New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-10-04
THE CANVASS FROM THEOLOGICAL POINTS
OF VIEW.
AN OPEN LETTER FROM THE REV. w. ii
BEECHER, CONCERNING DIR. L. BACON AM

TO the EdftOr Of The Tribune.
SIR In an article in The Christian Union
OF Sept 25h. Dr. Bacon makes charges and assumptions
In regard to Mr.. Greeley which, coming from Doc
tor of Divinity and Professor Of Theology are likely 10
do much harm He begins by admitting that. although
certain Republicans originated Civil Service Reform yet
there has been of ouspoken opposition 10 IL Dy
Republican members Of Congress than by Democratic;
that he cannot remember any proposal oil the nd OF
word OF announcement from the Democrats; that ne
ust be very ignorant or very eredulous VINO DeeVes
the restoration OF the Democratic party to power VIII
bring reformation. Here, and throughout this afuce'
it is assumed or implied that Mr.. Greeley is Democrat
that the Liberal party is Democratic; and that its sue
cess will be the restoration OF the Democratic party TO
power This may indeed be his opinion but there
is no proof; while the candidate and platform and the
principal men Of the Liberal party and OF the ois Demo
cratic party deny 1t and affirm the contrary Shall We
believe Dr. BIS guesswork or the deliberate anrna
ton OF Greeley Sumner Trumbui aud host OF sanch
Repubcans fact is that the prominent men OF tho
liberal party originated and urged the Reforms but
It has not been and is not now Republican party meas
ure only in name while 1t is opposed by men In ohce
Members Of Congress- who desire by the distribution OF
patronage TO gain or retain Office, while in reality the
President makes comparatively but few appointments;
and this fact constitutes the real obstacle.
DR.. Bacon sneers Mr.. Greeley advocate or re-
form in manner unworthy OF himself az Christian
reformer Mr.. Greeley did what he could while In
Congress TO reform the mileage cheat and iranking
robbery
Does Dr. b. favor the mileage the frankng swiudef
Why then. does he attempt TO bring odium upon Mr.
Greeley who has been consistent In these reformsf
and why does he taunt Mr. G. great and general re-
former and say that "of he must DO in earnest
TO get rid Of that great abuse" referring TO tho Civil
servicel Accordingly are invited tounderstand that
Mr. Greeley is OF reforming the Civil Service
This argument by an innuendo, sarcasm, aislur is like
the sting OF hornet quickly and easily used and merely
intended to give pain 1t ia unworthy Of Dr. B. to resort
TO such weapons against honorable and everconsis
ent reiormer But DR.. b. says, "He Mr.. Greeley, has
his own way Of doing it, very different from Grants sys
TEN OF competitive examinations and regular promo"
TONS without regard TO services to the party Has Mr.
Greeley anywhere opposed the system OF
Grant Has he not always advocated it,
Has he any OF the Liberal party, said
one word against it, in favor OF appointments for
party seryicel Dr. b. knows that he cannot point TO
one fact or one printed syllable, sustaining his nsnua
tons in this matter But he says: His theory OF re-
forming is the oneerm doctrine so that the President
in Office shall not be tempted TO the mighty power OF
patronage his reelection. And then as IL this
were all and the sole remedy proposed by Mr. g. ana his
friends Mr.. b. proceeds TO say, els this what Mr. O.
knows about human nature Is this all he has learned
from his long familiarity with the operations and genius
OF political parties countryi This let us remem
ber intended make believe it better for the Civil
Service Reform elect Mr. Greeley for first term than
Cen Grant for second" Dr. b. then that because
no one can expect third term and Grant has already
served one therefore, all the beautiful results OF one
principle will of course be realized for the next
four years by his election"
Now this reasoning is really too absurd Greeley says
the patronage of the country has become 80 enormous
and its influence injurious and its continuance 80
dangerous the liberties Of the nation that II ought to
be restrained and reduced far possible that the
agf
the President and that here Is the place TO begin Does
Dr. b. deny this Can he No but he goes on thus
But II Nj. Greeley is elected, what will followi He
has given out the that those who aid h are
TO have the spOls II victorious" Now challenge Dr.
b. 10 find word intimaton OF any such pledge Dy
Mr. Greeley. 1t cannot be found But he has promised
rugdId with favor hiH Democratic ahherents those
who have deserted the Republican party, says DR.. b.
Well did not Lincoln do the same Gideon Weles,
Stanton and Grant and Sherman, were all Democrats.
And did not Grant do the same Boutwell, and
Creswell, and others, were Democrats. AND
would we have Greeley appoint only Repub-
licans and ignore Democrats II 80, why Or
would he have HIN choose his chief from the Grant
party who have opposing the platform and It's pro-
posed reforms Every man OF common sense must
know that when certain principles and reforms are adj
vocated by party and opposed by the other 1t would
be absurd the successful party TO put into office those
who would oppose and hinder the fundamental princi
follow as Dr. b. adds. that this means that his Adj
viii reform Civil Service just Jackson
did when every ofcehoder Who had not voted for him
was displaced for Jackson man." "such, at the best
the reformation are TO expect from the election OF
Mr. Greeley" Now, say, DIR. i. has not just ground
for saying this OF whose life has been as just
upright moral and consistent his own II Is not the
spirit OF Chris-that charity (which thinketh no evil,
hOpeth all things reioceh not in induity but reoieeth
In the truth"
But still further. what right has DIR. Il. to nsnuate
or rather the form OF query assert that should Mr.
Greeley be elected he will not abide in the faith OF the
one term prinoipe" owe know when he sees chance
OF getting himself eeete1 70 inc a s neg ne thai me-
would not very find out that his case 10 eIcep-
advocated term changed their minds, therefore
Greeley viii land then what becomes OF reformf'
and patronage In favor Of his successor, Mr. Greeley
may do the same and brings up me q, example OF Ba
Of his patriotic " no man can ever be found
and no party ever formed who viii correct THIS most
day and threatens 20 poison all the springs OF p0hcal
@ overthrow by he 1 s
Presidents for II Ia certain that no KING mas |
has the sword the purse and the patron
age Of the nation his power increasing enormously every
those who areeekng to and subdue this
great evil. He SAYS IL may be mat Inc democratic
but he is not such smpeton to believe that the Civil
Service can be reformed by fOrbddng the reelection OF
President His plan is simply this-onee In four years
new President 10 distribute the offices among those
no have been efficient in giving him the power OF re-
wardlng them" What right has Dr. q. To call Mr.. Gree
ley the Democratic candidate He knows well that Mr.
O. is Republican truly he has been since the party
exised that did much one man for Its organ
zaiOn that the principles ht advocates are those which
he has prOmu IN his paper for years before the
party existed that the platform set forth at Cincinnati
l. more Republican than that Of Philadelphia that Mr.
Greeley advocates that platform; that MIR. q. |
Is man OF honor truth, honesty, and sincerity; |
that he has always been open and above-board, |
never undeThanded sly that what he says |
he means, and what he promises lie will |
fulf; that he has been bought cOaxed nor In
that when he might have been u. g. SENATOR
IN he would only print and publish certain things, he