions is so
hard to be resisted by functionaries whose con-
stitutona right to their posts Is universally rec
ognized, how much stronger must it be where
an incumbent is oppressed by the consciousness
that very nearly half the people he governs are
impressed with the belief that there is defect
in his title.
The worst of it is that the very sensitiveness
the President evinces about the doubts thrown
upon the validity of his tenure emboldens his
adversaties to persevere in attacking it, 1t is a
sort of welpou of blackmail that they will be
apt to use Just as long as it continues effective.
OF course every act OF concession by which he
| endeayors to mollfy them brings upon him q
| fire from the rear directed by the men who &C.
l cuse him of betraying their cause. To compli-
| cate matters still more seriously the Louisiana
/ Democrats, notwithstanding all he has done to
allay their hostility, with unparalleled ingrati-
l tude ara hunting the members of the Return
Il ing Board ferociously II is not in human ma
ture that these fellows should endure persecu-
ton and suffering without sooner or later turn
ing upon the parties who deny them the protec-
ton which they fee. they have the fullest right
to demand. Any story they might now tell
under duress would to be sure, be regarded as
apocryphal, but there are plenty of people
who would believe, or pretend to believe,
l what they had to say and make q
prodigious hue and cry over it, Already
i we hear unpleasant threatenings of astounding
revelations which may be taken as indications
that there is formidable conspiracy on foot to
l harass the administration.
Iu the light of this survey of the situation.
we get an accurate clue to the causes which
Il kood 90 xuo,Lan tha nowar IF tha a~acutsuo