Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-11-21

Collector Murphy has resigned, and the adj
minstration is TINS relieved of one of its heayi-
est burdens. His appointment, when it was
made, surprised almost everybody. Some of
General Grants warmest friends in New York
confessed that it was not only discrcditable but
unaccountable, and it has been pretty generally
believed that the office was given to Mr. Muir
ply, not because he was specially fitted Tor its
proper duties, but because he would use its poll
teal influence effectively in behalf of the party
and the administration. If that was the object
of his appointment, it seems to have failed, as it
deserved to fail. Whatever Mr. Murphy's capac-
ity as a political manager, to reconcile the ieal-
ousies and animosities of New York politicians
was task beyond his powers, even with such
opportunities as he had to reward the faithful
and punish the refractory. The quarels be-
tween the republican factions in New York have
never been more bitter, more scandaous or
more completely destitute Of interest to out
siders, except as they tended 10 weaken
and disgrace the party, than since Mr.
Murphy has been the representative of the ma
tional administration there. And yet we have
heard no charges entitled 10 attention against
The Tribune, which has assailed his personal
character ami political record with virulence
and persistency which is characteristic of that
paper, would not have failed to attack him on
the ground Of official incapacity or dishonesty,
if charges Of that nature could have been sus.
tanned. There are other newspapers also well
informed and watchful, that would have de
lighted to expose any Of his shortcomings.
That no specific accusations of this kind have
been made against man so cordially hated
and so necessarily yilliied as Collector Muir.
ply, is pretty good reason for believing that
there is no substantial ground for them
ii he has, in fact, proved successful
in the discharge of his proper official duties
and political failure, is it too great a stretch
of charity to infer that in making the appoint
ment his qualifications for The former were
chiefly conSidered} We have no personal knowl-
edge Of Mr.. Murphy. He may be as bad a
man as Horace Greeley or the editor of the
Nation say and have persuaded so many other
people to think he is Whether he deserves il
or not he has acquired an unpleasant reputation,
and his name has become the synonym or repre-.
sentative OF improper appointments to office,
Ahd OF the ABUSES OF the civil service. For
this reason he has been rather heavy load for
the administration to carry, and his resignation
will be relief His successor is General Cbes
ter A. Arthur, of whom we have no special
knowledge. He is personally respectable gen
teman, it is said, and probably has the capacity
10 discharge tn duties of his office. Whether
he is morally strong enough to resist the temp
tations incident to that trying position, OR has
character pure and exalted enough to repel the
imputations from which his predecessor has
suffered, must be proved by time. If he is wise
he will make no effort to satisfy the conflicting
claims OF the eontending political factions But
OF what he is, has done aud may be expected to
DO the New York papers will give us half
dozen accounts to day, differing widely from
each other, and all authentic.