New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-09-23

delicate relations SO these agents OF g
widely ramifying system lay their hands on
the threads of influence which run into every
family and penetrate every household. The
mails are abused in the interest OF partisan
service, and postmasters are made the dis
tributors of partisan appeals and misrepre-
sensations. The service of the post-oihce II
turned into political machine, not only t6
work the works of the party in power
but to break down and hinder, il
possible the honest and lawful labors OF
those who fall under the displeasure OF the
ruling ring. How long, we would like to ask
would our merchants stand a perversion Of
postal facilities which should embarTass thea
own private business through the mails, ane
furnish the names of customers and CORE
spOndents to their competitors IN business
And yet this is just what Is now done
by Grant postmasters at the bidding OF polltl'
cal committees supposed to have the making
and unmaking of postmasters in their hands
Men who are not specially harmed or moved
by such mOnstrous outrage - such shame
full invasion of private rights as this - may
smile; wait until the growing evil has reached
you it is certainly reaching for you; 1t only
needs little more time and public apathy aud
your business is touched.
And what is true of one department. Oh 1hc
public service is true of all. 1t Is In the MAUI
raj order of things that power intrenched I'D
the pubIic offices, striving to keep there
indefpitely. should use all the resources OF
the Government for its selfish purposes. An
immense coast line, stretching from the Bay OF
Fundv nearly to the Caribbean Sea, Is studded
with custom-houses of more or less Importance;
stealthiy and slowly these have been IN
creased in number and cost until hundreds OF
them contain detachments of mere political
employees maintained at a cost ten times
greater than the amount of revenue collected
at those points. The nayy-yards cost more IN
time of peace than in war; Nobody pretends
to Justify this waste of the public money,
which is generally confessed but the Grant
politicians chuckle over it and the easy good
nature with which debauched public sentl-
ment passes it by is one of the alarming signs
OF the times.
In truth. we shall never see reformation
OF the public service unless the people do
perceive the danger of tho insidious disease
which is now corrupting it, Administration
Journals and orators talk fippantly OF these
abuses of power and divert attention from
real issues by personal vulgar abuse. But the
evil is spreading, and that which is this yeaI
an infection that breaks out sporadicaliy
in Sub Treasury defalcations, postal abuses,
and paymasters' thefts, will, if unchecked,
by and by corrupt the whole social and pollt-
zeal fabric. The Liberal movement is IN the
interest Of Just such reform as the tunes
and this state of the country demand. Fol
four years the Grant people president broth
ers-in-law, cousins, and hmhes Official.
have had absolute possession Of the Gov
eminent. They have treated 1T as nc
Administration ever before treated 1t
They have seemed to consider that the
whole public service was private property
TO be farmed or given out at the Will and
pleasure of the prOprietOrs. Let us have the
books overhauled and the long concealed, half
suspected defalcations, deficits, and malappro-
priations exhibited. The men who shirk Their
part of this investigation, who are CON
tent with a fat place in which theJ
get good prices for their work and wares
may as well take warning now. Honest fair.
able, and popular government is worth more
than a mere temporary personal prosperity
and even this prosperity will not last much
longer if we allow the selfish rule of a faction
to go on with its misuse of power and prostl'
tuition of the Government. If ever there
was Il call for reform it is now, and suddenly,
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An exceedingly dramatic contribution TO nursery
- IL