New-York tribune., 1876-08-09
DEMOCRACY AND REFORM.

The question of reform goes to the back
ground. This will be most unwclcomc
statement to Democrats Tlrou h weary
months they will labor, with documents and
specch2s and elaborate editorials TO maze 1t
untrue. But when the votes are counted III
October and November 1t will be found that
the position Of the Democratic party on the
question of the currency and OF public hoAoF
has been decisive. As soon as the nomination
of Gov. Hayes had been made. TIE Tribune
realizing the irresistible tendencies Q, the
Democratic party on this question, perceived
that it would become the controlling Issue,
and therefore did not hesitate, Is many
indcDandents did, to await the letter
of Gov. Haycs For on the money ques-
ton the Democratic party Is utterly ano
fundamentally wrong, and as long a. that re-
mains the paramount question III public ahaiIS'
it will he the duty Of those who care for
national honor to desire the defeat OF De-
mocracy. Had it been possible for that party
in nominating Mr. Tild"n, 70 rSc 90 the icNti
of his former record on this question the
situation would have changed; administrative
reform would have become in public estimation
the predominant issue, it was not possible.
The mountain could not go TO Mohanmcd, and
therefore Mohammcd went to the mountain.
Mr.. Tidcn'S letter accepts The position 0i his
p9rty, and the votes OF nearly iour-h'thS ol
the Democratic members Of the House prove
that po>ition to he hostile to the public honor.
Reform goes 20 the background however.
for another reason. Both parties promise 1t.
Rut Democrats want only such reform a.
can be effected through the agency Of the
Democratic party Republicans, also, want only
such reform as can be effected through the
agency of the Republican party. The great
body of independent voters, who want reform.
party or no party, are forced to choose through
which of these two agencies the better results
may be expected. Now the Republican party
as such, has given 10 the country the dis
graceful administration which all true Amer
leans contemplate with shame. But the Dem
ocratic party has given us no reason To bcneVe
that its rule would he on the whole more cred
liable. That it would incontincGtly kick ont
of Office Republican thieves and Republican
honest and faithful officials with impartial and
undiscriminating celerity every one knows.
But that would not be reform. We have seen
in the selection of officials for the Democratic
House that mere partisan Ostracsm OF expert
epced officials is sometimes reform, and some
times the exact opposite. What the Demo
Gratis want, all that the great majority OF
Democratic party leaders seem to really want
is to turn all Republicans out of Office. They
would cxpel the good with the bad. Genuine
reform in the civil service means to reward
those who are honest and faithful. 1t does
not punish them equally with the basest and
most incompetent.
The history of the Democratic party has been
one of steady generalization of the public
service. This it has brought about because it
has made public Office the reward OF party
service. For nearly half century, in the
Federal, State, county and municipal govern
ments. wherever it has had the power, 1t has
acted upon the maxim, " To the vlctors belong
"the spos." There is not the slightest evil
dence that its ideas and tendencies IN
that respect have changed. 1t nominated
Mr.. Tilden regardless of his known
hostility to its prevailing ideas on
the money question because it felt sure
that the party would prove stronger than the
man, and his letter shows that its confidence
was well grounded. But there is no reason
whatever for believing that Mr.. Tlden would