National Republican., 1877-07-23
NEW YORK POLITICS.
INTERESTING INTERVIEW WITH
GEN. JOHN COCHRANE.

VIII the Empire state De Carried by the
Democrats or by the Republicans Next
FalI?-A Change of Management In the
| Now York Custom-Housc Indispensably
| Neccsr ,ry-Many Wise and Valuable sug-
gestions
A representative of TIE REPUBLICAN visit
ed Gen. John Cochrane, of New York, who is
spending a few days in tho city, for the pur-
pose Of ascertaining his views concerning the
political situation In the Empire State. Gen.
Cochranc is among the best known public men
in New York. lie has held many positions Of
honor and trust, including those of attorney
general, surveyor of the port member of Con-
gress, &c, in all of which he has been dstin-
guishcd for the zeal, honesty and ability which
characterized his official conduct. He was
strongly identified with tho Greeley move
ment, and IL to-day the head and front Of the
Liberal party in the Empire State, which cor
daily supports the administration of President
Hayes. The following was the interesting con-
versation which took place between tho Cen
eral and our representative yesterday:
Reporter. What eau you report Of the con-
dition of political affairs in the city of New
| York;
General Cochrane. am not perhaps capable
Of informing you accurately, but have an
impression that the politics, | mean those Of
the Republican party, in New York arc In an
unusually healthy condition.
Reporter Indeed! You surprise me, for we
have been supposing the Republican party in
New York to be greatly confused, II not di-
vidcd.
Gen. C. Evidently you comfound the party
with its leaders. They are as adverse TO each
| other rs are their personal ambitions. Hither-
to they have apportioned among themselves
the broken parts of the party strength; and so
| with votes enough TO establish the party at
any time, with handsome majority in the
state, the jealousy and lukcwarmness of this
or that partisan leader has frequently dcci-
mated the party ranks and made them an
easy prey to the Democrats. The party, how
ever, apart from the leader, Is not only undi-
vided, but, in unanimity of opinion and cor
diality of support to tho Administration
and it's policy, thorough and energetic.
Reporter. Still must express my surprise
at the picture which you present of the hope
full condition of the Republican party in New
York hitherto rent and humblcd by faction
and defeat.
Gen. &. Don't wonder at your incrcdu-
lity. Yet, | repeat what have said. SOu
should remember that for these half dozen
past years the Republican party-cspccially in
I ic State of New Sork-hus been subjected 10
severe lessons. The Liberals taught the fist
o them at Cincinnati in lS72, a memorable
protest against the carpct-baggcr, pccu or,
ie dissolute iniuion of Office, and the currup-
ton which then p2rvddcd the Government.
The platform in Cincinnati, in 1SI6, and the
nomination upon II of Rutherford Is. Hayes,
signiicd that the party had piofitcd by its cx-
pcrcnce. The letter of acceptance Of thp cln-
didatc his subsequent election, and his inau-
gural address, inspired the people with high
hopes of escape from official corruption. And
now the proofs of his sincerity OF purpose and
of his zeal for reform assure them that day
| nf mill huC iNpl In
the thought. The Liberals press closest for
the entirety of their demands have been
granted. Accordingly they believe now in
Rutherford b. Hayes as they believed in
Horace Greeley.
Reporter. Granting all that you claim for
the popular disposition to rally upon the sup
port of the President how does the withdrawal
of the people from the partisan leaders fol-
low?
Gen. c. 1t is readily explained. OF the
three cardinal measures which compose the
p Dl,y of the Administration, Vi :, speric re-
sumption, Southern autonomy and an effective
: civil service, our people are most earnestly
concerned with the last, because it il the rem
edy Of an evil which most Immediately aficts
themselves. They arc swift to see that the
successful application of the remedy, as il
works for the whole irrespective of party, will
5 tramplc upon party lines and paralyze party
leaders An illustration Of my meaning oc-
CURED in the State of New York ut the break
ing out of the rebellion, when the popular fer
I vor for resisting 1t practically cxtinguished
parties and compelled both of them to the
c support of one ticket pledged to the cause Of
. the Union. 50 now the supreme desire for u
! ! pure civil service predominates in the public
" mind over its feeble affection for the chronic
$ party leader, and the homes masses unite fOI
$ its attainment, while partisans and theiI
cliques are still engaged in martrial strife
You see, therefore, how the concentration Of O
gets united popular action, regardless of and, il
s may be, hostile to petty politicians.
s Reporter. IT. then, you think public opinion
d in New York to be massing IN support Of tn,
: Presidents policy of reform, what pregnancy
do you assign to the position of the chief OIL
r GERS of the customs service in the city of New
IS York;
q Gen. c. construe it us hostile to reform
! and consequently us unfriendly to the Admin
istration. new garment requires whole
/. cloth. The gentlemen who successfully pilotet
A the spOils system cannot consistently be en-
e trusted with the fostering care of the reform
% system. The food which nOurishcd the one Ii
is poison to the other. They are regarded rs tn
9 natural enemies of reform, and even if re
: pentant must submit to probation before pub
e lie confidence will be restored to them.
t, Reporter. The Presidents proposed system
Is of civil service, however perfect in theory, ha
e been doubted as to its practicability. Hav
u you any definite opinion on the subject?
Gen. e. / have no question of its success
II is folly to assume that II the oiiice-holder
T. withdrawn from the machine of party tn
n party must decay. Suppose the civil servic
t reformed. Then, for merccnary, selfish an
n corrupt paccmcn, you have intelligent, indC
,ee pendent and accredited officers, able to guild,
Se and guiding public opinion. In the one cas-
IT, the authors of nominations are offce-holdeI
re packed into convention; in the other ease thei
y, Ithors will be conventions packed with pull
rt lie opinion, formed and guided by judiciou
nc public officers. Now, which is preferable-th
nomination Of the convention of otiice-holdcr
!, or that of the convention of public opinion
NJ To my mind the evidence is conclusive Of I'll
iy impracticability of the spoils system and n,
an of that of the President Our system Of go'
III crnmcnt represents q government founded
ro ,C public opinion. Now, which is the more pr,.
lie ticabler A government of public opinion,
at government of ofice-holders? No! "Th
,ts doubt" is but a weak device-of the enemy.
iSS Reporter. Well, General, your logic, II a,
as mitted, would lead to the dismission from the
Mt posts Of the heads of the New York Custom
en- house. With whom would you supply the
he nlacesY