The New York herald., 1876-07-11
The Merits and Defects OF Governor
Hayes Letter.

Governor Hayes letter of acceptance is, in
the main, sound and discreet party mani
festo There is in it much to approve, but
nothing to admire 1t does not bear that
strong impress of individuality with which
minds of high order stamp their produce
tions, but it is prudent and wary, as we had
reason to expect it would be when it became
known, several days ago, that it was to be the
fruit Of largo consultations with republican
leaders. 1t sheds little new light on the
character Of the candidate, being merely
revised edition of the Cincinnati platform,
sary by Mr.. Hayes advisers, in view of the
facts that Governor Tilden is the opposing
candidate, and that the st. Louis Convention
unexpectedly made strong declaration in
favor of reform in the civil service
In respect to civil service reform, the
prominence. the two political parties stand
on an unequal footing The republican
party has monopoly OF the eighty thousand
federal Offices, and its civil service declara-
tion simply means that it prefers to retain
this monopoly, with the present republican
incumbents, rather than risk the loss Of oil
the places by the election of democratic
President. 1t is cheap electioneering bid,
because the republican party being in pos
session Of oil the places it will cost it moth
ing to refrain from turning out incumbents
for political reasons, whereas such pledge
Al - 81 4
them to relinquish the fruits of victory.
Governor Hayes can afford to take high
ground on this question, because it involves
no sacrifice; but if Governor Tilden should
take tho same ground it would be "self-
denying ordinance, against which his party
would be disposed to rebel as leaving
the republicans in possession of the
eighty thousand subordinate federal Of
fees after their defeat at the polls
Impartial spectators will not see any
very great stretch of magnanimity or public
spirit in the republican proposal to retain
possession of all the federal Offices. If the
case were reversed, if oil the places were
now filled with democrats, pledge by Gov
ernor Hayes that he would make no remov-
ais for political reasons would be a signal
proof of sincere devotion to civil service re-
form but, estimating his pledge by the cir
cumstances oil it amounts to is an assurance
to General Grants appointees that they will
not be disturbed by General Grants sue
cessor. The country may be of the opinion
that Mr.. Tilden's appointees might be as
honest and capable as General Grants, and
il may also think that q new deal by Mr..
Hayes might give Us as efficient a civil SER
vice MS the retention Of President Grants
appointees, so many Of whom owe their
places to nepotism and personal friendship.
Governor Tilden might make great and
favorable impression on the country if, in
his letter of acceptance, he would promise
to make NO removals except for incompetence
or unfaithfulness because such pledge from
him would be a magnanimous reputation
Of the spoils system and noble sacrifice
of party interest to the cause of reform.
But Governor Hayes proposes to relinquish
no party advantages: he merely promises
to retain the present army Of republican
ofice-holders. This is too cheap pledge to
make much impression on the country,
although it is sound in principle and is very
we'll, so far as it goes.
Another capital point in Mr.. Hayes letter
is that in which he goes beyond the Cincin-
natl platform and assures the country that,
ifelected, he will not accept second nomi-
nation. This would be real sacrifice of
personal interest and ambition to public
principle if the maker of the pledge were
reasonably sure of being put in position to
decline second election. As it is he only
renounces "A distant contingency, refusing a
second term rs means of helping him to a
first. This promise may be interpreted as n
sidclong thrust at President Grant and his
third term aspirations, but it cannot
endanger Mr.. Hayes support by the of
fice-holding interest. Having assured Cen
eral. Grants appointees that they are Sc
cure Of their places, Mr.. Hayes can con-
fidently rely on their zeal to promote his
election, for it is the nature of office-holdcrs
to worship the rising instead of the setting
sun. Mr.. Hayes advisers have given him
adroit counsel on this head. He can utilize
the popular opposition to the third term
and at the same time secure the support
of the federal officers by his promise that he
will not turn them ont This dexterous
maneuvre does credit to the shrewdness
of Mr.. Hayes advisers who invented so
clever q method of retaining the support
of Grants office-holders while casting a
covert slur on Grant himself Mr.. Hayes
has virtually said to the eighty thousand
offce-holders, IF am elected you will re-
tain your places; if Tilden is elected you
will lose them" His advisers have con-
vinceti him that Grant amounts to nothing
in the canvass if the 'bread and butter
brigade" can be convinced that they will