New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-03-04
THE FAITH OF BOSTON.


There were enthusiastic persons who thought
| that new party came into existence amid
| the throes by which the Senate gave Boston
its new Collector We may be permitted to
doubt this We see a good deal of indlgna-
ton in the usually loyal and well-disciplined
Boston press. There is even some talk of re-
volt about the dinner-tables Of Beacon ST,
and whispers of instruction disturb the lux
urious atmosphere of the Somerset Club. But
there have been disgusts before Simmons, and
they have died away. We do not mean TO say
that Mr.. John NJ Forbes aud his troop of pas
sionate pilgrims are chieken-livered and lack
gall to make their service of the AdmiDistra-
ton bitter. But they have thoroughly
broken cOnscences, in matters of politics,
and it will take more than one cutting
such as they have received to rouse
them to that point of independent criticism
where they can see, and seeing can denOuncc,
the source Of all their woes. They passed
through New-York the other day. a mourning
band but the eyes of their understanding
were not yet opened to see anything beyond
the malgn face of the Essex Statesman bloom
ing with unhallowed mirth over their discom-
future. If they could buffet Butler they would
no sign that their loyal fancies stray. How
can their hurts be cured or avenged until they
know what has hurt them7 They are as help
less, in their present attitude, as the victims
of that gentle end JOYOUS advertisement of The
early kings of France called Fools Fights
where clowns and idiots were brought blind
fold into the ring to hammer and stab at
each other with no malice and no knowledge.
The fighting was desperate sometimes, but the
unfOrtunates engaged in it had no more thought
of treason to tho monarch who looked on and
enjoyed it. than Mr.. Forbes and his Brahmin
associates exhibit toward the President who
brought them to Washington and sent them
home again, on what, with due respect for the
Back Bay, we must call a FOOLS GRAND.
Why should they have expected to prevent
Mr.. Grant and Nj. Butler from doing what
seemed profitable in their sight? The Boston
CollectOrship liz no tritle. 1t is not to be
thrown away on mere considerations of 1T
ness in these days of mOieties and Sanborn
contracts II is one of the things which are
needed for two purpOses-to make money and
to make votes. The President has no objection
to amusing Mr.. Eaton and Mr.. Curtis and other
naive champions OF sweetness and light by an
occasional appointment to places he does not
need. but when they NEEDLE with business"
they are soon taught better. The Senate are
like unto him. They made wry faces over
Judge Williams, but did not reject him. They
would have confirmed Mr. Cushing but for
friendly note to JEFF. Davis. But what thor
ough paced rogue has come before them with
a clean political record without prompt vindi-
cationf What does Mr. Forbes suppose Sen
ators Conklng, Morton. Logan. and the bear
ers of the carpet-bag from the South care
whether an appointment is seemly or not, 50
long as the President wishes it, and the can
ddate is smart poticiani Mr.. Conkling.
who Is perhaps gifted with more original
Instincts of honesty than tho rest, owes his
intimacy with the President and his leader
ship of the caucus to the fact that when Mr..
Tom Murphy was nominated "a Collector for
tlhs PQft and decent people protested,