The Portland daily press., 1877-08-15
WEDNESDAY MORNING. AUGUST Is.

It IN the importation of sugar to Phila-
uelpnia, aud the reason therefore and that
although some of the samplers are entirely un-
skilled and incompetent the administration of
the appraisers office in Philadelphia is gener-
ally satisfactory to the merchants and import
ers."
odd groan loud, wackEord, or did groan soft9"
'Loud," replied Wackford
"Was the boys sorry TO see me in such dr0adfQl
condition or was they glad?"
.aEh?" cried squeers turning sharp round.
'Sorry."
Whether the sugar-brokers. like Wackford,
caught sharp box on the ear from the Com
missioners. b story does not inform us; but it
says significantly next day that in consequence
of the little interest shown there will be no
more public meetings for the PRESENT. L should
thi1k not. Aud July TO- we are told that
while IL is undoubtedly the intention of the
resident to make important changes in the
Federal offices in New York and Philadelphia,
1t is now believed that these changes will not
take place at an early day."
Warned, perhaps by their experience in New
York and Philadelphia, the Reformers seemed
to think that the Boston Custom House under
General Buffers "heDchmen," was, like con-
tention, better left off before it was meddled
with! At present advices, Custom House inves-
tgation seems to have dwindled down into a
series of pleasant and perfectly innocuous sum-
mer trips along the Atlantic seaboard, by var-
GUS deserving members of the Government, > Ind
all admit that the Custom Houses are the cry
foci of political corruption,
do not maintain that the Custom Houses
are free from the faint of original sin or ac-
CURED transgresson, or that honesty is to be
held there at any less price than eternal vigil
ance. But am just as far from believing that
the blushing and dainty delicacy of Cambridge
University was in half SO much danger from
them as Secretary, Schurz feared, or that Har-
ward 9tudPnt nAAdad tn from
or convention till he had fthe assurance of Mr.
Schurz that he should not be contaminated by
the presence there of postmaster's clerk or
custom house official. Indeed, unless current
belied old Harvard, it would be well if her stu
dents whom Mr.. Schurz was elevating upon
such lofty pinnacle of supercilious egotism
and snobbish exclusiveness, would take q few
lessons in prudence and propriety, in dignity
and decorum from post Office and custom house
clerks Even Harvard professors, whose right
eous souls have been wrung with agony over
the iniquites of our civil service, would do
wisely to transfer-but just here comes the elo-
quent three-quarters of-a-column coarse-print
Russell Lowell on his departure to Spain, and
my profane feet draw back from the holy Har-
ward shrine. Ii is an orison consisting chiefly
of ascrption, and it requires Boston culture
and Boston association to enter into it's full
spirit 1t is unhappily quite impossible for the
contemplate even Professor Lowell with that
reverent Awe which inspired the Advertiser,
and gives to the whole sheet pious air. Like
many another prayer it is the medium of much
interesting information. There we learn with
gratitude, not unmixed with astonishment,
that though Prof. Lowell is a man of let
tiers, whose breadth of knowledge and refine.
ment of culture have won the wreath in Aca-
demic HaDs;' yet ''to secure that prize he has
never scorned his lot as an American citizen,
0r To ha SC nbo~o
ter which make unlettered men noble when
they shrink from mo duty" Exalted patriot
to condescend to be born in America, and never
as Horace elegantly remarks, to suspend the
notifying fact upon his hooked nose Sub.
lime phianthropist! to see unlettered men
made noble by heroism which "shrinks from
no duty and not even to affect to despise
them!
And verify Mr.. Lowell has his reward: for
though almost for the first time last summer
shaping political ends and was "a delegate to
the district, state and national conventions, %
this appointment comes as a recognition. moi
OF any political service'-oh, no! A Harvard
professor rewarded for political service? That
be far from the Lordi That is the path which
only war horses tread-''but of his high char.
acter and abiltyp'
But we corruptionists seem to remember that
the late corrupt President paid the same tribute
to virtue in far less suspicious manner. Pres
d
important mission than the one he has accepted
aid rendered it before the Professor had ever
taken part in district, state or national conven-
tions. Let il be distinctly understood that in
Prof Lowelrs own words, am "a-kneelin'
with the rest, yet venture to differ from both
administrations in regrettne that Mr. Lowell's
great abilities were not called into the public
service at home rather than abroad. We want
representatives abroad who are intensely Amer
ican-like Edward Everett and Abbott Law.
and Ganrua n.1loo in nd
George Bancroft in Berlin, and George p
Marsh in Italy and William M DAYTON and
Elibu Washburne at Paris A gentleman who
has "neve- scorDed his lot as an American citi
fZen Is not the precise type of Minister tina,
Americans would choose as their representa-.
tive in foreign lands. We should wish rather
for man who above all things rejoicss in his
lot as an American citizen; who. not blind, mol
bosstful nor arrogant, has yet always digni.
ned conception of our greatness; who, ever
prompt to correct every fault at home, new
stoops to conquer foreign prejudice BY st q
maturing our faults abroad. Mr.. James Russo /
Lowell thought it fit and becoming to stant
urder the shadow of the Apenines and make
the Old World and the New ring with his char
acterizaton of his country as the Land O.
Broken Promise. Mr.. Webster and Mr.. Clay
and Mr.. Calhoun took different view of a Cit
liens duty. They united in deciding that
man who had to foreign Governments criticised
the opposite party and even Indirectly censured
the Administration, was not the man to repre-
sent us abroad; and on this account alone wa
Mr.. Van Buren, promptly rejected by pe1hap
the most illustrious Senate that has ever sat il
this country. The very nations whose counte
nance is bought or sought at such price woult
scorn such means. Layard could not hold hi
post an hour If the air around him was as of
fensive to the pride of Britain as Prof. Lowell
and his admirers for him make his atmosphere
to loyal and sensitive and proud America. I'm
less share in his country's councils develop II
Prof. Lowell truer conception of her characte
he will be minister of the type condemned b.
the simple great ones gone forever and eve
by; a Minister who may impress men with hi
OWN learning and culture, but who will leav
behindnhim an impression not favorable to tn
honor and dignity of the American People.
GAIL hamilton
Aug. 3, 1877.