National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-03-04
THE MoTHER-IN-LAW OF THE REPUBLI.
CAN PARTY.
In his Message of the

In his message OF the 9TH OF December,
1874, the President says
"UDder these circumstances, therefore, l an
nounce that If Congress adjourns without positive
legislation on civil service reform, will regard
such action as a disaPproTal Of the system, and
will abandon it."
The hostility of Congress has been shown
from the moment the first Message was read,
and as this Congress is the same which last
year contemptuously refused its aid; this dec
laration by the President must be regarded as
the present end even of formal effort to re-
form the abuses of he civil service by the sub
stitution of reasonable system. The country
will hardly be surprised, however much it may
regret the result. 1t is especially an exeCu-
tive reform, and the action of the President,
while showing q consciousness of the incon-
veniences and annoyances Of the present sys-
TEN, and a sincere wish that something might
be done to correct It, has not revealed that
kind Of perception and resolution which can
alone accomplish results. The President had
in his second term an opportunity of admins
tratiye reform which would have made his
civil career only less illustrous than his mill
tary service. Had he held firmly to his de.
clared purpose which the National Republican
Convention had ratified, he would have both
purged and strengthened his party, and Re.
publican dominance would have been long
assured. Congress, indeed, was hostile, but
unfortunately be taught both Il and the country
TO doubt alike the earnestness Of his purpose
and the force OF his resolution.-HarpcrS
Weekly, December 20, 1874.
This spirit OF fault.fndlng Is dlSIngenuous,
In that It charges the President with not
having revealed that kind Of perception
land resolution which can alone accom-.
"pllsh results, In the face OF the admitted
oppoSltlon Of tho legislative body; and
when even his last Message lloratcS his do.
mand that II Congress adjourns without
further legislation on civil service rc.
form, | will regard such action IA dis.
approval Of tho system, and will abandon
at" II IL the nrSt time In tho silent
mans career that hIS porSIStonoy was ever
impugnod since the days Of the Wilderness
when every loyal heart echoed Amen" 10
his determined motto Of lighting II out on
that line.
Recent occasions have been seized upon
by the Weekly 10 fling sneeR at him,
and by lndlrectIon, as well, Ut his supI
porteS, II Is not necessary TO partlcula-
rize. But the thousands who read Har.
per's Weekly will witness the truth OF the
assertion. The editor Is man Of letters,
and brilliant essaylst; but he has O grley.
ancer for his Weekly now appears In the
role Of mother,in law TO the Republican
party, and certainly exercises her privilege
of scolding to an extent not warranted,
even by her pretensions. We are assured
Congress, indeed, was hostile, but I'm.
fortunately he taught both it and the
country to doubt alike the earnestness of
"his purpose and the force of his resolu.
"tion." The writer of sparkling para.
graphs is power in the land, mail clad,
but not invulnerable. Let US see.
That differences in opinion may be hon.
estly entertained and tolerated is a truism
Thus 1t seemed TO Mr.. Curtis and the
President as il civil service rules might be
created and judiciously enforced Without
fully committing itself to the measure Con-