The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-11-13
COLONEL BLISS LETTER.


Is IT OR is IT NOT THE SIGNAL OF AN ASSAULT
UPON THE REPUBLICAN ''MAcHISE?-PoLI-
TIcIANs NOT AGREED AS TO ITS sIGNIFI-
CANOE.
The publication Of Mr.. George Bliss letter to
General Arthur in the HERALD of yesterday and the
accompanying opinions of politicians. intimating
that genuine revolt had begun in the republican
party against the "machine." caused considerable
comment among members Of both parties. Almost
every republican who knew OF the letter had an
opinion to express one way or the other. Many
thought that the letter of MI. Bliss simply in
tended to call the attention of the Executive Com
mitee to the affair in the seventh Aldermanc district
while quite many of the opinion that
it WAS really the opening of systematic and well
Differed attack the machine" and its engineers
TO those nearest the throne the letter and its at
tendant intlmations the of more or less
uneasiness that they could not hide. revolt OF
any magnitude just in the republican party
would do much. it is thought. to weaken the poss-
bilites Of $780, and from the remarks dropped from
time to time by gentlemen who ran with the ina
chine" it clear that every effort at compromise
would be made. While some of them could not
hide their uneasiness. there others who boldly
scoffed at any insubordination gaining foothold.
and claimed that the letter Of Mr.. Bliss not in
tended by that gentleman keynote of attack. but
was grasped by the "anti-machine men and pushed
forward as q means to humbug the party with an
idea that the revolt had u secure foundation.
NOTHING TO SAY.
At the rooms of the committee in the Fifth Avenue
Hotel which not closed yesterday one knew
anything about the matter. So extremely sensitive
the clerks about impartng anything that might
look like that it became absolutely painful 10
ask any questions. There a number of consul
Inv Ia
the committee. and although not only the object Of
the meetings but the fact of the meetings taking
place were wrapped in profound mystery. little
was considered and compared with state
ments from Messrs. Bglin and Cregsn. who
men to the machine" Both of these gentlemen ex-
plain their conduct in the recent election being
perfectly proper and justihable under the circum-
stances. They claim that their action was only
what had been done by the Eleventh district people
on the previous years election. and IN short. put
idea throughout their entire defence. gentleman
who Is very familiar with the members of the COM
times said to the reporter that Messrs. Bigin and
Cregan would certainly be dealt with by the
committed The Eleventh district people had
been withdrawn from the rolls after the bolt Of last
year and were not renctated for a month or more.
hs aa We ns thouaS
that the committee would take action. he expressed
himself as being in more or less sympathy with the
boilers.
As far as revolt against tho ''machne', was con-
cerned he did not think there any such thing
organized opposition possible. According to his
notions the machine was not only in most ex-
cellent order but had of late been strengthened by
the addition Of new riyets He laughed to scbrn any
attempt to weaken It. and thought the admins
traton had better keep its finger out il it did not
Notwithstanding the universal shout OF who's
afraidy' by the machine" men. it is generally
among very large body of republicans. and that
this feeling is not confined to New York city. The
'anti-machine clam that it exists all over the
State. and will sooner or later raise such commo-
ton as to compel attention and consideration Re-
ports are daily made OF troubles in Assembly dis
trics, where the feeling II not checked, will to
bitter rivalry OF course all this Is extremely dis
tressing to the managers OF the party and there is
doubt that most determined effort will be
made to not only hush matters up but smoothe
them over. Said one gentleman. who is u most pro-
nounced machine" man:-"If we can nip this in.
surrection in tho bud we will do SO, and
guess There is no use trying to
hide the fact that there is trouble but not only
unjust to the men in power. but is caused by set
of men Of no Importance whatever in the party or
out of it. If it is true that the administration.
Mr. Evarts. representing it, Is meddling in local
affairs aud trying to make trouble 1t is more serious
matter and Cancellation have to take the place
of force. But. as tar rs can soc. we will have no
trouble in disposing Of these little fights. These
troubles in the election districts merely local
and machine or IAN mac hne' does not enter into
the quarrels 1T all am convinced that this cry of
organized INSTRUMENTATION is all bosh. There may
be disaected persons here and there. but there Is
organization against the controlling elements OF
the party. nor will there be any,
CONTRADICTORY OPINIONS.
In contradiction OF the gentlemen quoted above
and others who expressed the same views, there
were many who held directly opposite opinions.
The revolt, they said, not only genuine, but it
had far reaching influence. Some claimed boldly
that Secretary Evars at the bottom of it, repre-
senting the administration. and that the coming
republican battle would be marshalled on the one
side by him and on the other by Roscoe Conkling.
Others thought that Mr.. Evarts had not yet taken
hand in it, but would do the strength
OF the revolt more fully developed.
Mr.. Rufus Andrews was one of these latter. He
thought there doubt Of . republican revolt.
and that it had been preparing for long time.
The troubles in the Custom House gave consdera-
BILE anxiety to the leaders. but the magnitude Of the
present revolt was as mountain to q mole hill in
comparison.
Alderman Perley Ia straight enough republican,
thought that there revolt. He did not know
of any least. The troubles in the Aldermanic dis
trct. of which Colonel Bliss letter treated.
simply local affair, and would be settled it be-
gan. The letter used he thought by few
''ant-machine' men to foster their cause. He did
not think that Colonel Bliss had any idea of heading
encouraging revolt In the party when he wrote
the letter; ana further that he Colonel Bliss
not an "anti-machine" man, some few dscon-
tented republicans called themselves and claimed
him to be.