New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-09-09
AFTER MARCH FOURTH.

Suppose Gov. Hayes is elected Presluent IN
November: what task will Immediately con-
front him when he takes Office on the 4th OF
March, Southern affhirs, it is to be expected,
will require no active interference on his part.
The currency question will be in the hands OF
Congress. The one great undertaking to winch
he will be called by the necessities OF the
country will be the reform of the civil service.
Gov. Hayes has declared in the clearest
language that he will fill all Ofhces
in his gift with the fttest men, not
with the men who have claims" on the
party. He has said explicitly that he will put
a stop to the abuse of dividing the Executive
patronage among Congressman as their personal
spoil. It was this assurance, in his letter OF
acceptance, that beyond anything else won
sincere reformers to his support. Men VINO
know him, and who in turn are known ana
trusted by the people, declare that he means
just what he says, and will do 1t, and IL Is
this strong conviction that holds Republican
reformers firm in their place. We fully share
their confidence. We hold Gov. Hayes to be
an honest, clear sighted, resolute man, who has
put his hand to the pillow and will not turn
back. But what awaits him if he becomes
President 7
The very first instance in which ne nomi-
mates an official whom as the filter man ne
has preferred to a CongressmaD's friend, ne
will rouse an opposition chat each succeeding
similar case will widen and intensity The
path of reform to which he is pledged can go
only over the ruins Of the average Congress-
mans dearest interests. These gentlemen
have by this craft their living. They owe
their election 1--WE are speaking of the majority
md their hope of reelection to men who IN
return for caucus wire-puliing expect Federal
Offices. To take these Offices ont of the per-
sonal control of the "member for the dis
"trctr will be worse than taking bone
from a hungry dog. IL anybody expects the
average Congressman to be grateful Tor the
relief, he is duOmed--as Mr.. Pecksnif says OF
the England that expects every man to do his
duty--to be greatly disappointed.
Further, in such contest between Presi-
dent and Congress- the immediate power is In
the hands Of the latter. The Senate can check
mate the President on every appointment by
refusing TO confirm. The party III the House
can cripple the whole Administration by with
drawing its support. Most of the Democrats
will be only too glad TO aggrayate the quar-
rel and incidentally to support the principle
which is the true bond of their party, that
60 the victors belong the spoils." In such
contcst-and such contest, we repeat, Is abb
solutely inevitable whenever genuine re-
former, of whatever party, becomes President
il IL only the moral sentiment of the whole
country, thoroughly aroused and throwing its
weight Irresistibly on the Presidents side,
that can conquer the most malignant and
stubborn evil of our political system.
VIII men who care for reform leave this
matter 10 take care of itself until the 4th OF
NnrchG VIII they, in other words, allow the
guns and the Notifications to be quietly taken
by the enemy before they begin to fight
VIII they not rather have word to say at
the primaries toward replacing the average
Congressman by something betterf Wih
they not distinctly warn those gentlemen who
are wont to care tenderly for the primary and
the caucus as tho seed-bcd of their personal
fortunes that they will freely exercise the
sovereign right of boiling if bad nominations
are madef
Let us remember Gen. Renos suggestion that
IL NAV not be well for the same power to arm
and equip two hostile parties, and see to 1t
that in sending Gov. Hayes to the White House
TO purify the civil service we do not send the
b. +. Buffers of the party to the Capitol to
defeat his efforts.