The New York herald., 1877-10-20
Service to the Country in Lieu Of
Service to the Party.
THE NEW YORK CUSTOM HOUSE.
Complaint Of Displaced South
ern Republican.
A RETURNING BOARD BETRAYED.
FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 10, 1877
TIE NEW YORK NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF THE
ADMINISTRATION TOWARD MR.. CORNELL Ex-
pLAINED-FEELINGs AND PURPOSES OF THE
PRESIDENT.
The New York Custom House appointments will be
sent in carly week. The nomination to the Naval
ONCE is yet settled. Those who believe that there
has been hesitation tmidity on tho part Of the
President about making these changes are mistaken.
He has been slow because he was deter
mined to make thorough work, aud found
it difficult to get the right kind Of men to serve, but
ever tho report Of tho Jay Commission made
change has been fixed fact Tho President intends
to eradicate politics from the New York Custom
House. He regards 1t as vast business establish
ment which ought to be made as efficient as poss-
bio in the collection OF the revenue and to
further the objects OF commerce. Regarding
reform In Custom House management as
OF very great Importance, the President has
taken time In making the changes but the retirement
of the present heads from the first fully decided
on by the administration that it was not thought
proper to interfere with MI. Cornelps political man.
agoment or to insist his resignation OF the chair
manship OF the State Committee, because, as he
In any case TO be dismissed from his place In the
Custom House, TO have urged his abandoning party
management would have been to hold out TO hm
lalse hopes of retention in Office. This Is
one reason why he interered with. But there
was another, and, perhaps, moro important reason.
The administration does not mean to interfere In po-
htcal matters. II rs believed here by some shrewd
and we'll informed Now York friends OF the admins
traon that II it had chosen to exert any such infu
ence pressure has been uncommonly
cised in other days from Washington the course
conduct OF the Rochester Convention could
easily have been changed and such
chosen as majority Of delegates would
hive given hearty approval of the Presidents pol
10y, but no such interference influence at
tempted On the contrary, It carefully avoided
II Is even beloved that friendly offers deci ned
At any rate the administration chose to have wish
whatever in regard to the material the Of the
Convention. Now, to Mr. Cornell be-
lore the Convention met would have been ra-
garded as q species OF political intimida-
tion; hence, friends of tho administration say, he
was allowed to work as he chose until proper
should be selected his successor. That is say,
the republican party is hereafter to ego aono. And
thoro good many people In great distress about
this conclusion hero Congressman remarked the
other day that "this civil service business will
bc tho doath OF the party because how you expect
to organize the party in the country DISTRICTS get up
conventions and appoint delegates without the help
and monsy Of the postmaster 1t Is impossible"
manager They have postmastera" {"
'sOhi" replied the Congressman, .rhese democrats
re always ready for election, but republican
voters will not unless the Postmaster heads
them and manages for them"
This would seem to be admission that the public
has lost Its interest In the republican party. But
some people think that when II has once got used to
"gong alone' 1t will got very we'll without the
postmassers Some Southern republican Congress-
men complain bitterly that their people are SO poor
that tho posmasters and other federal Office holders
ire relieved from the duty OF not only or
yanizng tho party, but contributing the campaign
money, there will be general apathy among the
yoers and consequent defeat, and thore is general
notion that under the Presidents orders the federal
Ofice-hoders will not contribute worth cent, ana In
fact WILL in the majority OF cases. trouble themselves
very little about manipulating primaries ana con-
yentions.
The President is liKcy to have very little If any,
trouble ir having HIS nominations confirmed. A good
many republican Senators privately acknowledge that
they do not to quarrel with the admin so
early this. They add that the personal grievances
or spites Of this that Senator have no proper
place In the Senate, and that 1t cannot be
expected that the whole republican party in the
senate shall kick up its heels because one or two
Senator's happen to be dspeased with the removal Of
Iher friends Thcre is good deal of private growing
and groaning over the President, but somo OF the
early boosters arc already beginning to look
out for clear limo OF retreat, and though
thero is yet fair chance OF trouble 1t
would not be surprising II the whole
republican side OF tho Senate suddenly caved In
when the question of combinations actually
before them, just they swallowed their fury and
meekly confirmed The Cabinet last spring. After ono
day OF mutiny their hearts failed hem and they SUBJ
mttcd to the President when they discovered that
they not either by persuasion blustor, move
him from his fixed purpose.