Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-12-29
Grants influence I'm the Cabinet.


All who had begun to hope that Presi
dent Arthur would follow the conserva-
tive course which Mr.. Garfield had inau'
gurated in the country-just as his career
was so suddenly checked by the bullet
of the assassin-and steer clear Of ultrs
stalwartism and Grantism, have good
reason now to have their spprehensions
revived. The nomination of Timothy
o. Howe as Postmaster General is sufh'
Gent ground for the fear that Granhsm
is by no means dead yet
Mr.. Howe has never given any indl-
cation whatever of fitness for the impor-
tant Office to which he has been called.
OF all places in the executive branch OF
the government, the Post Office Depart
ment has always been regarded as re-
quiring for its head man of executive
ability and business talent, and in both
these qualifications Mr.. Howe is said
to be singularly deficient. Since, there
fore, capacity was not consulted in his
appointment, the question naturally
arises, ''Why was he nominstedS"
So far, but one answer to this ques-
ton has presented itself. Howe is
known to have always been "a truly
stalwart stslwart. and ga Grant man of
the most pronounced type" and it is con-
idently believed that, in his position, he
viii be always faithful to the Grant and
Conkling faction. Hence lis also feared
that, even as Grantism is synonymous
with corruption, so the appointment of
Howe as Postmaster General means a
cessation of the trial, OF, at least, weak
and unwilling prosecution, of the star
route thieves, whose chief counsel is the
son-in-law Of the new Postmaster Gen
eraL Indeed ''it is, says Washington
dispatch, already taken for granted
that the elaborate investigations of the
star route swindles, which have been
going on under the direction of MIR.
James, will now be abandoned, or, if
pursued, will be so conducted as to do
the least possible harm to the Republican
managers"
But it is not alone from the appoint
ment of Howe as Postmaster General
that the country has cause to fear Grants
influence with the administration. 1t is
further stated that Mr.. Arthur desires to
appoint ex-senator Sargent, of Califor-
MIA, Secretary of the Interior, and Viii
liam E. Chandler, of New Hampshire,
Secretary of the Navy. Nothing will be
likely to interfere with either of these
appointments, unless Grant shall decide
10 make a personal effort against Chan
der, because the latter-stalwart as he is,
and as worthy as he is of promotion in
Republican ranks because of the part he
took in stealing the Presidency for
Hayes-was not sufficient of a stall
wart to favor Grants pretensions to a
third term in the Chicago convention. 1t
is thought that Grant will oppose Chan
der on this account, although both
Conkling and "Me Too" favor his nomi-
nation for Cabinet position as being
likely to placate the conservative element
of the Radical party, and it is believed
that should Grant do so, Arthur, to
please him, will even Ego back on" his
New York friends and allies.
II these reports be true, it is consoling
TO know that Mr.. Arthur's subserviency
to Grant will be likely, under existing
circumstances, TO work more harm to his
own administration and his future po-
litical prospects than to the country.
Not only is the Democratic minority in
Congress sufficiently large to defeat all
Grantish legislation, but the people year:
ago declared, in the election of Mr.. Til
den, that they were sick and tired OF
Grantism-a declaration they have re
peated in unmistakable terms on several
occasions since. Dir. Arthur will dc
well to heed these admonitions unless he
Is prepared to sacrifice himself upon the
altar of friendship to Grant and stall
wartism. The further he removes his
administration from the influences OF
the great third termer the better 1t will
prove for his reputation.