New-York tribune., 1872-02-15
DRIFT or POLITICAL DISCUSSION.
TIE REFORM CURRLNT.

TIL RE4 cith u hha-N4'
Tic oleeholdrrs attempt to sle discussion and die
tate the choice for the Presidency, strikes The Hobie
Tribune az the most spectacle OF the present pre-
iminary campaign. "Eo feature" Il in this IN
cgcasng devotion las been more prominent and IS de-
serving Oi consideration Than tho general Ignoring
tic peoples Igt Oi Individual ard indcpeni'n' political
dc cnin1.on and action and The IccrdithF party lac
tcans with iul pnw'r and auh9iy 20 ~ ne pionnGa- OH ne
things which hereditary possess0Es ot dvinc right
may Oi right do"
the wise measures Of President Lincoln. Tie Ne,carh
Joral takes occasion TO poiu, ont how supc.stucuro
OF error was reared y the former SIM fOundati1n
His personal blunder, It Is charged. In suppO5ing
that had but himself 10 consult In the disposition Of
the great offices Of the Government Mr.. Lincoln took
for his secretaries unmstakaby put forward by
tner States Although some offices are not elective
and are filled at the discretion OF tho Executive the
and those whom they have hOnored should also be
honored Ivy the appointing power UNTIL therefore, tLero
is such change in appointments and removals that
pOit Influences shall 10 control the Civil Service
OF the country it j. enently proper that the test Of
fitness shall be found in the character fitness aud party
services of the applicants, ana that the wishes Of fair
toOR?'"On to to- 0' 'H0 ''Vi' '' '' ''''D ''S'''
Discussing the question OF Reform, The Boston
Herald reviews the persistent opposition OF the Aduns
tration people to oil Efforts In that direction, and touch
ing the Presidents share In the business says: The
President has received full credit for favOring the
reform. How much OF it does be dcservei The COnst-
tutlOn places the appotment OF certain cnccrs IN Lis
power 1t is entirely within his authority to order any
method Of selection he approves In point Of fact these
officers are divided up among Colgessmen who clamor
over them like tackals over rotten While the
President allows this t. continue can he be friend OF
Civil Service .eformi Last year Secretary Cox OF the
Interior Department honestly endeavOred 10 intro luce
practical reform OF the Civil Service into his department
lie was Indifferent to poi ca influence and tiled 10 put
merit in It's place as Qualca ion for Oto. The result
was that he driven from tie Cabinet OF the Presi-
dent who Is held up as tie champion OF Civil Ser
t.cs
their arms in the public tregsry 70 the Shoulder His
most trusted advisers dcue 'nd derCunce any change
the reform lair chonce buG fe opposes It with al the
influence of his and AL the power D his hi <h Office"
The results Of the Custom house Investigation con
vince The Neto.Hacea Journal warm supporter OF the
President that Mcssrs Babcock and Porter, Owe Il 70
themselves TO show beyond question that they not
joined with Leet Co. in their scardllous exactions
ITO say the least" continues III, Journal "teir ap-
parent backing out ut the instance Of NJ. Howo has
bad look and exceedingly unfortunate, II, they
saw Messrs Porter and BabcOck ere able 10 disIrove
ali the allegations to their dscredt IL makes them
like Sinking full investigation the efot q which
on the public mind IS lmo5t bad COME sing judg
nent, After this fdr pas, n these gentlem n do not
come forward and make clear aa noonday that they
have NOT used their position I'm the Oc II household OF
the President TO promote the OF Leet they on gnt
10 he kicked out OF the White House without hours
notice Il these p9htiSegllNAry feeretailos cannot
House. 1t won't do TO cover NJ anything or dodge any
thing In this The whole ruin sonla come out no
matter who l. hurt Tho President should insist that
these men shall show their hands, that tey may be
onerated before the country OF tue blame II any there
be, put where II belongs"
or the main stake in the pending campaign The Obi
eago Tribune after pointing ont the growing disrust In
the country regarding Gen. Grants eagerness for
nation says: Every political campaign has Its watch
word that gives the clue to the popular sympathy All
the signs OF the times indicate that the Keynote Of tho
Republican party to tho next oanpaga Will DO Reform