National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-03-26
The New York Coilectorship.

In alluding yesterday to the nomina-
ton of Mr.. Robertson to be collector of
the port of New York we endeavored to
show the logical results that would flow
from it. These may be reeapitulated in
the following order:
First-That Mr.. Conkling's leadership
of the Republican party in his State
would remain unimpaired, no matter in
whose hands the patronage of the custom
house might be placed. This is a conclu-
sion irresistibly drawn from the history
of politics during the past three years.
Second-That the President, being
aware of the failure of his predecessor to
lessen the Senator's power by giving the
custom-house over to his enemies, could
not have expected different result now,
and therefore could not have had such
purpose in view.
Third-That in 1882 the State election
in New York will determine the wisdom
of the nomination of Mr.. Robertson.
We said:
&" There is TO be an election for Governor there
in 1882. The New York Republicans would no
doubt take most kindly any suggestion the ad-
ministration might fit to make, through Its ac-
credited representatives in the State as to the Sc
lection of a candidate. The election there of q
man who might be deemed, more than any other,
acceptable to General Garield's administration
would be q proof of the harmony which the Presi-
dent viii have established by his judicious nomi-
nations for Office.
We did not express any opinion as to
whether candidate so selected would be
elected. and of course the defeat Of man
under such circumstances would be a
proof that the President had established
discord by injudicious nominations.
We have expressed our opinions in
riddles, because we thought it likely there
might be some change of the situation.
1t is difficult to believe that a contest
is to be forced upon powerful and
unofending Senator. The President has
too much concern for the welfare of the
country to give an unnecessary jar to
the party charged by the people with the
administration of the Government. In
his inaugural he declared it to be his in
tention to advise with representatives as
to appointments. His nomination of Mr..
Robertson was made without any consul
tation whatever with either of the New
York Senators. Indeed, it is said to have
been studiously concealed from the men,
bers of his own Cabinet. 1t is of course an
affront to the Republican Senators from
New York, being the selection of a man
who less than a year ago violated an un-
derstap ding with his State convention as
to how he would vote in the national
convention of his party, to which he
could not have been chosen but for their
support. He has spoken in a serenade
speech since his nomination of having
been appointed by the President as a
"reward" for his exploit at Chicago.
This is perhaps the severest comment
that could be made on the appointment.
The comforting of Office as "a reward for
partisan services has for several years been
the subject of much objurgation in the
quarters which most eXult over the pres
ent illustration of it. The President may
deem it for the best that his action in the
premises be reconsidered. 1t is not GER
tain that any friction is to be permitted.
The rule he laid down in his letter of ac-
ceptance and in his inaugural-that rep
resentatiYes should be consulted as to ap-
pointments-protests loudly against the
selection of the leader of faction bitterly
hostile to both Senators for the most i'm
portant and influential Office in the State.
If the nomination shall be withdrawn,
no harm will have been done. If it is
not withdrawn, it viii very naturally be
regarded as challenge to the New York
leader and his new colleague toa combat,
in which either they or the administra-
ton must 60 to the wall in the Empire
State. The party throughout the country
will regret to see such conflict invited.
The voters who gave Garfield and Ar
thur the electoral vote of New York also
electedaL Legislature which made Mr.. Platt,
the trusted friend of Senator Conkling, a
Senator. There were but thirteen dis
senters among the Republicans of that
body. It would be most strange if the
great masses of the party in New York
should now be visited with the displeas-
ure of the President, whose election
they saved, because they insist
upon the leadership of Mr.. Conk-
ling. To set up that Senator's most
pronounced enemy in the custom-house
to reward others as he claims to have
been rewarded is an attempt to create a
leadership by external force, to which the
party will never submit This has not
been done as the result of the delibera-
ton of the President and his best coun-
selors. 1t is never too late to mend.
Pleading the Baby Act.
The doughty Bourbons, who so lorded