The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-12-22


President Hayes in New York.
The Presidents engagement to visit New
York as the guest OF the Union League Club
was made several months ago, before
unpleasant complications had arisen be-
tween him and his political party. Whether
the invitation would have been rendered
now, had there been no pre-existing engage
ment is point on which it is needless to
form a judgment Certain it is that he is
q not less welcome nor less honored guest
in consequence Of anything which has hap
pened since the invitation was rendered
and its acceptance deferred. 1t is possible
that there might have been some hesitation
in Offering an original invitation now
from sentiment of delicacy toward the
President The troubles which have arisen
to cloud the serenity OF the administration
had their origin in this State and culmi-
mated in the defeat of important nomina-
tons for the Custom House in this city
Under these circumstances an original invi-
tation would not, perhaps, have been given,
lest it should be regarded as emanating from
one section OF the republican party and con-
strued as n rebuke to the other. Happily
no such differences can be drawn from an
invitation which was rendered and ac-
cepted before the recent alienation. We
trust this visit of the President will have
soothing effect. Under the circumstances
of the invitation nobody can think that he
was brought here or came here to beard or
DEFY his opponents or to strengthen one Of
the republican factions, and as his visit has
only social significance VIC are confident
it will do good. Neither his republican nor
his democratic opponents can so far forget
themselves rs to mar the Inequalities of this
pleasant occasion, and mutual exchange
Of courtesies at this festive season of the
year should have sedative influence on
the political passions that have been
aroused.
1t is for the common good of the whole
country that these unfortunate differences
should be arranged. Mr.. Hayes must be
President OF the United States for several
years to come, and as that office was created
for the public benefit it would be misfor-
tune to have it's usefulness nullified for so
long period. President Hayes may have
been wrong on some points, but he is con-
spicuously right on other points of
far greater consequence. Both himself
and his opponents have attached undue
importance to his peculiar methods for i'm
proving the civil service. His manner of
approaching that subject is too trivial a
question to occupy much attention when
the country is threatened with other dam
gers of the most alarming magnitude. At
any rate, the people of this commercial
metropolis take only languid interest in
what the President has been attempting to
do in the Custom House. but they look with
the profoundest concern on the infinite mis-
chief which menaces the country from the
wild financial schemes which are agitated in
Congress and against the success of which
the President is the only barrier. Our mer-
chants are we'll enough satisfied with the
administration of the Custom House. but
they dread rs an irreparble public calam-
ity the success of the two financial bills
which have passed tho House and are pend
ing in the Senate.
This civil service quarrel, which is mere
controversy about means and methods, not
about ends, ought to be hushed and
dropped in view of the great dangers which
threaten the country The Presidents
views being entirely sound on the most
urgent and most formidable of all the ques-
tons which now occupy public attention,
it is for the general interest that his in
fuence should be strengthened in every
practicable way until commerce and the
public credit nre rescued from impending
danger. Whether the customs are collected
by Mr. Arthur or by Mr.. Roosevelt is q
point Of little consequence but it is Of
infinite consequence whether they are to be
collected in silver or in gold. When the
ship is drifting rapidly on the lee shore Of
reputation and dishonor it is no time to
be quarrelling over petty points of etiquette
in assigning the duties of the crew.