The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-09-13

Man Who Claims that Politics Proved
Too Heavy a Load,

Gath's New York Letter.
You have noticed the publicity given to
small matter of Hon. Thomas Murphy. the
first collector of the port of New York under
President Grant. He obtained from a man
named Stephenson, who has bank in one of
the uptown suburbs or side aisles, the sum
OF $500 upon draft against Hugh ]. Hast
lngs, and Hastings would not accept the
draft and Murphy had not the money con-
Venlent. So Stephenson gave it to the news
papers, and after a great row had been kicked
up about 1t the friends of Murphy paid the
money. came across Mr.. Murphy last night
ard he took me aside to explain the matter.
SAID he: I'm my day of prosperity men
would come to me at all times to give them
money. and if did not have it they would
tell me to go out and raise it for them. 1
think my record in this city is that of having
obliged any man who was in any way my
creditor for kindness or favors. | find as my
own affairs become somewhat pinched that
the persons who reciprocate former good
offices are few in number. In nv day [
signed every subscription-list that came to
me from party friends, whether it was to buy
stock for newspaper, or to run man for
office or to relieve official from financial
pressure. | believe that this hue and cry
about this mere $500 started in a desire to
keep me out of public business, which it was
anticipated might ask for. The man who
raised all this fuss is a politician himself and
he has a friend for the Office l have been
backed for"
Said 1; you have carried great deal of
property until recently?'
Yes, have large property now at Long
Branch, but it has not come into the market
at figure that satisfies me, and l have been
carrying interest on it for some time. What
has embarrassed me-" said Mr.. Murphy,
more than all the things in my life put to-
gether has been politics. AT the time l took
the collectorship OF the custom house, at
General Grants request was worth $780, 900
in property and had over 5000, 900 in first
mortgages and other first-class securities, and
on all my property the membranes
amounted to less than 5000, 000 / had $780,
900 in realizable property. l was collector
of the custom-house twenty three months,
and in that time received as my salary about
,000 1 spent that entire salary and $780,.
900 which 1 possessed in mortgages
and securities Ny little experience
in the custom-house cost me
| nearly $500, 000 | was made the forefront of
every political battle that came up, was con-
! tinually being abused in the press and by
individuals, and whenever anybody was TO
be killed off had to raise the money and go
and do it. Other men made the fights and L
executed them. Now there was not bit of
reason, when l come to look back upon it,
for making ALL those sacrifices but it was
Tom Murphy that had the money, Tom Muir
ply who was ready to spend this money,
Tom Murphy this and Tom Murphy that L
do not know whether you are aware of the
facts" said Mr.. Murphy, 'but l went to
General Grant and TOLD. him that 1 did not
give up my Office from any hostility TO him,
but because 1 could not afford to stand the
immense drain of money in that place.
General Grant said that he accepted my resig-
nation only upon my assurance that | could
not afford to continue to be collector"