, 1874-02-25
THE CASE or eIh1MoNs.

Boston strongly illustrates tho degradation of
tho Civil Service to the purposes OF more per-
sonal strifo. Judge Russell was Collector Of
and satisfactory of'cor. Suddenly ho Was re-
moved, and one Bmmons Il local political
atrllsor, was nominated to tho sonato as hiB huc~
cesBor. 1t thon became known that tho prosl-
dent had made tho ehango ut tho request OF Bon
Dntlor, who wanto1 q personal frienl in tho !
Office. Tho other members Of Congress from |
Massachusetts Immediately flsod protest aga;nat
Simmons, booauao ho was friend Of Dutlor and !
tho enemy Of Dutler'a enemies. Tho opposition |
to Simmons confirmation lna included noarly all
tho business mon of Boston, 1nainly FOR the aemo
reason. It Is demanded that tho President With
draw tho nomination, because tho nominee will
uBo his patronage md powor to compel tho Re-
publican pnrty Of Massachusetts to nominate
Butler for Governor.
Woak rs NO may suppose tho President must
havo boon WHOM ho removed competent officer
III order to appoint friond OF Butler, how much
weaker witt ho appear 1t ho ~ithd,awa tho uoni-
ratton for tho sumo roason. What las tho Col
lector of tho Port of Doaton, or of any other
port, or what has any other Federal officer, to do
with packing conventions, and buying Delegates
for or against any candidate for apy oflco to bc
elected by tho people? The Collector OF tho
Port Of Boston has cortaln specified duties to
perform, nnd tlcy arc purely Of business chas-
actor. Officially he has no moro right to lug lis
s.>kr &1.n al - n ~
massachusetts then he bus to Interfere in the
election Of King Of tho Sandwich Islands.
Should ho uso hiR Office in tlat way, he ought to
DO dismissed. At tho last Republican State
Convention iii Massachusetts,, high ground was
taken on this subject, md yot, carefully con-
aidcred, it was not very high ground aftor al.
The Convention protested against the practice
of poraons holding Federal Office uBing tho
patronage and influence Of those Offices to Hooure
tho nomination by tho Republican party Of cor
| tain persons for State Offices; such con-
| duct they certified TO tho President
ought to seouro tho dismissal Of tho Offenders.
The Convention failed to declare that tho inter-
feronco OF Federal oflcoholders in State politics.
|
popular elections, was such departure from
official duty as should demand their dismissal
The high.toued morality Of that Convention
sought to draw a distinction between an otficia
Interference to detormine d contest within tht
Republican party and tho fur moro offensive
and disreputablo interference to control pop
ular election. They denounced the mote in Boz
Dutlor's eye, aud troatod with Indifference th
beam in their own. They wero willing to hav'
tho corruption funds, tho blaoknluil, and all th
candidates; all they objected to was the use @
= these Same means to control tho nominations Q
tho party. Their declaration Of official rectltud
was fashioned to meet On abbreviated morality
aud tho present complication is one Of tho re
suits Of their shortcomings.
Ben Butler aoelis higher position thnn an
ho has yot attained. He resorts naturally to til
, Same mems that orc used BY every other Coz
erossman and Senator who hicks the person!
I | mort and qualities to recommend him to publ
/ favor. Just ut this time the "purty in III
noiB is becoming distracted over tho choice {
United States Senator to DO mado throo yoa1
l. hence. Tho Federal Offices aro distributed
: meet that contingency, and oven tho question
: prosecuting and Furnishing defaultors depent
: to great oxtont upon tho other quostle
n whether the defaultor supports this or that mu
n for souator in 1877. These aro the qualities
II tions for holding Federal office in Illinois, al
# also i'll Massachusetts. Why should not Butt
l. have an equal chance with tho others It W
10 not do to say that Butler is opposed by IL
is respectable" people Of his State, b
It cauae there may bo difficulty
n drawing tho lino betwcon those WHO 4
~ respectable and those who are not. He has t!
r confidence of the President to u greater exto
q. thau any othor man in Congress from Now u
ss gland, mud TINT ought to make him respeotabl
n III official circles he outrauka his oaemics. WI
H. should tho President prescribe Ills friend Sit
t. mons, aud why should Simmons be proacrlb
because ho is the frloul Of t-o Prosdon
TO friend?
a If those gentlemen In Massachusetts want
H. form in official appointments, thoy must ia
III higher ground than they did at tho Worces
r. Convention Of lust yoar. They muht donoul
no the whole syatom upon which Fuderal appol
IL 1aents are made, md they must insist upon
!: solute uon-intsrforonco by Federal officers VI
Y. either party conventions or popular o'octio
It Lot tho Collector OF Boston attond to bis dut
10 at tho Custon-Houso and lot tho people attic
to their elections. Thou they can protest II
h. somo deceucy against such transactions as
OF removal Of Russell aud tho appointment Of 81
mona.
+, stntiHticlans relying OH figures that never
:" give u man an average Of ono yoar OF 1nar1
''r felicity botoro Lo dies, ID tilyorcoa or consigt
'tA to tho lunatio asylum. Tl!oao NOT too gener'
ng statistical opportunities hayo boon grossly :
ce ungalla1ltly neglected. Garrott j. Danta a m
,a lo.agod mau Of Now Jersey, married tho Il
w -. Of hs ohoico on Saturday, naado Ills will the
~, following, and hung himself Oh Monday me
I'D lug, thus intlmaliug to the world in general,
or- Lis vito IN particular that two daya' oxporie