The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-04-06

Inc political Ana commercial circles OF New
York have been excited by the recent sodden
aud extraordinary cotton Of President Grant
in regard 70 leading Custom House and other
federal oficials In this city. The emotion has
not been confined to the metropolis, but has
extended as far a. some Of our Western coun-
observation-disclosures and Cattaraugus, for exam
ple-wherein at least one Of the parties inte-
rested Is supposed to have commanding
influence. The Union League Club is shedding
tears like school Of crocodiles upon the
occasion, and woe and iamentation are upon
the land Of Israel, st. Patrick and Christopher
Columbus. a
Now, what is all this row about? If we
had Scotchman in the Cabinet he might ask,
''Whats all the steer, Kmmera" The an
swer is simply this - tf
General Graut, exercising his prerogaive
as President of the United States, chooses to
remove Moses II. Grinnell from the position
of Naval O1lcer of New York and to put in his
place Addison 81. Latin. What arrangement
in party machinery would naturally be ex-
pected to arise from a supersedure apparently
so simpler Was not Mr.. Grinnell, with all
his weighty influence, his profuse expenditure
of money for party purposes, his unexampled
popularity among the commercial people of
New York. his tried integrity, his sublime
devotion to republican principles, transplanted
by the President from the higher Office Of
Collector of the Port to the lesser one of
Naval Officer, to make way for sHonest Tom
Murphy, whose political history remains to
be writtenp Why, then, should any excite
ment be created by the removal, by order
of the President of Mr.. Grinnell from
the post of Naval Officer, to give
place to gentleman like the Hon.
Addison II. Latin, of Herkimer district, ex-
member of Congress and brother of a demo-
cratic Inspector of the State Prisons of New
York, as well as wholesale manufacturer Of
glnpowder? Who could so well ill federal
position In this city as the Hon. Mr.. Latin
From his connections could he not send de-
faulters summarily to the place they ought to
60, and keep them there, and elbow up recu-
SAINT party offenders without expense to the
administration Therefore General Grant
was, in his way, wise in making this change.
| Next on the docket we have the removal of
General Palmer, of Cattaraugus, from the
Office of general appraiser of merchandise at
this port, and the selection of William A.
Darling to the post. General Palmer served
| his country well whenever he had chance,
and did not deserve, we think the people will
say, SO summary dismissal from the public
service, unless it is the intention of the Execu-
| tive to appoint him to the superintendency of
the Soldiers Home at Washington. Mr..
Darling will bring experience into his
new position of appraiser of merchan-
disc. He has been member of Com
gress and, therefore, knows the value Of
Congressional and lobby merchandise,
aud his long experience as President Of the
Third Avenue Horse Railroad Company emf
nently entities him to knowledge of the
manner of packing human merchandise 80 that
it will pay when it arrives at its point of desti-
nation. Therefore this change must also be
considered beneficial to the public service.
The matter of change in the Pension
Agency is of small moment, unless General
Grant may think it necessary to have firm
friend in that Office to look after the killed and
wounded in the Presidential race of 1872.
But the above is not all. 1t is whispered
that there will be change in the Postmaster
ship of this city, and that the gallant General
Patrick Henry Jones must 60 by the board
because he has-not because he has not,
but because he has, a brother-in-law. SO the
machine works.
Above we have briefly shown what General
Grant has done and menaces. What's the
upshot2 He means to be commander Of the
political situation, just as he was commander
of the military situation at Vicksburg and
Petersburg. The State election in Connecticut
assures him that he has the support of the
rank and file Of the republican party in the
East-laying aside New Hampshire-and the
local elections throughout the West, even in
the democratic State Of Kentucky, confirm
him in the assurance. That assurance is that
the revolt of Sumner and Schurz and all the
rest has not undermined his popularity in the
estimation Of the people, and that he can take
another run over the Presidential course with
out danger Of defeat.
So far as the State Of New York is concern
ed, the Custom House and other changes men,
toned above indicate that Senator Fenton's
influence has gone up into the clouds, and that
that of Senator Conkling is upon the solid
earth. President Grant has evidently taken
the whiphand in the conduct of his admins
traton. He will make no more compromises.
He will declare that s'those who are not for
him are against him, and, relying upon the CO.
operation and support of the people, he will
change and rechange, model and remodel,
move or remove as he pleases. Let him
now try his hand at remodelling or removing