The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1876-08-16
A Blind RefOrmer.

A Blind RefOrmer.
George William Curtis had reform side
show at the Republican National Conven-
ton, and there was an element of the party
fsvoring the nomination of Bristow that
spplauded whenever the curtain was with
drawn. That side show exhibit. ed the cor
rOpsions of the Grant administration. The
convention occupied the peculiar position
of heartily cheering the side show, and yet
as vociferously sppIauding the admins
trstion. 1t twas q little singular. Curtis
was spplauded and Grant was spplauded.
The attack of Curtis was not personally
upon Grant, but upon the administration
as whole, which he pronounced infs-
mously corrups. What he wanted was re-
form OF the civil service. That meant bet
ter and more hOress men in office. He
wanted the Republican party to separate
from the administration and nominate a
reformer; but the administration party
was too powerful in the convention TO
suffer any such movement. They en-
dorsed Grant and then proceeded to
the work of nominating q candidate. The
men who secured the endorsement OF
Grant, determined the nomination of
Hayes for the presidency. To all intents
and purposes he is the administration can
didste. The Sentinel does not mean by
this that he is Grants fl st choice, but that
he is the choice of the ruling spirits OF the
administration. The president aud bis
subordinates In the departments form
what is popularity termed the sdministra-
ton. The administration is made up by
the ruling spirits of the party. 1t is not
and can not be done by q president.
Conklipg, Morton, Boutwell,, Cameron,
G sndler, Logan, Butler, Sherman, ard
such men determine who the cabinet Off
GERS shall be and what policy shall
be pursued in governmental affairs.
They cause the president to sp-
point their fsvorites to Office AZ
home and abroad. They control
the appointments in their states aud have
their share in the departments at the capt.
tai. II We rake up the list of disreputable
scoundIels who have made the civil SER
vice obnoxious to such men as Mr.. Curtis
and the Fifth avenue relormers, we shall
ind their applications for place backed by
these controlling spirits OF the party who
now bend their energies for the continue
ton of their power by the election of
Hayes. Grant did not 90 nosing awsy up
into Iowa bunting for Bslknap, nor did his
spontaneous aft ction 20 out for Don
Cameron. Robson had a senator at his
back, and so On down among the subordi-
mates. The choice spirits OF the party gave
Sanborn bis place, made Mcdonald su-
psryisor, Fisher a district attorney, and
Lsudaulet williams attorney general.
II is true that Grant, seeing these men
corniving for placs and profit for their
friends, did find room among the 80 600 Of
fees, for all his kith and kin, and ss m any
OF his military cronies as called upon him,
but still all the disrepu able things that
the Caseys, the Dents. the Bsbcocks and
Grants have done, do not make up one
per cent. of the bad reputation OF the adj
ministrstion.
The TACT is, George William Curtis and
bis independent friends. we're batting
sgaipst these ruling spirits who m sde
Grant what he is in reputation as an exec
utive officer. The responsibility for sne
corrups administration, lies with the a'sc-
ing and influential Republicans, and
vet Mr.. Curtis comes forward in
Harper's Weekly in strong and earnest sd-
vocacy q weak man like Hayes. and
tells the country that when he is elected
he will commence a rigid system of civil
service reform, that he is under TO obliga-
lions to any of these men, and that he
will not be governed by them. Can any
body Tor a moment be deceived by such q
declaration /? II Morton, ConklinP, But
Ter, Cameron, Logan, Chandler aud CON-
psny believed one word of II, they would
take him eff the ticket With much less cere'
mony than that with which Orth was dis
posed of. Are these men going to dives
themselves OF power by helping to elect {
man who will cut loose from them as 30 II
I as he needs them no longer? tits ABSURD
TO think 80.
J The Sentinel has repeatedly shown
J that the Republican National Convention
} endorsed Grants administration, and tba
} Hayes heartily endorsed the action OF th'
convention. His election, therefore. vii
, be a simple perpetustion OF Grantism
} George William Curtis must be blind no
? to see this. 1t took him FIVE or six years Il