New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-04-01

no did not 20 out with any demonstration OF
dissatisfaction mt the result OF his muititudi-
nous lnbOrs. He went out quietly. lie did not
even slam the door after him as he departed.
Tn that mild hammered way in which one goes
out whose work is done, who wraps, 80 to
sneak. the drapery of his couch about him and
goes into some other sphere OF useiulness'-ne
went quietly out of commission, and the worid
that watched him eagerly never knew ne nao
| gone till il was announced the President naa
had his resignation in his hands for fortnight
| The great work of the century Is accomplished.
| The Civil Service is reformed. 1t was, 10
be sure, "the best Civil Service on
the planetn before, but now 1T LEADS
the universe. There were times during
the late bitter campaign when unpleasant
persons doubted if President Grant, although
he had made friendly mention of the matter
in message or two, vas really IN earnes.
about reforming the Civil Service. 10 all
such persons, whether they were inspired Dy
malignity or erred through ignorance, 1t was
sufficient answer to say that Mr.. George
| William Curtis, who had written so many and
such tenderly beautiful things about the Gov
eminent, was at the head OF the Commission
| to reform it, and that he had entire faith In
the earnestness and sincerity of the Admins
tration. When any wildly malignant parti-
san said Civil Service Reform was humbug
| the bright and beautiful beings who Mapped
their wings upon the stump and exalted the
nation with their patriotic utterances only
pointed at Mr. George William Curtis and the
opposition died.
| And we confess we had doubts ourselves
Not that we doubted Mr.. Curtis. But, really
if we must offer any palliatiOn for our skeptl-
| cism-there was so little besides Mr.. Curtis.
| We knew that he was at the head of the
Commission, and that he, aided by his amabe
and intellectual associates-whOso names we
regret we do not now remember-was prepar-
ing series Of questions in algebra and as
tronomy which no defaulter or incompetent
could answer; and yet there were 80 many
| great staring facts in the administration OF
| the Civil Service that seemed to be at yarl-
ance with Mr.. Curtis and his system that we
had doubts about it. A very righteous and
profoundly wise generation rebuked us, and
we accepted the rebuke. And now Mr. Curtis
has completed his work and retired. We
hasten to make Acknowledgements to
him for the great work he has accomplished.
When a doubling people questioned President
Grants sincerity in promising reform in the
Civil Service, Dir. Curtis came briSkly to the
front, and in his own name defended and in
dorsed him. And now that the President has
been reelected by the votes of people who be-
leved in Mr.. Curtis, that gentleman has
attested his own earnestness and honesty by
finishing up the reform in the shortest posi-
1i,,o in mic raliO IN atIn
There has been nothing like it since Cincin-
natus betook himself to his pillow. 80 great
work-so modestly done-and then 50 quiet
and transformations retirement There g a
beautiful simplicity about it all that, to the
aesthetic eye is more charming, if possible, than
the retirement of tho Rev. DR.. Newman
from religion and politics to an inspectorate
of cOnsulates
From his retirement Mr.. Curtis may con-
template the condition of the country which
he has contributed so much TO bring about
with calmness and serenity. Occasionally, to
be sure, foreign Minister may be appointed
who does not quite understand the English
language or the requirements of his place, but
never unless he is relative of the Admin
istration or statesman who has served his
country faithfully on the stump. These are
exceptions. In the matter of clerkships, very
few are appointed under Mr.. Curtis's rules who
cannot tell the principal lake ports or reduce
vulgar fraction to ITS lowest terms. Mr..
Curtis goes out of office with the
proud satisfaction of having compelled most
of the clerks in Government to rise superior
to vulgar fractions or find some other place.
This is glory enough. 1t is to be regretted
that this great event cannot be commemorated
by Mr.. Thomas Mast in a full-page cartoon
representing Mr.. Curtis in the well-known
garb, slashed doublet, buckler, cap and all, of
the Goddess of Liberty, pointing with pride
and exultation to Mr.. Casey of New-Orieans,
the Rev. DR.. Newman of Washington, and
Marshal Sharpe of the New-York Custom
house, with the remark. "These are my
trophies But Mr.. Mast, we believe, has
gone away.