New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-03-20
PAVING OLD DEBTS.

If Mr.. Tilden and MI Randall constitute the
Democratic party, then the Democratic party
NAV well be delighted at the latest appointment
NV its Executive. Substantially the entire
Democratic representation from the west had
recommended certain persons for positions
which give a large control over the appoint
mepts. particularly in the Post-Office Depart
ment. But the recommendations of the entire
Democratic representation, the visits oil sohu
delegations, the enthusiastic appeals OF
influential men of the party, counted Tor less
than nothing. Mr.. Tilden had some debts TO
pay, and they are paid. Mr.. Randall had some
points to make, and they are made. The rest OF
the party can suck its thumbs, or bite them, as
it chooses
If is said that there are about $4,000
officials of all sorts not covered by the Tenure
of Office Act. OF these more than half are III
the Post-ofice Department, and their selection
vill depend upon Mr.. Malcolm Hay, who went to
Florida in 1876 as one of Mr.. Tilden's special
agents, whose deeds--behold! are they not
recorded in the volume of cipher dispatches
The indebtedness of Mr.. Tilden to this faithful
servant had no. been liquidated. Aiso, IL was
necessary to pay off some Western people, to
whom there was debt of another sort lhey
had not accented. rs well-trained subordinates
shouId the counsels of GreystOne or the lead
ership of Randall. Were they not, only lew
weeks ago, guilty of refusing to President
Cleveland the discretionary power In the matter
of silver, which Mr.. Randall moved to grant
Having voted against the party, or at least
against its brains and rightful head, IN vital
matter, they needed discipline. The selection
of Mr.. Hay does not impress them favorabiy,
we are told, and it is safe to say that the men
who advised it did not intend it should.
There was something wicked, also. In the
choice of Mr.. Durham, of Kentucky, to DC First
Controller of the Treasury. The power OF that
official to arrest public expenditures which do
not please him has been found, in times past,
eminently inconvenient to many persons, and
il is shrewdly suspected that if the old opponent
of Thompson, in Kentucky Congressional
contests, has been selected upon Mr. RandalPs
recommendation, there is not going to be
great deal of fun" in the future for the free
traders and the silver manlacs who made MI
Thompson's cause their own. IL has Deeh
known that Mr.. Durham sought support, not
from his Western friends, where indeed nc
would not have found it, but from Messrs. Ran
dali and Hewitt with whom he was on intimate
terms when q member OF Congress ana. IL
appears clear that the considerable powers OF
his Office will at all events not be employed TO
embarrass Mr.. Randall in his financial aims or
his political aspirations.
Mr.. Lamar is closely following President
Cleveland's example. The President selected
for Secretary of the Interior anan who knew
nothing about the Interior Department. Now,
quite appropriately, the Secretary of the
Interior selects for Commissioner of Patents
man who knows nothing about patent law. Had
Republican President picked up railroad
lobbyist for that position, there would have
been howl As it is, Mr.. Montgomery is a
shining example of Reform-with large K.