The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-08-28
New York Letter.
NEW YORK, Aug. 26,

~" = O]sAAt 1AoSo' Not AOsSs
All signs indicate a rapid declension in the
prospects of the Greeley conspiracy. Even
the Tribune, whose boastfulness has hitherto
been amusing, utters wall of distress. For
a revolution, the movement is about as
sickly an affair as can well be conceived of.
The coalition has ceased to be aggressive, and
stands upon its defense. The ammunition
has given out. The foolish gable about
"nepotism," gift taking'' and the like has
become nauseatiug by too frequent repetition,
and no longer serves the purposes of the Gree
ley organs or stump speakers.
The wearisome sameness of the charges
against the administration which constitutes
the staple of the whole round of Greeley
speeches would make them tedious to read or
hear, if there was any truth in them. But
inasmuch as they have all been disproved by
ample testimony the constant repetition O
them is an uncomfortable tax upon the public
patience and credulity.
The reason why this combination of disaf-
fected Republicans and Democrats makes so
little Roadway is that the people everywhere
are satisfied that the government was never
better administered than since Gen. Grant be-
came President. In every department of af-
fairs economy and efficiency are apparent
The contrast between Grants administration
and JohDson's is striking. Under johnson
we had excessive expenditures, numerous de-
falcations, a terrible waste of revenue through
the misconduct of Collectors, and general
decentralization of the civil service. All this
has been changed. Under Gen. Grant the
expenditures have been rapidly curtailed, the
revenues fully collected, the johnson default
ers weeded out and brought to punishment,
and the civil service purified. There are no
sinecure offices. Every man in the employ of
the government is C, mpelled to earn his pay.
l know it has been the fashion of Demo-
cratic orators to point to the New York Gus
tom House as perfect sink of corruption,
and yet if you applied to any candid man who
has been accustomed to do business with it
for period of years extending through Dem
ocratic as well as Republican administrations,
he will tell you frankly that its management
was never less obnoxious to criticism than
during the past three and half years. 1
heard the largest importer in America remark
within two months that ",chateper they
might sag Of Mr.. Murphy, he made as good
Collector, in business point of uie,u, as ace
euer had" Your readers have not forgotten
what hue and cry was made about the gen.
eral order business, and Leet and Stockings
emoluments therefrom. Well, perhaps they
do not all know that this general order bust
ness has been recognized perquisite of the
revenue service under every Democratic ad-
ministration since Andrew Jackson's time
So far from defending it did all could to
prevent its perpetuation, and never ceased to
urge its abolition. But it is one of the last
of the old abuses which have been swept
away under the reformatory spirit of Gen.
Grants Presidency.
In the matter of appointments it is not al
ways feasible to ignore the claims of appli-
cants whose demands are based on other
considerations than those Of especial fitness.
Let me take case in point. Yesterday l
had occasion to transact business at the Gus
tom House. At one of the desks I found a
clerk writing with his left hand. Of course
he could not transact business as rapidly as
an able bodied man, for his right arm had
been dmputated at the shoulder. This poor
fellow had undoubtedly received his appoint
ment be cause he had been mutiated on the
field of battle, while fighting for his country
l confess felt gratifed that the Collector
had preferred this MANNED soldier to two
armed civilian, and yet the thought at once
arose in my mind, what would Trumbul or
Schurz say to this obvious violation of the
cardinal principle of fitness in the dispense
ton of patronage? True, the gentleman was
intelligent, affable and competent, and no
doubt does his duty faithfully, but then it
must have been an act of favoritism to APP
point one-armed man at all. Besides, is
not the presence of a wounded soldier at a
desk in the Custom House perpetual re-
minder of the strife between brethren which
it is the duty of patriotism to forget as speed
lily as possible.
1t must be admitted that there are many
MANNED heroes on duty in the N. Y. Custom
ployed by the government in that important
branch of the public service who does not
perform the duties assigned to him.
Contrast this state of things with the Tam
many style of doings, to which those reform
ers { p invite us. Among the sources of Mr..
Tweed's accumulations of money were the
pay-rols of the Departments whercon were
inscribed the names of thousands of retainers
who never did an hours work for the city.
And yet we are coolly invited to turn over
the government of the United States to the
Democracy. Mr.. Greeley's ban
ner, with his likeness upon it, swings in front
of Tammany Hall, and the organs OF that
gigantic temple of robbery are clamerous
for his election. The Liberal Republicans OF