The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-01-14
THE LATEST PHASE OF GIN
TIMIDATION."
from the Evening Post OF Yesterday


That was very clever and stunning hit which
Mr.. Schurz gave the administration politicians
when, IN his able speech on Louisiana in the
United States Senate, he said:-"l cannot forget
that as to the discharge Of labOrers from employ
ment for political cause, a most seductive and
demoralizng example Is set by the highest au-
thority In the land"
Mr. SEIZURE was speaking OF colored men being
discharged by democratic employers for voting the
republican ticket He said frankly that this prac-
tice undoubtedly existed in the Southern States to
some extent. But he reminded the Senate that
the democrats were not the only persons who
'lntimicated" voters in this way. He mentioned
a case which occurred under his own eyes in North
Carolina, In 1872, where o coored man was cruelty
dubbed because he hau taken sides with the DEM
OCrats. The inference was obvious that so far as
this particular kind OF intimidation" Is con-
cerned, and so far as opportunity offers, neither
the Southern democrats nor the Southern repubi-
cans are Tree from offence. The politician OF
each class uses oil the power he possesses to soon
troll" votes. And why not. when "a most seduc-
est authority in the landS" Pursuing the same
thought, II have always condemned" says MIR.
with the freedom OF political action, and therefore
l am Tor o genuine civil service reform. But
ws tn S s
champion 1ntlmdatOr In the land, you must not
be surprised II partlsans on all sides profit from its
which deters q colored man rom voting with the
opposition s less detestaple or less harmful to him
Mr.. schurz's singing words Will undoubtedly
make u smart in the White House. The President
Will discern LII them new evidence that generally
the support which the civil service reform receives
Is from those who give their support only to find
Hd The coad Of
surrounds this reform 1t Is gratifying to perceive
the undaunted face OF Mr.. Dorman b. Eaton, who
still expresses his confidence Ill its genuinenesS
and efficiency.
About the time the great Missouri Senator was
speaking orders were issued in Washington that
the advertisements OF the federal governments
should be given to those journals alone which
sustain the administration through .'thick and
thin" This, 1t will be seen, is even more strlk
ing piece OF intimidation" than that winch was
referred to by Mr.. Schurz. 1t Is the same thing In
effect, for it Is attempt to control the opinions
OF the press through It's advertising department.
The democrat in Louisiana discharges his coOred
body servant his porter or MS field hand, be-
cause the latter votes the Kellogg republican
ticket The federal administration withdraws its
advertisements from certain journals because the
latter discuss puDlic questions without reference
to the favor OF the men who for the time being
ana democrat goes upon the theory that he not
only has tie right TO direct the acts but to control
Iration adopts the theory that the public Journals
which CONTAIN the government advertisements
shall, courtier ike, say only what Is pleasing to
the ears OF the dispensers OF these advertisements.
The Louisiana democrat makes no pretensOn to
be in favor OF civil service reform, but the ADMIN
istraton does. Botn agree IN using business EN-
ployment as an aid In politics, with this differ.
ence, that the citizen OF LOUISIANA does 1t In re-
spect to his own private affairs over which he has
absolute control, whereas the administration does
1t In respect to great public interests which 1t
holds In trust Tor the welfare OF the whole people,
Postmaster General Jewell recently obtained
considerable praise for saying in his official re-
port that In the management OF his department
1.-THE interests OF the public shall be paramount to
those OF any individual, corporation or party.o
He was praised Tor this because the sentiment
commends itself to the CANDID judgment OF all In
teutgent men, The Post ONCE Departm does
not exist for political purposes but Tor business
purposes. Its sole design and legitimate work Ia
to carry the mails, not to NEEDLE IN politics. so
the Treasury Department exists to carry on a
particular business, which Is not, in any partisan
sense, political; and the same thing Is rrue
with perhaps slight exception in favor
OF the State Department, which deals with
foreign affairs, Of every department OF the
federal government. II follows from this that all
the operations OF these departments ought to be
conducted on business principles and not In sub
lection TO partisan opinions or necessities. II the
Post ONCE Department, for example, Is required
to advertise, the advertisements should be given
out, not reference to the opinions OF editors,
but with reference TO Journals circulation, the
character OF Its readers and other business char
arterlstcs which will suggest themselves to any
merchant This is the way "business" 10 con-
Quoted. "P0litcs," 1t appears, are conducted
differently. The administration has decided TO
unite the two and hereafter to conduct the bust
ness operations or the government 80 as, II posi-.
BILE, to Tn timidate" the press. OF conrse the az
tempt will be o failure but 1t Is pitaole nevershe-