New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-10-10

lhe electlOn lasJ year. III tiitt 'VhoVoV
there were only sxty-fiye districts In
which the Republican majority was less than
1000. With the popular tide against 1t, the
| Government can hardly expect to gain III the
other 900 districts, which elected deputies 10y
| large majouties. the opposition in some cases
being reduced to fOlmalty.
We shall never know whether General
Grants scheme for paving off the National
debt with the bananas of SantO Domingo would
have succeeded but now that the Government
of that fertile isle has felt obliged to initiate
the currency by an enormous importation OF
bright buttons, we can be permitted to cherish
some er post JdctO doubts Buttons are not
| bananas by a good deal, and the population
rose in revolt when they were asked to accept
n circulating medium in which the silver CONS
contained no silver, and the nickeIs were not
even nickel. Altogether it looks like tropi-
cal burlesque on the occidental scheme for the
reconciliation of silver.
President Hayes's selection of General Har-
Ian for the vacancy on the Supreme Court
bench will be generally acceptabe-to the Re
publican party because he Is a Republican, to
the South because he is Southern man, and
to the people generally because he is believed
to be an able lawyer and an honest man.
General Harlan has for years held high
rank as genuine Southern Republican,
Republican from conviction in
State where Republican convictions cost some
thing. His character is beyond question: and
he is equal in ability to any candidate who has
been named; and his politics, although that is
by no means the most important thing to be
| considered, will reaSsure many who have heard
with some ALARM even 50 long after the war
as this the proposition to put Southern
Democrat on the Supreme Bench.
1t is exceedingly unfortunate that the Coast
Survey will be obliged, for want of appro-
priations, to call in its surveying parties and
suspend outside work. There is no Govern
ment bureau, where scientific labors and know
ledge are required, that has been doing better
and more practically serviceable work. The
products of that work have met the most
unstinted praise abroad and at home.
SO far as they go, they are the best OF
their class. But III the great portions OF
orr domain where these accurate surveys
have scarcely been begun, the United
states are far behind even the most petty
European powers in the matter OF mapping
and defining local boundaries A. what may
seem an almost incredible instance of this de-
ficIency, it may be mentioned that the position
of prominent Western cisy is at present on
the maps three miles ont of the way and it
is well known that in northern Ncw-l ork
whole mountains that are now mapped in one
county belong in another.
M u Mt
Cooper Institute, this evening, is carefully
phrased Ii pledges nobody to a sweeping
verdict of approval of all the measures OF the
Administration it attacks nobody for cIiti-
cisms, however sharp, upon the Presidents
policy Members of the party are invited to
unite in an expression of confidence in the in
ttgrity, ability and patriotism OF Mr.. Hayes,
and the wisdom and justice of his aims and
PURPOSES. This may be called, in fact, a broad
general invitation, which no good Republican
need feel obliged TO decline. 1t even harmon
ICES with the speech of Mr.. COnklng the other
day at Utica, and it offers basis of concia-
ton and party union. Those who looked for
q split or new organization as The result OF
this meeting are likely to be disap-
pointed. The friends of the President
are very well aware That split is not what
the Republican party of New York is just now
especially in need Of The meeting, however,
can do Il useful and patriotic service, and sls-
tain the President by strengthening the party.
Now and then we are reminded of what
stuff our Democratic rulers in this city are
made. The reminder which yesterdays con-
ycntion at Nyack gives us is not a pleasant
one No citizen of New-York, conscious though
he may be that Mi. Henry ID. Purroy does not
stand for any hut the worst elements of tins
city, can read the story of his ruilianism
without shame at the thought that this man
is at the head of our local Legislature, and, in
the absence OF Mayor Ely, acts rs the Mayor
of New-Y0rk. He was Known before as
stroet-corner politician Of the lowest grade
as the man who first prOp0unded the theory
that official salaries should be very liberal, be-
cause campaign expenses were very heavy
But he has not been known yet to the mass
OF our citizens as a man who would be guilty
OF participation in rough and tumble fight
and. more than that, would begin the fight.
His achievements yesterday, however, shed
considerable new light upon his character. He
attacked a fellow delegate in the Nyack Con-
vcntion, without any physical provOcaton,
at least, knocked him down, put his eye into
mourning. and broke his jaw. Then the Pres-
dent of tho New-YOrk Board of Aldermen
was hailed before the justice, and when he
had given bonds TO keep the peace, his man
was nominated by the convention All OF
which Is not calculated to increase the pride
of the citizens of New-York in the great or
ganizatiol to which Mr. Purroy belongs, or
IN Mr.. Purroy himself but is peculiarly cal