New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-04-21

seen addressed by public servants 10
superior in public document. IL any
thing could smother a good cause IN ridicu'e
it would be this incessant pretense OF the
Civil Service Commissioners that they believe
tho President has his heart in the matter
II ia barely possible that it may be no pre-
tense Tbev NAV be too near him and too
loyal TO see what is patent to the world
There is something dazzling about power,
even in its scrubbiest manifestations AL
least one member of the New-York delega-
ton who went down the other day to pro-
test against initiation thought the President
behaved beautifully during that famous inter
view. Il may be that Mr.. Eaton is so busy
and 40 candid that he takes the Presidents
word about the Civil Service matter
The unfailng answer with which the gentle
men Of the Board meet every criticism upon
the Executive shortcomings is-fou cannot
expect the President to do everything. There
are many things, however, the President could
and would do if he had any genuine regard
for the public service, any desire to free 1t
from the grosser class of evils which deform
it. It is true that large number of impor-
tant positions are exempted from the opera
prevents the President from filling them ac-
cording to those principles of fitness which
form the foundation of the reform The glar-
ing cases of the New-iork SurveyOrship, the
Boston CollectOrship, the contemptuous viola
tons of the rules in Troy, in Chicago,
and in fact everywhere that there was the
slightest occasion for political appointment
are too monOtonOus and tedious to recount
Have the Commissioners ever thought Of
the enormous influence for good which
would be exerted if the President would apply
their rules merely to the States of Louisi-
ana and South Carolina, by turning out the
men of bad character and putting into every
office in the gift of the Government respect
able men, belonging to his own party if you
choose, who should be under no obligations
except to do their dutyf 1t would do more
for those States than any action Of Congress
could possibly effect.
But these things are simply beyond the Pres
idents comprehension. He first favored the
Civil Service Reform because he was worried
too much by Congressman begging Office for
their adherents. He found the reform pOpu-
lar one. He gained great credit by il among
honest and credulous people. But when the
Board was organized and put in operation, he
soon gave the TefOrmers to understand that
he cared no more for them than for the Con-
gressmen. As long as the Commissioners
amused themselves with reforming the exam
nations for clerkships, 1t was very well But
when Mr.. Curtis thought that the New-Yor
SurveyOrship would be a good place to put the
rules in practice, he was promptly taught the
difference between the places the politicians
wanted and those they cared nothing about
In other words, the President is perfectly will
ing to see the patronage taken away from the
Congressman. But he does not propose to
lose his own power of rewarding his friends and
advancing his interests. He takes care of his
friends friends, also. He treated the recon-
mendation of both the Massachusetts Senators
and all but one Congressman with contempt,
and gave the CustOm-house to Gen. Butler to
do as he liked with. There is not President
in our history who has acted with such habit
ual disregard both of party traditions and the
public welfare in the appointments he has
made. One of his strong supporters said the
other day: He is getting 50 hard to manage
eve can't tell whether to talk Third Term
"tO him, to make him behave himself, or i'm
"peach him. 1t is certainly fine thing for
a President to withstand the pressure of his
party-but unfortunately, when Gen. Grant
does it. it is usually because his party wants
him to do right
All intelligent people in the country, except
Mr.. Eaton and Mr. Shellabarger, recognize
these facts They see that Logan, Morton,
and Butler and men like them, who sheer at
honesty and principle in the public service,
are the familiar and controlling spirits of the
Administration. and that the sincere reform
ers, who are so delighted with the Presidents
professions that they never think of his prac-
tees, are innocent accOmplices in his scheme
of getting credit under false pretenses. 1t is
hard to say whether we wish their eyes to be
opened or not. Perhaps, after all, they are
doing a good and necessary work, of which
the fruits may be seen under better Execu-
tive though there is reason to fear that they
and the President together may make the
question absurd before his term is out.