Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1872-04-24
sIr. willard on Reform.


Reform has rested only in the vague gen.
eralties of resolutions aud good determine
tious long enough. Ii has been used US fair
preteusc quite as long as such pre,enso eau
mislead Intelligent men. Those who mean
reform when they say reform, have reached
point where they believe it is desirable to as
certain who is willing to act as well as TO tain
in favor OF it. will not stop to consider
whether the Presidents adherence thus Tar to
his determination has quite equalled our tx
pectations II be has come short OF what we
hoped, | am charitable enough to believe that
the fault is Infinitely less his than that Of the
Congress which ought to have given him au
encouraging response long before this, aud OF
some selEBlpoiuttd leaders OF the republican,
party who, while oulogizing General Grant,
have nearly stranged the measure which he
so cordially and Gully indorscd.
| do not rest my belief OF the necessity OF
some reform in the civil service alone upon
any array Of delaultug aud swindling OH
cials upon any parade Of figures showing
the grand aggregate Of the money wrong'ully
takeu from individuals under color Of collec
ions for public use, and fraudulcntly and
fcloniousy put into private pockets upon
any list Of schemes pressed in Congress aud
State Legislatures which, under pretense or
the public good pour iuto the Golfers Of rich
corporations aud into the private boards OF
INSCRIPTIONS men, the wealth wrung at last
from those who eau i'll afford TO contribute Of
their seunty substance to gid the palaces OF
the rich aud swell the revenues aud the pow
or Of the strong. The evil is not merely il
administration 1t is not alone that here and
there our method Of administering govern
ment gives us an incompetent or dishonest
li,iul it is that this system is at war with
every principle Of free government, and II
not torn up by the roots aud utterly destroy
cd, will destroy the government Itself.
II the spoiIs Of single state produced
Tweed aud Hall and Barnard in that limited
field OF operation, what alarming proportions
Of villsiuy might not be developed when the
spois Of four hundred millions Of revenue
are turned Into private and party channels
and Z" the whole uubouuded continent give
scope for the expansion Of schemes OF plum
der2 We shall have more Tweeds until VI
stop sowing the seed from which they sprung
So far as the republican party permits sue
practices while it has control Of the govern
ment il deserves to be condemned aud if
cannot reform itself and Danish from its ad
famous doctrine of the spoils, it will soone
or later be disowned by the people aud wi
meet, as it will merit an overthrow as signs
and AS rushing as that which has beialle
Tammany.
The New York custom house it appear
had two collectors, the nominal collector, Nj
Murphy and the real collector, Mr.. Clinct
Mr.. Murphy was republican, and coul
manage primary meeting or a conventio
satisfactorily to his employer, aud Mr.. Cline
was democrat, and could attend to the bus
ness Of the office aud be "a great relief au
comfort to the collector" Mr.. Murphy ha
salary aud perquisites Of an indehni'
amount, aud Mr.. Cinch had salary Of $500
annually. Mr.. Clinch administered the la
and Mr. Murphy the politics Of the ofhc
Mr.. Clnch has remained in the Office thri
years and is probably now no richer thu
when he first took the position, and in Il
mean time very likely score Of political co
lectors have got rich out Of the place Whe
Mr.. Murphy was asked if Mr.. Clinch WI
'permitfed TO serve the public and yet mali
tain bis personal independence" be answere
without concealment, - Yes, sir he is an e,
cepton to the general rule" 1t is possibl
Mr.. Murphy believes the general rule "
IL
really IT, but he certainly gave it as he III
dersiood it, The general rule is that pc
son must agree politically with the patty col
trolling the government, and with the part
ular faction Of the party in power, or he
removed from office, no matter what may |
his fitness for the position. Mr.. Clinch fol
tunately is not the only exception to this ruiz
as many departments Of the public servic
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