The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-09-20

/ prevented many errors, as they are more
accountable and nearer to the people
than four-year Executive, with his vast
patronage.
When, therefore, Governor Hayes, IN
his letter of acceptance, dilates on this
Congressional interference in appoint
ments as obstructing punishment and
hindering supervision OF bad officials, he
hardly touches the evil; for had not Gen.
eral Grant, in 1870, said the same thing
What were the practices under these
smooth phrases of devotion to reform II
Why were they permitted? Is it true
that when party outlives the issue that
justified its existence, its tendency
to corruption is almost irresistible!
And if this be so, is it not foolish and
futile to talk of reforming party within
ltself-whose object, raison d etre,-aEti
slavery, is defunct? Nothing but stun
ming defeat, blow with lethal wea-
pom will reform it altogether" [Cheers.
A party of personal cliques fighting with
in itself over personal ambitions and
spois, must find reform, in annIhilation.
Cheers
In the light of the past ten years,
what an ironiCal commentary on the
public sense. is the letter Of Governor
Hayes and the 9Th article of the Repub-
lican Cincinnati platform. Well says
the st. Louis Democratic platform, that
proved competency and fidelity should
be assigned to posts Of honor, and that
mere professions, falsilied in the perform
ance, attest that the party in power can
work out no practical or salutary re-
form. Suppose, however, the voter asks
which of the parties now sincerely de-
sires administrative reform, and is most
likely to accomplish it2 How
is he to be answered? Not byquibbling
rs to officers which are appointable by
the executive, and which no rules or Jaws
as to civil service can avail to modify.
The voter is to be guided by what has been
done by the Democracy and its agents,
and not by what has been merely pro-
po.ed aud disregarded by Republicanism.
He is to be guided, not by pretty phrases
of reform, but by earnest action in the
line OF reform. By that test no intelll-
Democracy and its nominees. Cheers.
Let Us not underrate the mischief to
be corrected by better order. 1t is
more extensive than is generally believed
When the political conference issued the
Schurz address, it recognized the dis
tressing catalogue of disclosures which
for years left no sphere in our political
life untouched. 1t spoke with terrible
plainncsS of the humiliation OF our CEN
t:nnial year, through the revealed cor
ruption. 1t confessed TO the enormous
nd impending sins and dangers, and
ked t. avert them. 1t called on
It good men to help the reform by plac-
= good men in office, men who wOul
g.apple with wrong, to and it. 1t plainly
indicated two men, one was Bristow,
the other TiIden. Cheers for Tilden.
The Republicans discarded the one, the
Democracy nominated the other; and
some of the Schurz pronouncers, includ-
ing the eloquent Teuton himself deserted
hls own choice. Laughter.
When at a banquet in New York the
present Minister to England was asked
by the merchants of the metropolis, why
it WAS so depressed and he answered out ot
the very Cabinet, itself, "traudulent gov
ernment' But when Gov. Tilden fol-
lowed him, he showed the stern abinty,
not merely to comprehend the cause Of
the distress, but to remove it; for said he,
"The legislature has kept down the tolls
OF the canal and remitted eight millions
of taxes which it drew from the people of
the state, only two years before. u
Cheers.
The best civil service reform should
begin in Congress, and stop excessive
taxes and extraordinary expenses.
We made progress in that line last ses-
sion. True, we could only cut down
thirty millions. but that WAS thirty mill
lions less than was asked for by the ad
ministration! [Checrs. But if we could
do that in one year, what shall be said OF
the past ten years of peace? Why this,
that 300 millions might we'll have been
saved, - enough to have paid three years
interest on the public debt.
No wonder the Republican national
platform OF 1872 asserted that the civil
service had become mere instrument OF
partizan tyranny and personal ambition
and an object of selfish greed. And yet
this is the reform, in phrases OF sauvity,
now pressed by fresh platform and
Hayes' letter as the pillar OF nations
hope in the regeneration OF the country!
The only reform possible III such an
emergency is not to be found in mere
competitive examinations or COngres.
sional testimonials, but in honesty and
ability, and in legislation to enforce these
virtues. The last Congress endeavored
TO reform by removing useless officials,
and by aboishing supernumerary otti-
ces; for no reform is possible with n
hungry pack of office holders whose in
terests are averse to reform.
The Republican party take credit in
discovery of this system ofretorm. Why,
it is not new and it Is not good, unless
honest men administer it. Partyism
and favoriteism are old AS sin. Before
Williams rode in lauudulet, or Bsbcock
measured dirt work, or Mullett was an
experienced cdile, or Beiknap
dickered on the border Laughter |
the idea of getting the
ti.test men for publ: service, was prsc-
,ised by Prussia, France and England.
Even China. five thousand years before
Packard packed conventions or Alabama
overtlowed with colored bacon,-China
had a well orgained civil service whose
principal idea was 20 punish the guilty
and whom besettlng practice WAS
to let them escape. Laugh
ter Before Hayes accepted
or Bristow died at CINCINNATI,
the Chinese system produced man
darins of the Republican type.
Here Mr.. Cox axalyzed IN an amusing
WAY, tie Chinese system, amid great
roarS Of laugter.
Is this ridiculous system SO utterly a
failure under the best endeavoc and II
fifty thousand appropriation, all that
Hayes can give Us OF relief or re
form? What else outside of some re-
ligious platitudes is there in his letter.
The Cincinnati platform endorses the
Grant civil service, and Hayes endorses
I I l..