National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1877-05-24
ALL SHADES OF OPINION.

ALL SllhDEO VI VI lNlON.
The Mbjoined editorial extract. from proai-
nent Americaa newspapers, irrespective of party,
are published jus, any other ners iicsts, soldv
for TIE Information of our readers. Oar own
opinions and rieTs WN rs usual, 10 oppressed Only
IN our editorial co'uans:
The Custom House Investigation.
From the New York Herald
The Commission appointed Ivy Secretary
Sherman for investigating the affairs Of the
New York custom house has brought to light
many abuses which require correction. The
New York c,istom-housc has been for two
generations the foulcst political nest, the nest
which has Matched and harborcd more unclcan
birds than any othcrwhich has been sheltered
and protected by the Federal Government
The New York custom house has been, time
out Of mind, the great Federal hospital for de-
| caycd politicians, and general soup kitchen
for the favorites Of the men In power. The
collector has had little choice in the selection
| Of his subordinates. He must be q very cour-
agcous collector, indeed, who does not think
twice before rejecting an applicant who bringsa
soup ticket from Senator, Congressman or
Cabinet officer known 10 stand high In the favor
ofthe President. This isla thing which an ordi-
nary collector seldom dares to do because he
knows that he would hazard his avn place by
refusing places or .fniling to make places for
the MANNED. the halt and the blind who come
to him recommended and urged by politicians
whom the administration at Washington does
not wish TO offend or estnnge. However able,
honest and efficient collector may he in other
respects, In this respect he is the mere slave Of
. bad system and the puppet Of politicians
more powerful In high quarters than himself
All honest men must approve and applaud the
intention of President Hayes to overhaul and
break up this pestilent nest of abuscs,and must
wish him success In the undertaking. But
this kind Of reforming zeal, which Is easy TO
o new administration, Is $50 liable to he oh
structed by political exigencies Of which new
President and new Cabinet have as yet no
experience, that we can as yet only praise the
intention and reserve our Judgment Of the sue
cess. President Hayes has party to manage
| as well rs a revenue service tn reform, and
when he comes to think It vital to the credit
of his administration that the elections Of
particular States should not go against him he
may modify his views as to permitting the
custom house to be used as party machine.
But so far as he has yet gone he deserves pub
lie appreciation.
Reform Measures.
rrum the Chicago Times:
| Certain journals are unable to sec that Secre-
tary Evarts' recent deliverance in New York
regarding our commercial policy meant one
thing morc than another. They cannot make
out from the language he used whether he Is
for or against free trade, free ships and free
silver" Journals that express themselves in
this style do Mr.. Evarts an injustice. In his
was proper for him to be, but his mean
ing was far from being 10 obscure rs some
of his critics seem to think. He did not com
nit himself squarcly to the restoration of the
old silver dollar rs an unlimited legal tender
and therein he was wise. Indeed, he might
very well have let that matter entirely alone.
but he left very little room TO doubt that he Is
| nnn IN that af laW w irh dpsla
that vessels built within the United States
and no Others may he registered
as American vessels. Nor did he leave much
room to doubt that he is in favor Of simplify
ing the tariff laws, and framing them with
reference to revenue rather than protection.
But II Mr.. Evarts' public deliverance was not
so explicit as 1t might have been, his private
expressions, If they have been correctly re-
ported. are as definite us any one could wish
them to be. Ii may be regarded As certain
that he is In favor Of "bimetalism," which is to
be regretted; that he would admit foreign bot
toms to an American register; that he
would admit English machinery for
southern cotton manufacture duty free;
aud that he would revise the tariff,
substituting specific for ad valorrm duties
II Is mistake to suppose that Mr.. Evarts,
influence In shaping the commercial policy OF
the Administration will be slight. II is true
that the Secretary Of the Treasury Is supposed
any other member of the Cabinet but there is
no reason why the Secretary of State, who
holds what is considered the post Of honor IN
the Cabinet. and who has to do with our for.
eign commercial relations as well as with diplo'
macy. should not have a voice In determining
onr commercial policy. Mr.. Evarts ~ a trusted
adviser Of the President, and Is abuudantly
: able to Impress his views upon his chief aud
his associates far as that is possible. W,
may expect, therefore, that his influence will
be felt, in whatever direction he chonSes t.
exert it. Secretary Schurz will cast his inhu
ence in favor Of the most important Of the re
forms proposed by Secretary Evarts. In his
New York speech he stated what In his opinion
would be the great political issues in the neal
future. These were, frst, the restriction o.
government to its proper sphere. not permit
ting II to embark in operations that can bt
performed by private enterprise; second, the
revision Of the revenue laws, and the proper
adjustment of expenditures to revenue. Mr.
SchurZ is well known to he in favor ofreyenu,
reform, and is undoubtedly in substantial &C
cord with Mr.. EvartS on that subject. II I
plain, TOO, that Mr.. Schurz is opposed to al
subsidy schemes, or at least to Government
subvention Of enterprises that private capital
can manage. In this respect he is not In nc
cord with Thompson and Key. Mr.. Evart
has not expressed himself upon this sub
} ject, hut he is likely to be found in com
pany with Mr. Srhurz. In one respect
II may safely lie assumed, thes,
, two gentlemen are not in accord. Mr.. Schur
is too sound political cconomist.to favor tn,
restoration Of the silver dollar as unlmitct
: lesal-tender. Here he will probably be fOun,
to agree In the main with Mr.. Sherman. Tn,
policy outlined by Secretaries Evarts an,
= Schurz will be desperately opposed in Con
gfess, and perhaps by some members Of tn
present Cabinet. Thompson and Sherman ar
understood to b. protcctionists, and 1t is by n
means certain that Mr.. Hayes is not one too
But IL II is true, rs has been stated within
few days past, that the administration intend
+ to press a tariff bill prepared by "rarscc
Moore, the President may he set down rs
genuine revenue reformer. and thcr will b
$ no open opposition In the Cabinet. In Con
G grcss however, the opposition will be deter
mined, and II will he backsl by nearly all tn
power Of combined interests representing al
A annual production Of at lraat Ss0OO,OOoo on
-. Some advocates Of free trade tell " that publ
opinion is setting strongly against the protcc
tive system, and that the protected interest
n will he willing to concedc something for tn
g purpose Of concilatine'the free trade sentimen,
aud saving what they can Of their system
where they are in danger of losing all. Their
g is little prospect, however, Of any concession
|. on the part of protect0nists 80 long rs the
| n nm inrifv In nithcr IInusa of (,,n