The New York herald., 1877-09-01
WILL THERE BE A CHANGE Il!
The True Policy Of The President from
Republican Standpoint.
CORNEI.L'S DEFIANCE.
Cabinet lntrigues and the United States
Senatorial Succession.
SARATOGA, August so, 1877


Tho uncertain condition Of politics and the proba-
bty OF general disruption of parties we'll Illus
trated by the disinclinaton OF the prominent public
men of the country commit themselves to any dis
tinct utterances the leading political questions OF
the day. Here, at the great watering place OF tho
United States and indeed of tho worit-what genius
was 1t who called Long Branch the Summer Capt.
tal,n knowing that Saratoga exists ?--bave been
gathered many of the most distinguished statesmen
OF the country, aud scarcely OF them Is
willing to converse without restraint when the
Southern policy of the administration, civil
service reform, or the probable action OF the
Senate ON the Presidents appointments aud measures
approached. TINS has been in the White
Mountains when political question is put TO him;
that one has been of on trout fishing expedition,
and another has been else of The active
world, and all have become obvious OF passing
events in their solitude as TO be unable to form
opinion to If called upon do Yet
there is good reason to believe that this
assumed for when the pledge of incognito given in
yood aith, the silent tongue speedily RECEIVERS Its unc
Mons, and certainly the then expressed have in
lhem nothing Of u noG-commttal character.
THE PIVOTAL STATE
There appears to be general impression that the
main struggle to test the strength OF the admInstra
ton policy of civil reform Will occur New
YORK TIE federal patronage is larger and more i'm
portant here than in any other State and from the
ofice-hoders ana capitalists OF New York have
in former years .'snews OF war'' whereby the
Western and other States neId repub-
lican line Here is be made tho vigorous effort
TO secure transfer OF the federal offices from the
hands OF those who have enjoy cd them during Grants
administration TO the rebellious ''outs,' who have
been ostracsed for tho past six or eight years; and
Ihus State will severely try tho honesty OF the
Presidents declaration that no removals should be
made civil service OF the government except for
In plain language, there is bitter contest be-
meen the Conklng party and the FentoI faction for
he public offices, and there docs to be any
rharse OF ncompelency or unlathunes against the
prominent New York federal officials, the only
pbject OF making change must be to turn out
Of republicans, who recognize Seoator Conkling as
theIr leader and to put in another VINO have
trained for years under Fenton. From New York,
too, seems certain now 10 come the test 10
whether the republican senate VIII will stand
by the fun measure OF civil service reform avowed
by the President and allow federal officer TO be dis
placed because lie chooses to retain position on a
local political committee Mr. A. B. Cornell the Naval
Ofhcer of New York. has chosen discharge the duties
OF chairman oil the Republican General committee,
and dong has dehed the Presidents order and
challenged trial OF the Issue whether vigorous
ofhce-hoder must consent to ba made political
eunuch so that much interest Is felt by republican
politicians all over the Union In the shape winch the
distribution OF the ieoera patronage may take III New
York.
The true Situation New lork at the present time
cannot be better described tuau by recording
versation held Ut The Grand Union Hotel between
HEEALD correspondent aud an experienced political
leader the republican ranks who is guest al that
popular house. AS the conversation took place under
the required pledge OF laithui observance oil the
cognito at once sincere ana spicy, and The read
ers OF HERALD may 10 assured that person Is
better qualified 10 speak the subjects embraced in
1t than the gentlonan whose utterances are herein
corded
"Do you think there will be any changes IN the
principal offices IN New York2' first
question asked.
t is so dinicult TO understand what will be done by
President OF whom very lttie Is known and VINO has
given but lutte indication Of any definite Of policy
that your question can only be answered from tno
standpoint OF PERSONS own judgment as 10 the ex-
pedency or inexpedieny OF change in The control OF
the Patronage IN our Sate Al present the Offices
the influence they bring with them hands oil
Senator Oonking, and taken out OF his hands must
De put into those oil Governor Fenton. The repubil
party OF New York. as 1t has existed
some years past may properly be called the
Cohkhhg parry, since Tue senator mas Decn
virtual leader. lie has retained his position
aud generally held the state despite the TACT that he
is by no means popular leauer in the accepted
cehuIton OF term. lie distant, somewhat
overbearng and above tue average OF Intelects,
thus al too great distance from tue
people to be capable OF ma2netzlng them. But hs
only proves his strength aud ability as political
chieitdn, ana SHOWS maj ne Is mau whose support
Is 10 be des ed and whose opposition is 10 he feared
During his whole lease OF power he has encountered
tue utter enm'ty OF Mr. fenton ana his adherenIs,
yet they nave very seldom been aDle to a
trining advantage over him IN State conventions
Now II Mr. COBkng's friends lolt in
undisturbeo possession oil the federal olices |
not how lney be any in
the State the luture than they have the
past, but do see where lhey may become mucn
stronger. For instance, the Presidents VIII
prevent that with petty local
snich has hereto made every disappointed candl-
late Iee emDered against tue federal oliice holding
viated, and there VIII be lever ''soreheads' aud
grumbers than there have hitherto been IN the party
Then, Mr. teuton's friends were bitterly opposed 10
President Grants ADMINISTRATOR and did
late dissatisfied with local nominations to throw
their weight at the polls INTO tne democratic
scale. lhey now profess great freneshlp
Tor President Hayes and very wei
afford to oppose the republican nominations If the
President in Carrying out his civil service reform
should think proper 10 retain IN Office the present
cumuents Such course would stamp the Fcnton
amount oil pay received But even II III opposition
Fenton has never been terrible and is not likely to be
terrible now. On the 9th hand Conkling Is, as
have said. powerful leader and very able man. Ii
bis trends should DO turned out VI onice and the
rieIds OF Fenlon should DC put IN II wOuld meau
ostraclsm OF every republican VINO has been know
as Coukling msu for the past years. Conknng
is VIGOROUSLY bold ana hard nguter, and he would,
o. course, battle against this witn all the
force his command. He would have
good cause aud Justification Tor his tight, 100. Tho
room for tenion's friends would DO ialshcs-
tion oil all The administrators professions OF civil
service reform rho principal olic,s would bo OF mo-
use to Fenton unless he could MI the subordinate
places with ms hungry followers and we should
political made OF The iedera Offices which
the Prosluent has recessed himself resolved pre-
vent. Conklng, IN opposition 20 the administration,
with good cause a. bis oack appealing 10 the pop
ular Jud gnenL sense Of honesty, would bc by no
means a Pheasant prospect ior new prcsidcut.
IL may, indeed, be suggested that Conk-
ling, without tho FEDERAL patronage would
not Le 80 stroBg / picture him.
ana that Fenton, Represented IN the Custom House
aud other federal Offices IN New York, would be AS
powerful as Conkling has ever been. But Fcnton
successful leader, even when he possessed
these advantages, aud never "Ili be. Besides, II lhe
Presidents policy oi non-lnlcricrcnce IN politics
be carried the mere possession OF Tue princlpal
federal ufces in the state would not strengthen Mr..
Ecnton all He either use The ledcrai Offices,
II he should get OF thein 10 build up ms party
and thus practically render the Prosidcnps civil
service reform sham, or hc would DO weaker in
power than out OF power"
An ALLEGED SHERMAN INTRIGUE
.Then you think will DC no change In the New
York federal onces provided charges are sustained
AGAINST the iLcumbentsf"
III am not prepared 10 say as much that. think
there ought TO lie change u the interests OF the
party oil the adminlstTat are studied. But
have heard hints OF au Intrigue IN the Cabinet looking
TO the forcing OF change the President, abc 10
I..aI