The Leavenworth weekly times., 1876-08-10
Heform-Eot Revolution.
IFrom The New York Tr bune

The shrp eye of Mr.. Carl Schurz, scan
ming the next to impossible event OF Dem
ccratic National Administration, sees r.ore
thaa he says-"A tremendous, irresistible
rush of office seekers from South and North
to divide the booty" Mr.. Schurz weighs
his language, and speaks with philosophi-
cal reticence which We are inclined 70 envy
him; for ii We had been writing such . let.
ter, We should certaily have resorted to po-
e.icsl quotstion and said something of the
Asyrian coming down "likr q wolf ON the
fold" We have earnestly desired the de-
capitatioa Of all dishonest, incompet. mt,
negligent, caucusiDg holders, but the
danger Of Democratic ascendeney would be
that OF the guillotine worked by steam,
with all the modern Improvements.
covering the country with headless corpss,
and 6llins the noslrils of mankind With the
smell of blood. We are not in favor OF
Wholesale slaughter, universal massacre,
and hip p-and-thigh smiting. We would zee
a few spared remnants Of Executive elem
ency but We are afraid that Democratic
Te<lue0k WOulu nave W CoObASs AAo WSNA0
be buttonnoled, interviewed, petitioned and
delegated out OF all possibility OF sparing
SO much as q lonesome night inspector IN
some port where there had not been an en-
try Tor ~ years. 1t is not strange that Mr.
SchuIz, who is something more than
hand-to-mGuth politician, and who Is &C
custOmed To look q little into the
future, regards with something like dismay
the extremely remote possibility OF . scrsm-
bic for the spoils which would tebauch
the purest party in the world. The country
is not without experience OF zach catas
irophe. Ii saw the Whig party in 1910
actually p.ralyzed for time, not by the
death OF Gen. Harr son, which was politi-
cally OF no importance, bat by the impos-
sibility Of finding victual enough for is
army Of sharp-set retainers. The Demo-
cratic party itself, after twelve years Of
power, had been in the same oeggarly pre-
dicamen,. J he truth Is, there are not offices
enough in this sli, htly governed republic
for all who yearn for them. The booty Is
rich, but the name OF the buccaneers is
legion. The man who, under a Democratic
administration, should talk Of civil service
reform would be laughed at as lunatic, if
he were attended to at all. There
would be no time for it; there would
he no taste for it there would be veiy lit
tie said about it. Can any body who reads
this, and who is old enough to remember
the advent of new administrations during
the past forty years, believe that the inagu-
ration of President Tiiden would be mark
ed by the special moderation and modesty
of his supporters? Gov. Hayes, in his let
ter Of July s, has told US what he thinks OF
making offices ''the rewards for party ser
vice and for service to party leaders" If
elected, he will have an opportunity Of ap-
plying the rule he has distinctly enunciat-
ed, and Of making honesty, capacity and
fidelity" the qualifications for office. We
may give the Democratic candidate the
credit OF meaning we'll, but before the
whirlwind Of besgiry, the best of
intentions would be but chat. The sum
total Of "reform" would be but the eject
ment OF Republicans and the installment
of Democrats. II the case were reversed,
il It. we're a Democratic Administration
which was to go out and Republican Ad-
mini tration which was to come in, We
should anticipate nothing better. 1t is the
general overturn which ruins, and from
which there is prospect that upon this oc-
casion we may be happily delivered. No
doubt many democrats, honest and sensi-
BILE men, would be di-gusted by what Mr..
Schurz calls "a substantial continuance OF
the spoiis system" Gov. Tilden himself
would not probably relish it overmuch; but
what could he do? In considering this
matter We must take in the whole situation,
the position of parties, the present state OF
the public service, and the probable state if
there should be a cuibuae 9sn,raie. Gov.
Hayes, with a wise conservatism not over
common, expresses at least an earnest de-
sire for improvement. On the other hand,
the leader of a thirsty caravan may PROM
ise, if the Prophet will only guide it tie
we'll, an approach in good order Of the
whole body but the Prophet having bad
some experience of desert travel, would
hardly be deceived bs such dry protesta-
lions The important point is not what
Gov. Tilden may promise, though he does
not seem in much haste to promise any
thing. The question is whether he will be
stronger than all the traditions and appe-
tites OF his party. "One hundred thousand
Democrats" says MIR. Schurz. Stands ready
TO hurl themselves upon the long g-desired
"booty." Alasl this is very like the thirs-
ty caravan, camels and all