Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-06-29

The Presidents New York appointments have
met with cold praise from even his party
friends. The selections are distinctly nom
political though two of the new men are more
less connected with the county democracy.
Tammany is left completely out, and naturally
enough, feels very angry. But that element of
the democracy ought to understand by this
time that President Cleveland does not shape
his policy to suit them. In Saturdays appoint
ments he acted on the lines of selection that
guided him in deciding in the case of Chicago
and elsewhere. The Tammany "bosses' can
now have a chance to match explosives with
Van Pelt.
Mr. Hedden, who succeeds Judge Robertson
rs collector is an unknown and untried man.
He has never been conspicuous in New York
though connected for many years with q sub
stantial business house. His virtues, so far as
known, are negative. He comes well recon-
mended, and may he just the man for the
place. 1t is not probable however, that he will
live up to the political traditions of the office
And perhaps it will be as well TO have steady
going, old-fashioned merchant In the place,
who will give his time to an honest collection
of the customs and let politics alone.
From one cause and another the New York
custom house has come to be regarded as politi-
cal. The collector has enormous power, as his
views Cflaw and his direction of the practice of
the office affect very materially the revenues
and the attitude of the government towards
foreign commerce. Hence for many years the
relationship has ranked next to the cabinet
position political office. Nor has any place
excited such contentious. 1t has been the very
focus of intrigue, the center about which
revolved the most momentOus events. Under
Mr.. Hedden the office may not give the coun-
try many political sensations, but may never
theless be conducted honestly, wisely and to
the advantage of all classes
The few people who wish the United States
to buy Cuba should observe W hat an expensive
luxury the island is to Spain. In the budget for
the coming year II is estimated that the island
will cost the mother country four million in
excess of all revenues, and a special loan of
twenty million dollars Is to be raised, in order
To meet the deficits of this and previous years
Under Yankee rule the island might do better
than this, but 1t would be a bad investment,
simply from pecuniary standpoint
The South American trade commission has
been heard from on its winding way, and, as
might besuppOsed, 1t Is doing nothing in a very
pOmpOus manner. Very little good can come
ofthese rowing commissions, especially If they
start out with theories of trade to which the
facts they are sent TO find must accommodate
themselves. If this country ever develops a
large foreign commerce 1t must be brought
about by very different agencies
those little tri-weekly affairs in Central Amer
lea The kicking director is promptly "sus-
pended" and the reasons are to come later;
as in the energetic west, the prisoner is first
hanged and then tried.
1t is one of the most cherished traditions at
the schools where young men are educated for
service in the army and navy that lying is the
worst of all faults. The cadet will not lie even
10 shield a friend or save himself. In some of
the colleges where young men are trained for
civil life, lower standard unfortunately pre-
walls.
A Cambridge, Mass, correspondent of the
New York Tribune makes a serious charge,
bearing on this matter, to the effect that the
Harvard crew was secretly and in intentional
violation OF the college regulations. trained by
professional oarsInan. He gives in detail the
methods by which the crew was able to- hood
wink the faculty and the college world and
then adds-and this is the most extraordinary
charge in his letIer-''of course, Captain Stor-
row and the officers of the boat club deny any
such thing" Is il then a fact that the Harvard
students who direct the boating sports of their
college unite in lie, and Is il to be assumed as
a matter ''of course that they will so lie? The
Tribune correspondent has made q very grave
charge. IL Is not of much consequence which
group Of college students wins In q boat race
but IL is OF very great consequence it, in order
to win, the boating authorities of a college re-
Sort to deceit and ialsehood
The ideal tramp has been found at Erie Pa
He was "a young man OF arlstocratic bearing"
and he applied for assistance at house in
that town. The "hired girl not disposed
To Dc cruel. but she had sadly practical notions
on work and pay, and so put a hoe into the
hands of the aristocratic young man and told
him To do little hoeing IN advance for his
meal. This was too much for the refined
tramps self-respect, so he laid down the hoe