Daily national Republican. (Washington City [D.C.]) 1870-1872, 1872-11-18


regard to the Philadelphia postmastershlp
has called forth the most commendatory
comments from the entire press without dls-
tincllon Of party. In whatever light 1t IL ro-
garded Ii Is one Of the most Important events
that has occurred In many years, aud II the
President shall adhere to the policy 1t would
seem to foreshadow It will have an incalcu-
liable Influence on the future Of the republic
It Is the FIRST direct blow at the system, for
which we are Indebted to Andrew Jackson,
Of making office the reward OF party service;
a system that has been fruitful Of co ruptlon,
and that has done more to demo allEO the
Government aud bring Ii into disre =, ute than
all other causes combined. The stOrians
and blographcrs who have written OF Jack
sons time tell uB that lu the years Of Jack
sons administration the capital became q
mere camp to which the party chieitalns
marched down, with their retalners, to secure
the spoils Of victory. During every admins
tratlon since, Washington has presented
the same appearance Immediately after
every Inauguration ceremonial. No sooner
was new President In the Executive
| Mansion than ii was throngel by dele
CATION after delegation demanding the re-
mOval Of this man aud the appointment OF
that one, all for the purpose Of strengthen
lug the party" There has been no regard TO
fitness no thought Of what was due the pub
lie service; efficiency was rarely considered;
the hi, hest Offices always went to the lOudest
brawlers ut the POLLS to tho most active
workers a. the ballOt-boI. The President
was held responsible for his appointments by
the Constitution; but the party chleItalns
came 10 aud took the matter entirely out Of
hls hands. He became the mere minister
to carry out their devices a SORT OF vice.
regent to carry out their behests. Tue pa
tronagc It was claimed belonged not to the
President, but to the members OF Congress,
who in this way paid their political indebted,
ness ut the expense OF the public treasury.
The delegation that swept down upon
| Washington last week TO demand the APP
polutment of Mr.. Truman merely followed
the old traditions and precedentI. AccOl ding
to the old theory of ottiee-holdIng and office
seeking there was nothing wrong iu It, and
their request would have been granted Il
Gen. Grant aud the Republican party had
not determined that the old order OF things
should be reversed and return made, Us far
as possible, to the practice of the early days
of the republic. The Republican party, In
convention assembled, last June, resolved
THAT any system Of the civil service under
which the subordinate positions Of the Gov
eminent are considered rewards for mere
party zeal Is fatally demorallzlng; and we
therefore favor q reform Of the system by
laws which shall abolish tho evils OF patron
age and make honesty, efficiency and fidelity
the essential qualifications for public posi-
tions, without creating life tenure Of office. -
| II was emlncnuy fitting that In the very city
where this promise was made % the country
the lrst beginning should be made. One Of the
gentlemen who waited upon Gen. Grant said
that the people Of Philadelphia did not care
much about the ciyil service rules, and
did not think OF them when they
were rolling up mijOrltiesa for General
Grant That may be true, although We be-
lleve 1t to be something very like a slande
upon that portion Of our felloW-cltiEeus
But even II 1t were true, 1t has got nothing
10 do with the question. Tho civil service
rules are the law Of tue land, and as the law
they h.ust be enforced by the President aud
obeyed by the people. Mayor Stokeley said
that they merely wished to strengthen the
party" and for that very laudablo object
the President should strain point and ylO-
late His oath of Office. II the party can DO
strengthened only ia this way, II 1t can be
saved only In this way, the so oner 1t is weak
ened and dies the better We go farther
than that aud say II republican Institutions
can DO pcrpetuatcd only 10 that way the
quicker We have tho empire or the mon
archy the better.
Republic or no republic, party or no party
the people WI commend the action OF Gen.
Grant. Al one blow he has struck forty or
Any thousand offices from the roll OF pOllti-
cul spoils. II Is the greatest aud the grand
est service that he has performed during his
Presidency, aud we trust he shall have the
courage. to stand by the line OF policy he
would ,cem to have marked out during the
balance Of Ills term, and for tue four years
ending March 4, 1877.