The Republican journal., 1875-03-25
Custom House Commotion.

NHcH, lo'l JedIS ago, DafnaDdS APP
pointed Rev. Wooster Parker to a respon-
sble position in the Belfast Custom House,
twas felt that a good thing had been done.
But it was nevertheless puzzle, in some
particulars. The appointee was so little
accustomed to the low and crooked WAYS
by which the Collector approaches his
objects, and So abhors all littleness and
meanness, that it was q marvel how Bar
nabas brought himself to desire such an
association. lie could not hope to rise to
the higher plane Of his appointees ideas,
and he ought not tor an instant to suppose
that he could sink him to his own level.
On Thursday last at private interview,
the Collector informed Mr. Parker that
he had decided to make change in the
office he held. The deputy replied in his
usual slow and deliberate way Every
well, MI. Roberts; the matter is in your
hands Barnabas was not satisfied. The
calm and immovable manner of the man
disturbed him; he had expected differ
ent kind OF an interview The Collector
tdgetted about; he was i'll at ease, and
would have given money to be retailing
Goldfish at Stockton, instead of being under
the calm and penetrating eye OF the man
who, though his official subordinate, was
mentally and morally so UNNECESSARILY
his superior Again the Collector spoke
What what shall we call it Shall
say you have resigned?" Again the slow,
curious smile Of the deputy, and the same
calm gaze "Call it what You please, Mr..
Roberts 1t is your matter, not mine z"
Never, probably, did a more baffied and
humbled intriguer retire, than when Bar
nabas closed the door, and took horse for
the Stockton grocery.
| Next day the secret was out Mr.. Eu-
! gene Rust, son of the editor of the Age,
and assistant on the paper appeared on
the street with petition for his own APP
pointment to the place made vacant by
the resignation" of Mr. Parker 1t was
| readily seen by most of those to whom
| the paper was presented that the name of
the applicant had already been sent to
Washington, and that the petition was
simply to ease the matter down.
We may say here that the appointment
of a person connected with the Age is no
more than a just acknowledgement of the
claims Of the local press. The Age has
long labored in the radical vineyard, while
| others have monopolized the fruits there
Of, and has a claim to recognition, which
should have been !favorably considered
long ago. In party equity the editor OF
the Age has a hundred times better claim
to the office of Collector than the individ-
ual who holds it. The manner of making
a place for the Age is the Objectionable
| feature Of the business. 1t was undertaken
in that tricky way which marks every
movement Of the Collector, even when
an open and straightforward course would
answer better.
| AS soon as the circulation of the petition
was known, the friends of Mr.. Parker
started a counter one, which stated that
| he had not resigned, and asking that he
might be retained. This received large
number OF signatures, many OF which had
| appended the explanation that they had
signed the other petition under misap-
prehenson' OF course news of this
cOunterbIast was at once conveyed to the
| Stockton grocery. The audacitv of the
thing was such that Barnabas lost his
| head, and couldn't tell whether he had
! counted two or three dozen eggs ont OF
the basket on the floor OF course he
came straight to Belfast, and such fright
ened visage was never seen on the road
lie interviewed Mr. Parker's friends-he
begged and entreated that there might be
| peace. He invited all concerned to a meet
| ing at the Custom House There and then
the oStensi6}e reason for the change came
| out. Mr.. Parker had not shown sufficient
activity III party matters. In other words,
he declined to do the dirty work of Barna-
| has.
| What compliment was conveyed in
| the accusation! 1t is one of which the
rejected official and all his friends ought
to feel proud But there is no doubt that
the matter of the office is fixed, and that
early in April Mr.. p. will make way for
| the new incumbent.
These are dangerous times for editors.