The New York herald., 1876-07-13
What Does Governor Trd.n Mean,

Mr. llluen, IN MS snort Speecn In reply
to the committee that waited on him to give
him formal notification, declined to 90 at
large into the topics of the canvass, reserv-
ing most of what he has to say for his
studied letter of acceptance. We hope he
will be explicit in his letter on some points
especially ON the great subject of reform in
the civil service made so prominent in the
letter of acceptance of Mr.. Hayes. What
Mr. Tilden said on this subject in his speech
is unsatisfactory, because it is ambiguous.
We do not complain of the speech it was
prudent, and, perhaps, proper, to reserve
distinct statement of his views for his letter
of acceptance. But as he touched upon, or
rather limited at, the civil service question
we are sorry that what he said is susceptible
of opposite constructions. We will indicate
some of the points on which we expect
him to be more clear and precise in
his letter Of acceptance. The great
prominence, strong emphasis and satisfac-
tory intelligibility of that part of MIR.
Hayes letter which related to the civil ser
vice does not permit Mr.. Tilden to shirk
this subject or to palter with it in double
| sense.
| Mr.. Tilden's speech is susceptible Of diff
ferent and exactly opposite constructions.
| That we may do him no injustice we insert
his own language:-"If l were to judge by
the year and half during which l have
been in the State government l would say
that the routine duties of the trust have
had imposed upon me are a small burden
compared with that created by the attempt
to change the policy of the government of
| which l have been the Executive head.
| Especially is this so where the reform is to
be worked out with more or less Of co-opera-
ton of public officers who either have been
tainted with the evils to be redressed or who
have been incapactated by the habit of
toleration of the wrongs to be corrected, and
to which they have been consenting wit
nesses. therefore-if your choice should
be ratified by the people at the election
should enter upon the great duties which
would fall upon me not as holiday recre-
alton, but very much in that spirit of con-
secration in which the soldier enters battle"
| His allusion to reform 'to be worked out
with more or less of cooperation of public
officers who either have been tainted with
the evils to be redressed, or who have been
incapacitated by the habit Of toleration of
| the wrongs to be corrected, and to which
they have been consenting Witnesses" may
be understood in different and contradictory
senses. Is it meant rs a suggestion that he
will feel compelled, if elected, to turn out
all of President Grants appointees in order
that his purposes of reform may not be OBJ
structed by his subordinates, or is it an in
timation of the difficulties which will attend
his administration in consequence of his de-
termination to abolish the spoils system
Mr.. Tilden's language admits of either inter-
pretation; but his touch Of rhetoric about
entering on his great duties mot as holi-
day recreation, but very much in that spirit
of conservation in which the soldier enters
battle, might seem to imply that he does
not mean to make clean sweep of
the federal officers. For if every en-
ploy6 of the government is to be one
of his own appointees there is no peril
nence in his comparing himself to soldier
who goes into battle not knowing whether
he shall fall or be spared. Mr.. Tilden could
not be obstructed by subordinates whom he
selects himself; but the public will be in
doubt until it sees his letter of acceptance
whether this passage foreshadows purpose
to turn out all General Grants appointees,
or whether it is ON appeal for indulgent
judgment if he retains them. We would
gladly understand it in the latter sense, be-
cause it would be signal act of political
courage and magnanimity for Presidential
candidate, nominated by party out of
power, to avow purpose to reform the civil
service by abolishing the spoils system.
Such an avowal costs Mr.. Hayes nothing, be-
cause his party will retain its monopoly of
the federal offices if he keeps his pledge.
But if the democratic candidate declares his
intention to make no removals for party rea-
sons his own party will swarm about his ears
like nest ofangry hornets, and denounce him
for promise to surrender the fruits of VIC
tory. If Hayes is elected and keeps his civil
service pledge we shall have a republican
President administering the government
through eighty or ninety thousand repub-
lican subordinates, which will be SO slight
deviation from the old system that it
would be absurd to call it a reform. But if
Tilden is elected and democratic Presi-
dent attempts to administer the government
through eighty or ninety thousand repub-
lican subordinates it would be such total
revolution in political usage rs would
stamp its author as the most intrepid re-
former that has ever appeared in our politics.
Governor Hayes civil service promises are
too cheap to be of any value but if Gov
ernor Tilden should take the samc ground
he might justly feel like a soldier who con-
socrates his life in going into battle. The