New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-04-13


movemen We are engaged In but stating also tnat tney
do not dnre openly take part In IT, because % no
thy with Republican boers would expose them 70 me
vengeance OF the Custom house. and expose s M tr
North.
THE RUIN OF ruBLrc MORALITY
And what r,,s, he the neuenee OF such things upon
the morality OF our public service and our ponteai me
Are not public servants thus taught 'n't o.oD'
dience TO the political desires or the powers 'na' " -
the objectionable crime aye, ana tna' nu.i''u
Of sins may he covered by efficient partisan ze' anu
that even your Tom Murphys may DC euogzeo ny INC
President as model officers and that the 'aseys anu
Packards nj New-Orleans may be sustained II they DO
not scple to serve their employers Dy Whatever eans
their ofices place within their reach j., - .. .o.o.
And what does the Republican party 40 az At present
Organized and controlled some OF Its members crcise
denounee and protest ana tnSy o ., SosS Who control
LEGISLATION and caucuses and conventional They see
out in alarming abundance. They must see H. because
every body IL who If not Dnd But Wiat mas De
come of that honest and CONSCIENTIOUS sefcriticism
which will not hesitate to uncover and denOhnee any
wrong that it may be rghtedf where Is tat spit. VI
self-imprOvemcnt. which VIII treaI H1re seeH .o
delnuencies OF a party friend than those Oh an oppO-
nent that spirit which alone Gun save ouI poi''0ai Ao
from utter decentralization
Listen TO those who to-day pretend TO speak for the
party Neposm. that most odous 20 OF W.
" An well. why should not man take care Oh MS rea
tives when he has the opportunity-neyer MIND inc
moral effect It may produce" The unscrupulous anu
tvrannca use of the patronage 10 influence state poll
tics and the sublugation Of public opinion by
yatiop and p0wer and discipline of the party
must be maintained and President Grant must De re,
elected" Unconstitutional assumptions or power ana
breaches OF law by Government officials "Ah well,
we can Interpret the Constitution and the laws TO s
the caae and 10 make such trihes appear all right
Corruption "Ah, well some objectionable Things
may have happened ana gCoa an ~ se paTtv
tV unnecessary exposures Besides, Tammany Hal
has stolen untold millions and there more corrup-
Ton under Andrew JohnsOn's Administration tnan
now" And on 10 the end OF the chaper. Anu mus
the Administration unfortunately Endorsed by state
Conventions the demand a still stronger Endorsement
by the reflection OF the President rises louder 'han eFei
and the party Is ruled with hlsh manu-.
THE DECADENCE OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.
Is this spirit worthy of the great party which has
achieved things so grand and OF which we all were once
so proud Is this spirit bring forth those reforms
that elevation Of public morality which the Republic in
these times stands so greatly IN need OF ~
is true that Tammany Hall has stolen untold millions, Is
that a reason why Republicans may steal with I'M
punity and still possess claim upon the
public confdencel Is that why we should not
denounce the wholesale plumber going on in some OF the
Southern states under so-called Republican rule and
why should not as far as we can, ana IA ,ng WV
OF that system Of robbery Is that reason WY
we should not insist upon honest government every
where. even when dishonest government Is stamped
with the Republican name Are we reduced 10 50 Us
graceful plight as to claim pubic conndenCe On '1ie
miserable plea that Others have been worse man we
There was probably much more corruption under
Andrew JOhnsOns Administration thah lHeIe - low,
But in respect tine case stands worse Lnuer Alew
Johnson the Republicans called it corruption, and
denounced II a. corruption; WmIe now ne alIeinpV
nihtH an nbat tei ISonneped under Andrew John
s0n I gladly claim mat an improvement has taken
place But affirm that those who now strive 70 cover
cdRrrIotion. those Who called Andrew Johnsons the
most corrupt and the present one OF ihe peat Alls
tratlOus history. exhibit falhng OF tntr mora
ser Sc which If il becomes general Will IN ts effects
he far more corrupt and corrupting than any us hat
happened under Andrew Johnson. III Is an alcIAp, a.
detention which will stand IN the way OF every nonest
reform, and tend utterly 10 demoraize IunC ,nI.nl
and III the face or mat attempt II II liiC ia.
mean 10 promote the OF reform ana pure govern
ment IN good faith should rise up and cal th4ns' by
their right names
THE FARCE OF CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
But we are told that existing abuses are being cor
rectcd and President Grant has declared IL FAVOR Oh
Civil Service Reform and actually appointed commits
sion TO set it foot. Yes hear that mild attempts
are made to correct certain abuses-n the New YORK
Custom house for nsancebut we know also that those
who in Congress denounced those abuses and insisted
upou their exposure are in their denounced "a ra
tors 10 the Republican party.
Yes the President has declared in favor OF Civil
Service Reform and appointed Commission to set It on
foot And when you listen 70 the Presidents most
trusted friends and the most Jealous advocates OF his
the best civil Service IN the world and others
ridicplipg the fnndamenta 9rneiRG upon
the wish that the attempt should be made in order 10
You look for the most earnest advocates OF that reform
you fnd them with few exceptions among those who are
denounced traitors 20 the Republican party.
once indeed, plan OF reform was promulgated but
no sooner announced, than 1t suspended; and
IN the meantime me patronage Is lusuy landeh a. ne
fore and the political machinery is doing its work
have no doubt TO the sim Gritty OF purpose anlmating
the Gentlemen celebrating rules and regulations for
the civil but they have not yet. they certainly
will presently come to the conclusion, that true and
practical reform Of the civil service VII not be intro
duced by those who strive 70 benefit themselves by ITS
abuses viii the people look for tha reform under
President who relies the promotion Of his own in
terests upon TIC friendship Of its enemies The Pres
dents civil service reform has been styled humbug by
his oudest the of reform takes refuge
with those who are denounced rs his enemies This 49,
l suppose according 10 the eternal fitness Of things.
And now. when YOU look N this whole spectacle what
does 10 siclv L that the great problems. the
solution Of which IL most mperatyely demanded, have
been lost sight Of nv the influences which at present
to direct the ruling party II means that through
| the long enjoyment OF power those who WELD
il have become reckless in its exercise. II means that
the fish consideration OF partisan and pers may inter
est has above the consideration OF public good IL
means that partisan spirit looking amer seinsh ad
vantage, strives to up existing evils and abuses 10
discredit and crush the spirit OF reform
and 10 sthe the popular conscience. IL means thi1
the public service OF the country, with al s end
less ramifcations and Influences. is becoming
nay, has become, vast and systematically organized
machinery OF political power IN the hands Of one man.
fasify and subugate public opinion. and 10 dragoon
the political action OF me masses IL means th through
that organized power one will governs and impels
clique thar clique rules the caucus; tnat caucus rules
the convention mat convention The party, ana lhaC
party controlled and directed 10 rule
the American people. II means that this system
developed under the impulse Of low instincts must
school Of arrogant tyranny side. and ON tho
other Of corruption hypocrisy sayish spirit and gem
eraI nuriZauOn II means tnat uhder ms pressure
many men in political life are already AFRAID 10 utter
JheIt nvIDS1 esu iol yiat % =. IL
and fortunes; know H. Tor many nave tlu me 10, IL
means thai under system like this neither the COusti
rights Will be safe. IL means, that a declAr,
alton OF independence from q degrading ana
demorazIg personal and partisan yranny has become
the necessity Of the day ana trust We 5hdlI nave IT,
THE CINCINNATI MOVEMENT.
When we denOunce abuses, when We demand reforms
when up against tho OF personal and
partisan rnle when address OF warning TO the
people, we are met by those in power ana their