, 1872-01-15

clamorins for years for civil service
reform, and its cries have been un-
needed. The importance of the sub-
ject has been acknowledged, and a CON-
mlttee appointed to discuss it, but m.an-
whlle all the worst usages of official
favoritism ald patronage are adhered
to IN practice. Now, that is not what
the people want. Fair words are not a
sufficient substitute for sound deeds.
Ii the administration is in earnest let it
correct at once the fragrant evils of these
partisan appointments and of the. per-
nlclous doctrine that the emoluments ef
place are the rightful reward of mere
partisan fidelity. Two-thirds of the de-
moralization that has degraded our Dol.
lacs has grown out of this doctrine, and
It IS time that it were exploded,
Again the financial policy of the gov.
ernment has been drifting rather than
an assured and certain course. Soma
good has been accomplished, but in a
spasmodic, not systematic, may. We
have paid off an insta1ment of the ma,
tional debt by an exhaustive, not re.
hevlng, process s-for every dollar re.
deemed has cost the people at least
three dollars. While the income tax is
retained. few other taxes have been re,
duced, and the infamous and impover-
lshlng rates of tariff are kept at their
ruinous height. The odious and unjust
principle that one form of industry is
to be mulcted in order to maintain
another form of industry. not, perhaps,
half SO productive as the frst. is upheld
in all its nlonstrosity. Nor has a step
been taken, so far as we can discover.
towards return to sound metallic
currency, which is the ouly currency
compatible with commercial prosperity,
social progress and political integrity.
A deluge of corruptions has swept over
the whole community, in the train of
our fuctuating standard of values, vet
no hand has been lifted to stay the des-
olating torrent. Years ago wei should
have returned to the payment Of specie,
as we might have returned, not only
without danger to any legitimate interest
but with large actual accession to the
general wealth and well-being; but
specie payments are as remote now, so
far as the action of the administration
IS concerned, as they were at the close
OF the war. 1t has not made itself the
champion of stable medium of OK.
change, nor rallied its followers to the
support of any jnst and benifcent
scheme of financial amelioration,
As for the rebellious states, their con.
dition. after six years of reconstruction.
can only be described as pitiable, A
good deal of this is. doubtless, owing to
the persistent folly of the Bourbon dem.
ocrats, who encourage Ku-Klux klans.
and irritate the fears, if not the animos.
tiles of the North, by the insane hostility
to past legislation and their still more
insane projects or hopes Of Bourbon
revolution; but not little of 1t is owing
to the absence Of liberal, considerate,
and judiciods measures on the part of
the majority in Congress. The political
disabilities imposed upon many of the
leading men Of the South should long
since have been repealed; a general
amnesty should have undermined hatred
and disarm ed hostility; and the political
management of states returned to the
hands Of those who are the natural
leaders and, therefore, the spontaneous
choice Of their people:
We glance at these subjecta out Of
many, not for the purpose of finding
fault, but in order to warn Congress Of
its duties. The majority Of that body
have still an opportunity to repair the
mistakes Of the past, toappease dissatis-
factions that are silently growing in
volume andintensity, and to unite the.
party which it represents in compact,
and solid organization. All the strength
that any possible opposition may
acquire will be the result Of its failures
and neglects. Let it not despise the
admonition. Opinion in this country,
as we have lately seen in the metropolis.
is apt to take sudden and tremen.
dous bound, which overleaps the walls
of prejudice and party dicipline, and
carries along with it.every sort of polit.
ical machinery, as the food off river
sometimes sweep away the dams and
dykes that have been carefully raised
to guide its current IN. Y. Evening
Post. ~
TIE WLLow.-The 6rst willow tree
ever planted in America was set out on
Vf &h = \