Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1872-07-23

his interests that he can. BE is not
incapable of occasionally doing a good
thing. He prefers a good appointment
to a bad one, other things being equal.
He undoubtedly desires that affairs
should 90 well, his own welfare in
cluded Such is the character of his
personal government-We should be do
ing it too much honor .by calling ID
CRsarism-it is not inspired by any
grand, lofty and long-headed ambition.
It is absolutely barren of ideas and
originality, bare of striking achieve
ments, and void of noble sentiments
and inspiring example. 1t is simply
dull and heavy, stupid and stubborn in
its selfshness. After pursuing this sub
ject still further, and with some bitter.
ness, the Senator spoke of the apathy
which naturally follows q period of great
excitement, and declared that the
CINCINNATI CONVENTION
was the result of popular uprising
from such apathy; that il assumed di
mensions far beyond the expectations of
its originatoTs, and embraced multitudes
who were united by one impulse to
unite the whole American people in the
bonds of reconciliation and fraternal
feeling, and TO shake OIL personal aud
party despOtism. Acknowledging that
its action had caused disappointment to
himself and to Others who wished its
declarations of policy, as well as its can
didates, to be such that the victory of
the movement would furnish an
administration approaching the ideal
of good government as near
as human wisdom, integrity, and earn
est efforts can carry it. He declared that
he had come deliberately to the eonclu-
sion that no possibility existed 70 unite
more fully ali the forces which the
movement should have gathered un-
der its banners; and argued that the
OvERTHOW OF PARTY DEsPoTIsM
is the first thing needful 10 any reform,
and that Mr.. Greeley would have at is
back no regular organization, and can
win the support and favor Of the people
only by deserving it. Tariff refOrmers
should Learn from the enemies of that
cause who fnstinctively fiId the suFest
and most national bulwark in party
which is controlled by organized selfish
ness. Regarding civil service reform, the
Senator gave the following
LETTERS TO AND FROM MR.. GREELEY.
ST. LOUIS, Mo.s June p, IS72.
DEAR SIR-In your letter of accept
ance, you promise thorough reform of
the civil service in general terms. The
question of how the problem of civil
service reform presents itself to your
mind, is one of great interest. 1 would
suggest, if it be consistent with your
views of propriety, that you give me
such explanations as viii put your in
tentions in this respect in a clear light.
Yours truly, CARL sCHURz.
The following is Mr.. Greeley's reply:
NEW York, July 5, lST2.
Ny DEAR SIR-Yours of the twenty
sixth ultimO, only reached me three
days ago. 1 respond as promptly as l
may, the problem of civil service re-
form is rendered difficult by a misalli-
ance between the Executive and Legis-
lative branches of our Federal Govern
ment. Those members of Congress who
favor the administration, habitually
claim, and are accorded q virtual mon
opoly of Federal offices in their respec-
tive States or districts, debating APP
pointments and removals, Us interest or
caprice may suggest. The President ap-
points at their bidding; they legislate in
subserviency to his will, and often in
opposition to their own convictions.
Unless all history is unmeaning, this
confusion of the Executive and Legisla-
tive responsibilities and functions, could
not fail to distemper and corrupt the po-
little. l hold the eligibility of our
Presidents reelection the main
A President should be above the hope of
future favor; the fear of alternating
powerful, ambitious partisans; he should
l. Tl.. e1 ol, faf or g hut
of the republic; he should decide nothing
but the accusing voice of history and the
inexorable Judgment of God; he should
fully realize and never forget that Con-
greSs, in its own sphere, is paramount !
and nowise amenable to his supervision,
and that the heartiest good viii to his
administration is perfectly compatiblel
with the most pointed dissent from his
inculeatiOns on the very 7gravest ques-
tons in finance or political economy. !
It is the first step that costs. Let it be !
settled that President is not to be
elected while in Office, and civil service |
reform is no longer difficult, He will
need no organs, no subsidized defenders. |
He will naturally select his chief eoun- |
sellOrs from among the ablest and
wisest of his eminent feilow-citizens, re-
gardless alike of theirshrieks of sociality
aud the suggestions of selfish policy.
He will have ncainterestto eonciliate;
no chief of a powerful clan to attach to
his personal fortunes. He VIII be inl-
PEELED TO appoint, as none will deny
that he should appoint, men of ripe eX- /
perienee in business and of eminent
mercantile capacity to collect, Keep and
disburse the reverse, instead of dexter |
Gus manipulators of primary meetings
and skillful traffickers in delegates tol
conventions. He will thus
transform the civil service of The coun- |
try from a party machine into a busi- /
ness establishment. No longer an as
pirant to place, the President will nat !
urally aim to merit and secure the ap-
probation of the entire people but es- |
pecially of the eninentIy wise and good. +
As to the MACHINERY of Boards of EX- |
aminers, etc, whereby the details of
court service reform are to be matured I
and perfected, defer to the judgment |
of a Congress unperYerted by the adul- |
terous commerce in q legislation |
and appointments which l have |
already exposed and reprehended. Up
to this time our experience of the doings /
of boards in this direction has not been l
and this, | am confident, I
is not the tault OF the gentlemen VINO /
have tried to serve the public as COM (
in so far as they may have |
failed, the causes of their success must |
be extensive; bad they been accorded a
fairer field, i am sure they would have 4
wrought to a better purpose. 4 thinker I
has Observed that the spirit in which we
work is the chief matter, and we can 1
never achieve civil service reform until /
the interests which demand it shall be |
more potent in our public councils than /
those which resist, even while seeming
to favor, it. That this contamination is |
not distant, l fervently trust Mean
time, thanking you for your earnest and Z
labors to this end, / remain
yours, HORACE GREELEY. /
This declaration the Senator accepted |
as the practical reform of civil service, /
and adds: But the man who knows !