The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-02-05

to the request Of the Senator but he knew OF no
precedent for such action.
Mr.. Hamlin-Oh. yes. there are precedents.
His vote was recorded ms he requested.
Gen. Arthur was busy yesterday, as busy
as very frequent calls from his friends would
allow him to he. with his law books and briefs.
He declined To say anything regarding tue con-
nrmaton Of the Hayes and Sherman Custom
have nothing 10 conceal" he said but in
view Of the action OF the Senate it would hc now
manilcstly indecorons for me TO say anything
about the matter MY position is clearly set
forth in my letters in reply to Mr.. Sherman's
An intimate friend Of Gen Arthurs. and ono
who has been familiar with the inside history
Of the attempts to remove Gen, Arthur. Naval
that. in Wow Of all the circumstances Gen.
Arthur and his associates have no cause to feel
leaders of the Republican party in the Senate.
and all the Efforts Of Hayes and John sherman
could not influence the votes ~ these senators.
The position Is this: By an extensive promise
OF patronage, certain Republicans in the SEN
ate, small minority, had combined with
n minority of tho Democratic Senators
who we're Influenced by n variety Of motives,
and We're thus able 10 obtain a majority vote for
confirmation. Now II L. fact that every one
who makes politics astudv well knows that such
combinations. although for the time being sue
cessful. always react. The result OF this action
remains to be seen. SO far rs the purposes for
which the fight was first begun are concerned,
Hayes and sherman were signally routed, The
attack was begun TO shelve Conkling II was
thought that with the New York Custom House
in the hands OF his enemies the primaries and
Assembly nominations would he controlled
and Conkling thereby sent back 70 Utica tQ
practice law. Gen, Arthur and Mr. Cornell
would never have hcen removed had that not
been tho motive OF Hayes and sherman. How
honest they were In their attempts TO make the
country believe that II was the beginning Of a
reform movement any one can Judge. Why.
sherman tried to hrbe Gen. Arthur by the offer
OF n foreign mission. and assured him in prl-
vate that there werc no charges against his nd
mnistration. Now. sherman prctcnds that tho
foreign mission was alluded 10 only inciden-
tally. That Is a regular John sherman subtcr-
fuge II mentioned incidentally II was men
toned. Sherman knew that n hint to Gen. Ar
thur in politics Is as plain as promise. Then.
when Gen Arthur refused to become party TO
such trick. he was attacked himself
There is no question but that John sherman
Is trying 20 manipulate the Custom House to
further his schemes 70 get the nomination Of
his party in 1850. and he has got minority Of
the Democratic Senators, and minority OF the
Republicans TO help him. We shall see shortly
what kind OF reform measures were nkcn by
HAYES and sherman TO reform the Custom
House. We shall know sooner or later why
certain Senators. at the last moment and after
listening 10 John sherman, voted to confirm
Judge whether the principle OF using patronage
to strengthen the party that Hayes and Sher-
man complain of is demoralizing politics. while
the principle Of bribing Senators by promise OF
patronage 10 vote TO support the Administra-
tion. is a step toward reform. In my opinion
the latter is the most demoraizng. Is il any
worse - buy a Senator's vote with patronage
than it is with money! Now there is another
thing.
=" Gen. Arthur knew last week that Tammany
had resolved 10 take hand in the struggle. |
am told that Senator Hogan frankly told him
that Tammany was going TO urge the Demo-
cratic Senators to vote for confirmation. TO pay
Gen. Arthur for leading the successful combs
nation against Tammany last fall, and they
have bcon successful. The Republican Sena-
tors who joined thb Democratic majority
therefore, are placed r. the attitude OF helping
to punish Gen. Arthur for leading n splendid
victory last fall. As said before that kind Of a
combination doesn't pay for those who are in il
in the long run.
Those letters that Senator Conkling has. II
published. as hope they will be- will fully ex-
pose the hypocrisy OF Hayes and sherman.
can say what ! know TO be n fact regarding
some OF them. that they beg for tho replacement
Of men whom Gen. Arthur removed at the sug-
gestion OF the Reform Committee that investi-
gated the Custom House. Since Gen. Arthur
was removed there have been nineteen men
added to the Custom House. a number Of them
Democrats. and friends OF Democratic Senators
who voted to confirm. ! say then. in view Of all
this that the results Of this combination Of a
Republican minority with Democratic major
ity 10 carry out the wishes Of Hayes and Sher-
man are yet TO be seen"