The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-05-16

rresl0eaS hayes In New AorA'
The acceptance by the new President Of
the United States Of the courtesy rendered
him by the Chamber of Commerce was not
merely q gracious and graceful act, but
wise act in view of the present political and
commercial situation. This visit OF the
President is to be regarded rs something
more than q pleasant exchange Of courtesies
between the official head of the government
and the leading men Of this great mart OF
commerce 1t invites different line OF COM
ment from that which would be pursued in
England on the occasion of q visit OF the
Queen to Liverpool. which would lead to
mere expressions Of loyalty by the local
press. We look upon our Presidents not
as sovereigns, but as responsible public SER
wants. When they hold intercourse with
the people we do not regard it as an act OF
royal condescension, but as means OF fit
their duties by acquainting themselves
with the sentiments and wants ofthe people.
President Hayes could not have employed
the few days he spends with MS to better
advantage than in attempting to learn
the views of the commercial metrop-
oils as to the needs of the country in this
singular conjuncture of affairs We wish
there were no reason to fear that the cour-
tesy due to so distinguished a guest,
and the natural wish of citizens to
make his visit pleasant to him may inter-
fere with the frankness and sincerity which
can alone make his visit profitable. Unless
it proves a source of information, and not a
mere occasion of compliments, it is very
empty and ceremonious affair. 1t would
perhaps be ungracious for gentlemen who
meet the President in social intercourse on
brief acquaintance to use much plain
speaking but the press of the city, with
out violating any rule of courtesy, may give
frank expression to what is moving in the
hearts of this community.
We begin. then, by saying that it is the
sense of the thinking part Of this CONNER
cial community that the government should
exercise sagacious discrimination among
the various useful objects to which it may
direct it's attention and efforts. All good
measures are not of equal urgency and i'm
portance. There ought to be at least as
much sense and discrimination in the
management Of great government as
in the management Of farm But
what should we think of farmer
who did not drop all other work in seed
time and devote his whole attention to
ploughing and planting, OF drop all other
work in the season of harvest in order to
secure his crops before wet weather and
mildew destroyed their value? The COM
mon sense of this intelligent community
repudiates the idea put forth by Secretary
Evarts in his able speech at the Chamber of
Commerce banquet, that it is enough for the
government to be active in forwarding good
measures without stopping to weigh their
relative importance. We cannot conceive
of q position more subversive Of every
principle Of sound craftsmanship. We
suspect that Mr.. Evarts merely intended to
perpetrate witicism; for if he meant all
that his language implied no intelligent
merchant or citizen can indorse his opinion.
We hope that the amusing illustration which
he borrowed from DR.. Johnson was meant
for nothing but an exhibition of witty smart
ness. Nothing could be more preposterous
if it were seriously meant. The idea was
that it really makes no difference which use
full measure is taken up first, and Secretary
Evarts illustrated the idea by quot
ing the saying Of Johnson that if
a man should spend time in delib-
Grating whether he would first put
T., ~;.vI< IL. 1afk 1asv into
on rising in the morning he would retard
the business of the day to no purpose The
wit Of this ingenious illustration cannot
blind us to its fallacy. 1t really makes no
difference whether a man first puts his right
or his left leg into his trousers when he
dresses himself for the day; but Mr.. Evarts
is not the man the public takes him to be
if he thinks there is as little to choose
between public measures as between in
sorting the right or the left leg
into pair of trousers. It is, Of
course, impossible that man of the great
mark Of Mr.. Evarts should believe anything
Of the kind No man of his capacity can
think that oil good measures are Of equal
Importance and that it makes as little diff
ference which has precedence as whether
one or the other leg Of pair of trousers is
drawn on first. This idea is as ridiculous
as it would be to suppose that the question
of ritualism in England deserves to rank
with the question whether the govern
ment shall support Turkey. 1t is pre-
posterous to regard all public ques-
tions as Of equal dignity. To recur
to our agricultural illustration, what
could be more absurd than for farmer, be-
cause he thought it necessary to drain q
swamp or to grub up patch Of Canada
thistles, to keep his men employed on these
improvements in the stress Of harvest? 1t