New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-12-25
ResDonse bu The Tribune.

response ~ INC IFtOhHc.
l. We, too, bold that there is nothing wrong
in the fact that the CustOm-house officials arc
mainly Republicans, and insist that they shall
not be abused for friendship TO the Admins
tration of Pres ident Grant. So far, yOn see,
we are entirely agreed Then on what do we
diff"r7
THE TEIHl ~ objects TO the systematic. re-
lcntless prosci Upton of those Republicans who,
in the slang of the day, are termed Fenton
men," of these, not less than one hundred
beginning with Gen. f.. A. Merritt, Naval
Officer, and Gen. f. w. Palmer, Appraiser,
and running down to low-water mark. have
been elected from their places, because OF
their preference for our later rather than our
earlier chosen Senator No one accused them
of incapacity or infdelity to their duties; yet
they have been hunted down and tOmahawked
not here only. but all over the State, because
they belonged to the same wing" Of the Re-
publican party with TnE TRIBUNE. Some peO-
ole like this: others do MT we are counted
with the latter.
II. AS to manifestng their friendship to the
Administration We consider that entirely
right, when it is not done at the expense OF
the Treasury. But when three or four hundred
Custom house officers are distributed all over
the State, as was the case last Fall, expressly
to pack Republican State Convention with
delegates subservient to the COnkling- Murphy
facton-thcse Custom house officers regularly
drawing pay from the Treasury for the work
that they arc persistently ncglecting-we object
TO that as a fraud on the Government and a
gross wrong to those thus unfairly Overrulcd.
Cur last two Republican State Conventions
were thus carried and controlled and We do MT
pretend to like it. Those who have their liv-
ing to earn are most unfairly pitted against
faction which pays its recruiting and drill
sergeants out of the Federal purse. Our po-
litical education would have constrained us to
deprecate this, if our sense OF justice had not
already done 30. Just consider these extracts
from our old Log Cabin of 1910:
1.-THE President OF the United States has with dis
oi, ora Of the General Government taking
occas active parts IL the elections Of pub
lie functionares whether Of the General State Gov
ernmens. Ere ION Of elections being essential to the
mutual independence of Government, and Of the differ
ent branches Of he same Government 30 vitality cher
ished by Of Constitutions 1t 10 deemed improper
for officers depending the Executive Of the Union TO
attempt control influence the free exercise OF the
elective right. 1t is expected that officer will attempt
the Business OF electioneeng being deemed incon
sisent with the spirit OF the Constitution and his duties
-(TBos JEFFERSON Circular to ODicers, 1900.
1.-THE recent demonstrations Ofupubic sentiment in
scribe on the Executive Duties In characters too
egble to be overlooked the task Of reform, which will
require particularly the correction Of those abuses that
have brOughthe patronage Of the Federal Government
into conflict with the freedom OF elections" lGen.
Acknowledgment Address, 1879.
"When l Ofiice-holder interfering in elections,
IT occurs to that lie IL thinking Of his salary and his
bread, and is therefore unit adviser Of the people,"
FELIX GRUMPY, 1925.
1.-THE Executive shoHld attempt TO influence the
elections either by the People State Legislature nor
suffer the officers under his control to take part In
them other than by giving their own votes when they
poSscss the right Of voting" Gen. wA. H. HARRISON
Letter TO Hdrmdr DENNY
Does not THE Sdratogian consider the above
sound and wholesome doctrinei THE TRIB-
UNE, having been reared in that faith,
certainly does.