National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-03-30
The Administrators and The Repub-
Iicau -


The White House correspondent of
the New York Tribune, whose unfortu-
nate explanation of the recent appoint
ment of collector for New York was
the subject of some observations in THE
REPUBLICAN of Monday, has another dis
patch in yesterdays Tribune, in which
our course is complained of. He protests
that some plain and friendly talk In let
ter" of his has been construed into a" dec
laration of war on the faction" defended
by us, whereas it should have been ac-
cepted as only straightforward state
ment of the policy of harmony and fair
play which every civil and observant
man in the country knows the admins
tration is pursuing" We cannot do
better than again to present to our
readers the " straightforward statement
which exhibits Mr.. Smalley's idea of
policy of harmony and fair play. The
following is from the letter which that
gentleman so warmly defends, and it will
be read this time with additional interest
from the fact that its writer now declares
it to be the Presidents own policy. He
said:
"Ahi but the anti machine men get the big
place" say the malcontents. Their best man is
put in the custom house. and will control its vast
patronage" Well, did any one suppose the ad-
minisration idiotie enough to put there one of the
306 who decorated themselves with medals and
pledged themselves at Chicago to keep up the con-
test for Grant until 1884? Self fpresevation is the
first law of nature, and administration can be
expected TO put sharp knife in the hands of a
man who has taken VOW to cut its throat at the
end of its first term. Very naturally and very
properly, say Republicans of all sorts-save few
who cherish old resentments-the President pre-
fers man for collector at New York who was his
friend at Chicago and the friend of the cause he
represented, to one who was not At the same
time he shows by his selection of some CT the most
prominent Grant men for other important offices
that he has no feeling of unfriendliness toward
the element vi n opposed his nomination and
afterward labored zealously and efficiently for his
election. He stands as near to them as to any
body, and they have his confidence and esteem;
but in filling Office which might be made a
powerful political agency he prefers one of his old
| friends to one of his new ones.
There is no room for misconstruction
of this language. It might originally
have been written hastily and contained
more than was intended. Now, upon
reflection, and. we must suppose, upon
consultation with those most concerned,
it is reiterated as being SO clearly right
that "every civil and observant man in
the country" knows it to be harmonious
and fair 1t puts forth as the policy of
the administration the following propo-
sitions:
First" Its first term" is to be used to
protect its second term from miscarriage.
Second-Only an old friend, "a man
Chicago" straight-out anti-Grant man,
is to be deemed worthy and reliable to
fill "an office which might be made
powerful political agency"
Third-Federal offices are to be made
powerful political agencies to insure Gen
eral Garfield a second term.
| Fourth - Because some enthusiastic
| Grant men comforted themselves in de-
feat last June by unconsidered talk of
| him for 1884 it would be "idiotic" to look
forfriendshipfrom any of them, and there
| fore they must constitute a suspected
class.
This is what was put forth by the Iri-
btaae's staff correspondent on Saturday
last, and yesterday declared by him to be
part of the Presidents "policy of har-
mony and fair play" THE REPUBLICAN,
anxious for the perpetuation of the
rule of the party. on the success Of which
depends the future of the Nation, is OPP
posed to this policy. 1t is a policy of
nr,,ol ftitilIessnesS and certain self
destruction. 1t is bold demand for four
years of power, which, until 1884,
must remain to be bestowed by the
people. 1t is policy which quarters on
the people of States not favorable to
second term a swarm of officials to harass
them into submission. 1t is a
policy which assumes that Repub-
licans are swine, to be led by
judicious bestowal of the party offal, in
stead of patriotic and rational men, fol-
lowingthe leaders of their choice. 1t is
a policy with no smack of grace in it,
except the frankness with which it is
avowed, and is call to arms for all who
have souls of their own. If it is the
Presidents policy, as Mr.. Smalley sup
poses, then he has wrecked his admins
tration while sailing out of the harbor.
Under this policy Mr.. Robertson has
been nominated collector at New York.
He was the Presidents friend at Chi
cago" to the extent of being the enemy
of General Grant and Senator Conkling.
No more. He will not "cut the admins
tration's throat at the end of its first
term "-at least not at Senator Conk-
ling's bidding. He is expected to dra-
COON the party in New York. and
to forbid it from ever again following the
lead of Senator Conkling. That Senator
had not expressed any hostility to Gen
eral Garfield for a second term; but then,
having been one of the 306, he must be
's fit only for treason, stratagem, and spoils.
|. Let no such man be trusted"
The nomination is yet to be acted upon
In an interview with the Albany corre-
spondent of the New York Tribune, on
the day of his appointment, Mr. Robert
| son said:
have no doubt about my confirmation Many
of the members Of the Senate-indeed, about half
its members-were my friends when was in Con-
gress Among my personal friends are many of
the Democratic members, so that l shall receive
support from both sides of the House l assume
that shall have the support of both the Senators
from New York. l interpret the nominations of
President Garfield an indication that he intends
to REWARD THE MEN ,cAo made possible his non,iaa
| ton al Chicago!