Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-05-06
Mr.. Garfleld's Lot is Not a Happy
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i OuGs
Two months have scarcely elapsed
since Mr.. Garfield, amid much pomp and
enthusiasm, and doubtless with his heart
full of qualification over satisfied ambi-
ton, was inaugurated as Chief Magistrate
of the United States, yet even now he
is beginning to experience the fact that
the Presidential pathway is not one of
roses. He sees worries and embarrass-
ments threatening him on all sides, and
must find it possible not to realize that
the chances are his official lot will not
prove happy one.
We have several times already alluded
to the difficulties he will have to en-
counter now very soon in the matter of
the Robertson nomination. The Senate
rial deadlock being broken, and execu-
tive sessions having been entered upon,
the consideration of this nomination can
not long be delayed, especially as it is
stated that Mr. Conkling is eager for the
struggle, and will certainly report
the nomination back from his COM
mittee at an early day. He will do this
because he thinks the present the most
favorable time for him to act, as combi
nations-the effect of the Matthews and
| Chandler nominations-may be formed
! against Robertson now which would be
impossible next winter. On the other
hand, it is said that the administration,
encouraged by Secretary Blaine, is also
making active preparations for the strug
gle; and so the President will find him
self, in a short time, warning not against
his political enemies, but carrying on a
kind of civil conflict in his own party.
This position is, of course, far from be-
/ ing an enviable one to a President who
looks forward, perhaps, with hope TO
future honors at the hands of that same
party.
But as unpleasant to Mr.. Garfield as
must be the prospect of arraying himself
against a powerful faction of his own
political organization, it is, by no means,
the most disagreeable fact he has to con-
front. That legacy which Mr.. Hayes
left him, the star route frauds, has as
sumed such tremendous proportions
that Mr.. Garfield cannot now, if he
would, without lasting shame on his adj
ministration, abandon the investigation.
What has been done in this matter, and
what yet remains to be done, have already
stirred up the ire of late Assistant Post
master General Brady and his friends.
They have made declaration that they
are going to fight, and one of the fea-
lures Of the fight will be that Brady will
attempt to show that he sent money to
Indiana to carry the State for Garfield
at the latter's request; that the money
raised for the purchase of that State
was obtained from these same swindling
mail contractors, who were perfectly
willing to pay over part of their fraudu-
lentlY gotten plumber for that purpose,
and that of all these things Garfield was
perfectly cOgnizant More than this, 1t
is positively stated that certain past
transactions in Garfeld's own public ca
Ieer will be collated and made public,
and in this way Brady hopes to show
that if he has acted shamefully, the skirts
Of his investigators and exposers are by
no means unsoiled.
1t is easy to imagine that all these
worries and embarrassments, besetting
Mr.. Garfield so early in his administra-
ton, must have strong tendency to
make the Presidential heart sick. He
has one great consolation, however. No
one will be likely to pay much attention
/ to the charges made against
him by acknowledged participators
in, and encouragers of, public swindles,
unless such charges-as in the case of
General McDonald's whisky ring ex-
posures-are substantiated by undenia
/ bic proofs If he is innocent of Brady's
charges, he can readily convince the
country of his innocence, and good men
everywhere, irrespective of party, will
applaud him for doing his duty, whether
in contending with stalwart section
alists, or exposing and reforming gigan-
tic swindles committed by those in high
official positions.