National Republican., 1877-04-21
THE DEMOCRACY AND THE NEW
YORK CUsTOMHOUsE.

YORK CUSTOMHOUSE.
1t ID q remarkable feature Of politics in
the United States that the party unbidden
at the polls always seems to regard itself
charged with the duty OF furnishing the
tribunes of the people to protect them from
the expressions of power and to defend
their liberties against the encroachments
Of misgovernment In fact 1t would sp.
pear TO be the general construction of the
defeated hordes that they constitute the
people, and that they are naturally at war
with the Administration, as If 1t were some
monster that had crept into the public
household In consequence Of their neglect
and which is to be guarded with never.
tagging watchfulness and cast out at the
first opportunity. Hence II Is that no mat
ter what course Of policy may be adopted
by the President and his advisers. though
never so wise and statesmanlike, 1t Is re.
ceived with suspicion and pursued with
detraction; and, so far as within the com
pass Of misguided zeal to accomplish, con-
signed to the general reprobation ss faulty
or fragrant unwise or iniquitous; but Ger.
tainly without merit, even II protected
from such positive condemnation by reason
of it's innocence.
; So now the Democratic party North
bss been unable to find any measure Of the
President matter for approval. His South.
ern policy. although good enough In itself,
is a fraud on the principles Of his party. an
alterthought and was only undertaken as
a means Of securing his Office. His civil
service Is sham, and means ultimate out
rage on those now in office by setting the
brand Of ineficiency upon them In their
removal, when they are just as competent
or more 80 than those who will be put in
their places. And SO of every other pro.
fession on his part.
The last complaint we have seen comes
from the Democracy Of New York,
in respect to the investigation of
the New York custom-house by the
Secretary of the Treasury, and 1t is
of such character as to impress observers
that it proceeds from deeper interest in the
affairs to be inspected than that party has
been supposed to have. 1t would naturally
create the impression that Collector ARTHUR
has been trading with the local Opposi.
ton in some unclean way, and that they
are alarmed lest Il will lead TO disclosures
which will develop the uncleanness and
dIsplace favorite henchmen. Having nc
confidence in the civil service reform Of the
| Administration, they are convinced thai
the chief end Of the proposed investigation
Is to clear the customs Of Democratic con
tact. This Ii the marrow that is touched,
and this is why they regard the whole
proceeding as abnormal and illegitimate
But we can assure those most concerned In
the matter that If they do happen to b
found filing places in the custom. house
wearing Democratic feathers. aud have q
the same time such records for industry
honesty and ability as to warrant their re
tention, the party DETECTION recognized viii
not prejudice their positions. Let then
possess their souls in peace and be faithful
to duty. Nothing will happen to MAKE
vacancies for political reasons, and they
and their party will be compelled to yield
reluctant assent that the reform Is no
wholly delusion. And II things SO result
that noted reformer, Mr.. FEDNANDo WooD
will be spared the Herculean task to which
he has been called, of providing som,
means, through the instrumentality Of tn
next Congress, for the collection Of tn
revenue In New York without asking pri
vate citizens Of that city to lay aside thei
commercial pursuits for the purpose O
attending to it.
The argument against the action Of tn
Department is that there is a sworn col
lector appointed at large salary, wit
numerous assistants, whose duty 1t Is t
look after all matters under his charge, an
he Is responsible on his bond for all wron
perpetrated in his office. But why ther
should be any such strenuous objection b
the Democracy to an examination into th
condition and practices of the office 1t
hard to discern, unless, as we have pr
mised, there Is something putrid to be g,
crvated, in which that party Is pdrticsI
minis. AID Il would teem tia, II