The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-07-04
IN. Y. Tribune.l
Gall HamiltOn's Eleventh letter.
The ApPoiuiment of MsrshaI ouglass--
Ex-Gov, Noyes and Ihe French Mission
-Gen. Garfield for speaker-Ths Use
of Wine at the White House--Mr.
Evarts' Adviee--TheI Presidenrs Way
OfGoing 10 Church
To The Editor Of the Tribune

OfGoing 10 Church.
To The Editor Of the Tribune.
SIR: "Mr. Frederick Douglass" says one
reformer, making futile lurch after conss-
tency, 'was appointed to office on account of
his acknowledged ;ftness and not from senti-
mental considerations
Apart from the question of color and
caste" says Reformer Number. Two, vigorous
ly and cheerfully, but unconsciousy knocking
his predecessor into that picturesque logical
discontinue popularity known as cooked hat,
"Douglass's nomination Is opposed for business
reasons. He certainly is not good busnes man
has not much familiarity with the duties of the
position, is not acceptable to the officials with
whom he will have to deal, is not a practical
executive man, and is untitled by reason of age
and physical condition to perform the active
duties of the position"
Which are we to believe? Perhaps Reformer
Number Three can smooth us out.
Frederick Douglass" says the Congrega-
tionalist, promises to be good officer. The
opposition to him among the lawyers is rapidly
lent and capable deputy"
That is, his especial Fitness consists in ac-
cepting the office, receiving the salary, and ap-
pointing another man to do the work! Which
shows past doubt that the colored mau has al
ready learned the arts of civilization.
at is sad TO think" calls aloud the Cincin.
natl Reformer, that Boss Shepherd will prob
ably not be Consulted constantly by Carl Schurz
as to the sff airs of the District"
.It is further urged against Douglass" an
swers through his misty shroud the Boston
Reformer, with austere that he has been
couspicuousy identified with the old District
Ring in Washington, and in pub
lie speech made himself a special
herd is doing all he can to secure his con-
| firmatop." As Mr.. Schurz is in perfect har-
mony with the President, as the President has
| appointed Mr.. Douglass, as Mr.. Douglass is
| identified with Boss Shepherd. as Boss Shep-
| herd is not identified with Reform but with
| the worst of the old Grant methods, it looks as
| If our Reform Administration were sitting
| round playing Hunt the slipper, with Reform
for the slipper and it is difficult to guess under
| which gentleman il. is hidden at any given mo-
| ment. The President himself makes no bones
| about it. In his address to the colored people
he walks fiat-footed over fitness and fidelity,
< ard blandly says, as reported:
| The appointment of Mr.. Douglass. to which you
REFER has more significance than personal remem-
brance of that distinguished gentleman. 1t should
be accepted as an indication of purpose to advance
the equal rights OF the people of the entire country.
| A very noble purpose, and perhaps not bad
way of indicating it; only it is politics, and not
/ Civil Service Reforml
| "EIenry S. Sanford is me ntioned as certain to
| receive diplomatic appointment perhaps the
| French mission, unless Gov. Noyes insists up
| on it." Insists upon it' Under which rule of
the Civil Service Reform? Now we see that
| Gov Noyes has received the French Mission.
SO it seems that he did insist upon it. What
constitutes Gov. Noyes fitness for the
his superiority over Mr.. washburne?
| Does he say his prayers in French
| and does that make it politics for Gen. Grant
| to nominate his right-hand man to the FreHch
| mission, and Civil Service Reform for Presi-
| dent Hayes to nominate his?
| June 13, we are told that Sin view of the
threatened sgitations in France, it is the desire
| of the Government to haye Minister Noye3 to
repair to his post at as early day as possible"
| But as Mr.. Washburne went so reputably, not
| to say brilliantly. through the threatened and
| actual agitations of France in her late war, it
| would seem to be the natural instinct OF Civil
Service Reform to keep the tried and faithful
| servant there at this critical time instead OF
| hurrying on new man, who at best is but an
/ experiment.
On March - the Reform Journal thinks that
public virtue requires to be encouraged by the
| announcement that "the President will take
| no part in the elections for Congressman in
Ohio; as if this were a new departure and
| our Presidents usually had stumpedi their States
for Congressman and led the torchlight process
siOns.
| But just as bird whirring up at your feet
| leads you to hunt for nest whose existence
/ you would never have suspected had birdie sat
still in it, so this superhupus little announce
| ment ttuttering up from the Newspaper col
| umns leads us into "stlll hunt for the real
| fact concealed in the grass.
And here is the nest. The very same jour
| nal OF the very same date, with lapse of MEM
| ory which argues for itsi reasoningi faculties
| perpetual holiday, remarks calmly, without the
| smallest sign of mental disturbance:
Gen. Gar6ed's friends regarded his prospects tor
election the United States excellent but to their
surprise, he has to-day stated that he is no longer
Is,lnt, nf hfa Ia,lt. an
autograph letter from President Hayes telling him
that the Republican, party needs his services as
| him to remain as persoal favor,
A little later the same stanch RefOrmer an
| nounces that "GeD Garfield is the recognized
Administration candidate for Speaker"
So this Administration which will take no
| part in the elections for Congressman in Ohio
| assumes to say what man shall go into the Senate
| and what man shall stay in the House. and
| what man the Republican Representatives in
| the House shall take for their leader? do not
attribute so great an impertinence and impro-
priety to the President, but the Reformer does;
and without protest; and in the general
| Renaissance Of Cancellation he is bound to con-
cliate these two .conflicting statements; and
while his hand is IN, perhaps he will be 80 good
| as to inform US whether it is usual for Presi-
dent to designate the leader of the House of
| Representatives, or whether the House
| generally designates him itself by virtue of
his own abilities and the free consent and
l CuOC6 OF DIS peers, anu whether ITeslueuJ
Hayes in designating Gen. Garfield as leader
and Speaker of the House of Representatives
did so in the interests of politics in those OF
Civil Service Reform. Perhaps he will at the
same time tell us whether he would consider it
| on the whole an edifyipg spectacle for the
Republic to see the Executive stretching out
| its hand into the Legislative Department and
| putting down one aud setting up another. Or
| would he like to have Senate and House both
| "get out of the gangway" and give place to
L Of GoVarnmant N IL
| passionate devotion to the Administration it
| would seem that nothing less than the entire
| abolition of Congress and the absorption of all
| power into the Presidency would crafty his
l intense desire for self-immolation.
| Possibly, as we are cautiously treading along
| the outmost verge of Civil Service Reform, we
| may be allowed to step for moment into tae
| surrounding region of morality and religion,
and beg our keformers to settle once once for all the
/ much-vexed wine question. We are called
upon to admire the Noble Stand taken at the
| White House, and we are not only ready but
eager to admire; but we wish to know what it
| is that we have to admire. The Congregation
| alist is glad to see our President and his ex
| cellent wife laying out a sound temperance
/ policy for the state dinners at the White
| House But they are not alone in the policy.
| President Pierce and Mrs. Pierce never had
| wine glasses set at their plates" l have
| never before seen President Pierce pointed
out as bright and shining temperance light;
but better late than never. The New York
] Methodist Conference unanimously passed the
l following resolution:
/ Resolred That we. as q conference, express our
gratitude the President of the United States and
/ to Mrs Haves for banishng the OF intoxicating
drinks from the Executive Mansion, and that a copy
this resolution be forwarded to the President and
/ Mrs. Hayes.
| But is it altogether certain that this is quite
1 comfortable reading for the President OF the
United States and Mrs. Hayes? The reporter
l of the resolution adds his Endorsement: "The
President has set an example worthy of imita-
ton by all Presidents and State Governors"
But really when you get down to it, the Noble
Stand, as presented by the Reformers, seems
1 to be in the nature of dissolving view; some-
thing like Alice-in-W Wonderland's Cheshire cat,
which vanished as you gazed upon her. till
there remained nothing but grin. First, all
l wines were banished from the White House.
Then all wines are banished from the White
House except when the Grand Dukes of Russia