Year: 1873

Butler undertook to engineer the
measure through the House, just as he
had undertaken Mr. Boutwell's election
to the Senate, as consideration for
support in his campaign for the
Massachuset Governorship


There are many other circumstances
that tend to confirm this showing.
Gen. G rant accepted the Presidency on
purely business grounds. In the
historical review between Gen. Raulins,
representing Grant, and Mr. Forney,
representing the Republican party, the
substance of Grants dickering was,
that he could not afford to take the
Presidency; that is to give up
life position at good salary for four
6ears' engagement at small advance.
Ills conditions were two terms in Office
and an increase of pay 1t is to be
presumed that these conditions were
agreed to, since Gen. Grant accepted
the nomination. Grant took mercan>
tile view OF the situation from the very
first. He had a "corner" on the
Presidency. Ifthe Republicans would d
not accept his terms the Democrats
would. He was at that time incumber
ed with no political principles, and
could be the candidate Of one party as
well as the other. He ives pursuaded
that he was more necessary to the
Republican party than the Republican
was to hln,-and that was perhaps
trae The situation was an excellent
one for grabs, ann there was never a
more inveterate grabber. Gen. Grant
has played the grab-game ever since
he has been in Office. The appointment
Of his relatives and relatives partners
mas been the main feature of it. The
acceptance of gifts from men seeking
Office has been another He has
grown rapidly rich. He is down tor no
charities He gives away no money
He makes the State provide
for his poor relatives. He entertains


less than his predecessors. Ho dead
heads on all the railroads. The
Congressional allowance for the White
House expenses are stated to be more
than double what they were in Lin
coins time. We have recapituateG
these familiar circumstances for the
purpose OF showing, as it seems to us
they do show, that Gen. Grant S
purpose is to make as much money out
of the Presidents Office as possible. In
this view of the case, his personal
responsibility for the salary-grab may
be readily comprehended. 1t was q
chance to clear 100000.


This latest, and apparently most
reasonable, history of the salary-grat
is more humilating to our national
pride, if possible. than any other that
could be offered. But it is also
instructive. 1t proves that the salary
grab was party measure, and that it
was consumated under the whip of the
Administration A It must be ranked
then, among the acts ofthe Republican
party along with Credit Mobilier, the
Smelling swindle, the land-steals, the
Indian frauds, and the other corruption
which it has tostered. The Democrats
, were only too glad to join in for share
of the plunder. As to Gen. Grant
himself this new version is not likely tC
affect his reputation one way or the
other. The man who could see nothing
bad in Credit Mobilier, and could give
q letter of recommendation to Tom
Murphy, and another to retiring
Vice. President who had beer
drawing $1,000 every quarter from o
Government contractor, may certainly
sign a bill to take 100000 annually
out of the peoples pockets in order
that he may himself fob 100000 by
the operation, without doing the least
violence to his former public repute.--
| Tribune.


Mr.. Fredrick Lockyer of London
wrote the pithy verse: