The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-10-06

The annoying indignities put upon re-
spectacle citizens at the Custom House are
as degrading to the government as they are
vexatious to the sufferers. A government
should have some consideration for the
sense Of character of its own citizens. It
should ut least recognize the possibility that
there may be some citizens who arc not
quite devoid of common honesty. The
way the Custom House is managed is an in
suit to the American character. It assumes
that every gentleman, though among the
best known and Of the highest standing, is
prima facie q swindler, who, as often as
he may chance to return from foreign
country, is to be treated as an intend
ing defrauder Of the revenue and sub
jected to the indignity of proving his
innocence. We do not suppose the re-
sponsible officers Of the Custom House
are either the instigators or the willing
accomplices of these wanton and gratuitous
affronts to the most highly esteemed people
in the community. The odious espionage
which is practised on citizens is also prac-
tised upon the officers. They also are
under the surveillance of swarm Of spies
and informers who in turn are followed by
still another swarm, realizing the satiric
verses of Swift -
Great fcas have lesser feas,
And these have less to bite 'em,
And these feas have lesser feas
Aud so al hytnitups.
This illiberal system of detectivism III we
may coin word) was invented during the
war against supposed traitors, and it has
since been adopted by the Treasury De-
partmcnt and extended until every citizen
who returns home from foreign country
has horde of spies set upon him aud is
subjected to degrading insults. If the re-
sponsible officers of tho Custom House
were permitted to act on their own knowl-
edge Of citizens such insults would be
avoided without any loss of revenue; but
the highest local officers are subjected to
the same base espionage as private citizens
Of the highest standing.
Among recent instances one of the least
odious is the detention of the EPSON Cup
won by Mr.. Pierre Lorillard's horse Parole.
We allude to this case because Mr.. Lorillard
is SO well known gentleman and boz
cause it is 80 absurd for his own gov
eminent to tax him for the brilliant success
which is topic of pride and congratuln-
ton among his countrymen. It seems
that an American citizen must be
mulcted for an achievement in o for
eign country which raises the credit
Of the American name and gratiAes the
pride of his fellow citizens ut home If
Mr.. Lorillard had lost the race his govern
ment would have let him alone; but he is
taxed and punished for having won it and
brought home the trophy Of brilliant
American success. This is the Custom
House method of encouraging public spir-
tied efforts to maintain our national reputa-
ton abroad.
The Treasury Department has stretched
and strained the law against Mr.. Lorillard.
Ho had as clear right to bring homo this
trophy free of duty as o watch to be worn
on his person or a set OF jewelry purchased
and worn in Paris by his wife. The law
makes free wearing apparel in actual use
and other personal effects not merchan-
disc" What Treasury officer not an idiot
can affect TO believe that Mr.. Lorilard's
Epson Cup is imported by him as merchan-
disc? Things of this kind intended for
''salo" are not exempted, but only fool
could suppose that Mr.. Lorillard would sell
such a trophy. We respectfully call Secre-
tary Sherman's attention to this insulting
abuse.
WAY Should HUNDRED THOUSAND PAS
sENaERs suffer daily from the stencil of