e fears of many veteran Republicans of
sincere and unselfish motives, who had used offices to build up and
maintain party organisation, while the order restricting freedom of
political action provoked bitter antagonism, especially among members
of the New York Republican State Committee, several of whom held
important Federal positions. To add to the resentment an official
investigation of the New York custom-house was ordered, which
disclosed "irregularities," said the report, "that indicate the peril
to which government and merchants are exposed by a system of
appointments in which political influence dispenses with fitness for
the work."[1564] The President concurred. "Party leaders should have no
more influence in appointments than other equally respectable
citizens," he said. "It is my wish that the collection of the revenue
should be organised on a strictly business basis, with the same
guarantees for efficiency and fidelity in the selection of the chief
and subordinate officers that would be required by a prudent
merchant."[1565]

[Footnote 1564: New York _Tribune_, July 28, 1877.]

[Footnote 1565: _Ibid._]

The Republican press, in large part, deplored the President's action,
and while managing politicians smothered their real grievance under
attacks upon the Southern policy, they generally assumed an attitude
of armed neutrality and observation.[1566] No doubt the President was
much to blame for this discontent. He tolerated the abuses disclosed
by the investigation in New York, continued a disreputable regime in
Boston, and installed a faction in Baltimore no better than the one
turned out. Besides, the appointment to lucrative offices of the
Republican politicians who took active part in the Louisiana Returning
Board had closely associated him with the spoils system.[1567]
Moreover, his failure to remove offending officials discredited his
own rule and created an unfavourable sentiment, because after
provoking the animosity of office-holders and arousing the public he
left the order to execute itself. Yet the people plainly believed in
the President's policy of conciliation, sympathised with his desire to
reform abuses in the civil service, and honoured him for his
frankness, his patriotism, and his integrity. During the months of
August and September several Republican State conventions, notably
those in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Massachusetts, and New Jersey
commended him, while Maine, under the le