The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-08-23

was ne ngntlDB tnera Six days OF last week
He started before daylight on Sunday to
march to Ohalons, where general conoentra-
tiop of the French forces had been ordered.
He had hardly got outside of Metz before he
was attacked; and though Napoleon himself
has told the world with what success the at
tack was repulsed, the march has never been
continued; and though the battle of every
day has, according to Count Palikao, resulted
in French victory, there Bazaine still remains,
less able than ever to march upon Ohalons
Even Palikao does not pretend that he has
received telegram from Bazaine since We'd
nesday night, the 18th instant, and then it
was sent by messenger from Bazaines
camp to Verdun, because that was the nearest
place still in telegraphic communication with
Paris. The truth that the Second Empire
has been crushed at Metz cannot be denied
or disguised
While all the world unites in ridiculing the
ability of Napoleon III as a military CON-
mander, it should not escape notice that Mar
sbal Bazaine has been outgeneralled, sur
prised and beaten by the Prussians quite as
signally as the Emperor himself, and has
shown an equal readiness to commit the
most inexcusable military blunders Deluded
by the strength of Metz as fortress, he con-
centrated his army there and intended to
fight, but allowed the Prussians to get pos
session of the only railroad connecting Metz
anu SbhiOhos Nncu TIC OEOWn TluC6 DTOho
this road by blowing up the viaduct across
the Moselle at Pont-a-Mousson on the 18th,
Bazaine perceived his blunder, and ordered
an immediate retreat but without the aid of
a railroad he had to move with all his trains
by ordinary country highways. Next, no
sooner had he set out than he was surprised
by Won Steinmetz and Prince Frederick
Charles.
His army was separated in two, and he him
colf x,.ifh he - e r
back under the Notifications of Metz There
he has remained ever since; and whenever he
has succeeded in getting out six or a dozen
miles in any direction, he has found every
controlling position occupied by the Prus-
slams; and after fighting the bloody battles of
this memorable week, he will doubtless soon
have to choose between starvation and the
surrender of the French grand army. Hehas
shown professional incapacity as great as that
of his master; and he may look with envy
even upon the luckless MacMahon, for though
the latter has likewise been outgeneralled.
surprised, and crushed, the chief responsi-
bility has not been his, but belongs to Nipo-
leon III
Thus perishes the mighty sham of the
Second Empire, born in perjury and trea ,h-
cry, and built up in fraud and corruption.
The cost to humanity of clearing it away is
awful to think of; but the air of the world
will be purer when it is utterly removed
REPEATED CHANGING OF GOVERN
MENT CLERKS AND IT'S BAD EFFECT.
From the N. Y. Herald.
It is intimated that the pernicious custom.
which has grown up since Lincoln's time, of
changing clerks at the dctation of every Con-
gresham or politician of influence in the Re-
publican party, costs the General Government
millions year, besides imposing an unfair
ntsnf oh NhnA
who find themselves compelled by the ext
gencies of the service to do the work of the
green hands who are constantly coming and
going and confusing the public business
Before the time of Lincoln the lines of de-
marcation separating the three branches of
the government, to wit, the legislative, exc
cutive, and judicial, were clearly drawn and
fully understood. The legislative was left in
undisputed possession of its branch and
the Executive was undisturbed in the
control and distribution of the public
patronage. The President was conceded
the right to appoint whom he pleased
without consultation with Senator Tom, Con-
gresham Dick, or Governor Harry But
now every Senator, Congressman, Governor.
and big State politician claims a certain pro-
portionate share of the spoils, so that if one
State gets feathers weight more than its
quota there is danger of an internecine party
and big politicians claim this distribution,
not as a matter of courtesy, but as an incon-
testable right and they exact the last pound
of flesh with true Shylock greed and with
more than Shylock success. They get their
share, and the consequence is that the public
service has come to be at the mercy of an
unascertained number of politicians. If yes
terday's pet does not suit all the whims of
MIR. Politician to-day, he is summarily dis
charged from whatever position he may fill
and new and greener appointee succeeds.
Under such civil service system how can
the public interests be properly cared for?
No sooner are men made acquainted with the
duties OF their offices than they are dismissed
the service. AS a matter of course the pub
lie service is entrusted mainly to an army of
greenhorns. Only a few of the chief clerks,
who are indispensable for the purpose of
keeping the machinery properly oiled and
working, are constantly kept in office, and
frequently clerks of this class are rooted out
to make room for some political fugleman or
nincompoop, who, through ignorance of the
duties devolving upon the place he is sent to
fill, becomes dead weight and a detriment
to the public business.
To illustrate the effect of this system on
some branches of the service we will take for
example the customs service, under which
there exist many offices requiring the most
intricate knowledge of old laws, customs and
forms of procedure, calling for the greatest
experience and the most constant and unre-
mitiing study and attention. Four or five
months ago the head of the Customs Bureau.
finding confused state of things prevailing
in the warehouse department, sent an elabo-
rately prepared series of instructions and re-
gulations to the Custom Houses of the coun-
try for the guidance of both Collectors and