The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-11-26
SRsther gnalssy.

Fnfp DorozAss has The Goodness % GO
|cfse unlayorably efvikservsce reiorIa ah
strange so say, what he says iahss ralsar
Ar, ws the IRE Of the Washington RepaaItcds',
enc organ Of President GaAsg. In the reply
81 thai paper 10 Douonass this notable SEN
fence occurs: The President is
I'VE understand, entirely satisfied TINT the
"competiaye |ssssem SHOULD not be rigldly
enforced, II, indeed, he Is not convinced
4 that it should be, entirely abolished The s'.,
Republican adds: ..sYbat is required Is s., Q
.staudara of efficiency to which all who are
8 candidates should be up" s.e's a2,tsE.:. :,
We do not exactlS understand this. II
candidates are to be examined, We suppose
that Is necessarily competitive. Buff Cen
eral GRaxr means that this should DO GUS.
pensed with so far as the examination OF all
| the candidates is concerned, and that the one
| he selects shall alone be examined, we I'm.
derstand that. II he fails when examined, OF
lcourse the General would select another TO
run the gauntlet; but he shall have no COM m:
petttor In the field, and If he proves compe-
tent.he is the man, although some aspirant
be more competent. 80 - ~. -. -, :,
We do not profess to know what Is reaily
meant but we know this, that If the civil
reforms regulations are subjected 10 1he crl''-
cism and amendment of Congress IL VIII very
probably be demolished. ....a ..r.
Another sign OF shakiness on the subject
appears In the New York Times, which seems
to be making sort of apology for the Presi-
dent. by renaarking that he can only do SO
mucb and no more. lie can make his nornl-
nations to the Senate under the civll-reiorm
bill; but it remains for thatbody to complete
the matter by approving the nominations. 1t
evidently expects some obstruction there.
Indeed, it says that CAMERON, Of Penn
sylyania, will oppose the confirmation OF
FArRMAS, the nominee to the Philadelphia
post-offlce. II the Times would manfully
declare that General GRANT will nevertheless
fight it out and stand firm, we could well see
that civil reform would triumph. But the
Times seems to intimate that he will not
stake a great deal upon the measure; and
that if he Is not sustained he will, without
great trouble TO himself, wash his hands of
it altogether and LET it slide. r .ct
While these are strong indications let us
wait for the manifestations when Congress
meets. ..sE---:r- j g.E.r. I'll. -",s.i l.
After the above was written the Washing
ton Republican of yesterday came to hand.
It has long article, on the subject of civil
reform, in which it says the present plan
needs amendment, but that to the system Of
making merit and capability the tests for
Office, and taking the Government out of the
party arena, General GRANT is firmly de-
voted. 1t says: .fs. ,t.stE as- -s.,. sa1 j.,
$50 far as the President at least is con-
cerned, civil service meant something more
than q mere electioneering trick. AS we un-
derstand his position, he means to stand by
reform and to enforce it upon every occa-
by the best men in the party we are entirely
convinced. The Republican party is COM
mitted to;it; it is embodied in our national
platform, and in addition to oil that it is in
accordance with the honest and sincere con-
victions of the party. A few men may stand
in the way and endeayor to obstruct and
hamper its enforcement, but they will have
to succumb to what is SO manifeStly for the
best interests of the country and for the
great party that during the last twelve years
has done 50 much to preserve and perpetuate
republican institutions on this continent"
If General GRANT stands firm he will be
maintained.