Footnote 1345: New York _Tribune_, April 13, 1872.]

More disturbing because more irritating in its effects was the
Administration's disposition to permit the control of its patronage by
a coterie of senators, who preferred to strengthen faction regardless
of its influence. Under this policy something had occurred in nearly
every Northern State to make leading men and newspapers bitter, and as
the years of the Administration multiplied censure became more
drastic. Perhaps the influence of Conkling presented a normal phase of
this practice. The Senator stood for much that had brought criticism
upon the party. He approved the Southern policy and the acquisition of
San Domingo. He indulged in a personal attack on Sumner, advised his
deposition from the Committee on Foreign Affairs, commended the
removal of Motley, and voted against the confirmation of E. Rockwood
Hoar for associate justice of the Supreme Court.[1346] He also opposed
civil service reform.

[Footnote 1346: George F. Hoar, _Autobiography_, Vol. 1, p. 306; Vol.
2, p. 77.]

A statesman so pronounced in his views and in control of abundant
patronage was not likely to change a contest for personal advantage
into a choice of public policies. Such an one appointed men because of
their influence in controlling political caucuses and conventions.
"The last two State conventions were mockeries," declared Greeley,
"some of the delegates having been bought out of our hands and others
driven out of the convention.... I saw numbers, under threats of
losing federal office, dragooned into doing the bidding of one
man."[1347] The removal of officials whose names stood high in the roll
of those who had greatly honoured their State deeply wounded many
ardent Republicans, but not until the appointment and retention of
Thomas Murphy did criticism scorn the veil of hint and innuendo. This
act created a corps of journalistic critics whose unflagging satire
and unswerving severity entertained the President's opponents and
amazed his friends. They spoke for the popular side at the moment of a
great crisis. Almost daily during the eighteen months of Murphy's
administration the press of the whole country, under the lead of the
_Tribune_, pictured the collector as a crafty army contractor and the
partner of Tweed. "I think the warmest friends of Grant," wrote
Curtis, "feel that he has failed terribly as President, not from want
of honesty but from want of tact and great ignorance. I