Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-07-19
Gov. Hayes Position and Advantages.


journals and voters throughout the country j
SO far as Governor Hayes controls and
represents his own case, it is beyond the crit
icism of reformer or independent BY rec
ord and character, by association and sym
patty, and now by his letter of acceptance
he occupies the most advanced reform plat
form. Nobody, as Carl SEIZURE says, has
ever better stated the civil service ques-
ton, as nobody could more clearly propose
the reform treatment Of it. Governor Hayes
has done everything that could be done TO
remove the wound to the reform cause, and
the damage to the Republican party, by the
defeat of Mr.. Brstow at Cincinnati. lie
cannot win back all the votes lost by that
defeat for reform in action had idealized
Mr. Bristow 10 great section of the Ameri-
can people, whose disappointment is ncon-
solable by any reform in words.
But Governor Hayes has shown himself
thoroughly imbued with the spirit of Bris
towism, and he is logically entitled to all the
Republican reform votes, at least, that would
have been given to Mr.. Bristow. lie has
clearly allied himself with the reform ele-
ments of the party. Not only by his char
acter, but by his words and, still more per
haps, by the drift of public opinion and po-
litical association must he make his admin
! istration, if he has one TO make, out of the
circle of men who have made themselves
conspicuous as the leaders of political reform
II is abundantly safe to predict that George
Curtis, Benjamin Bristow, Carl Schurz and
their likes will be the inspiring and con-
trolling influences of Hayes administra-
ton. The best elements of the Republican
party, the most conspicuous OF the indie
pendent forces of the last four years, are
clearly to surround and influence the Repub
lican candidate, and it is no discourtesy to
the other sections of the Republican party,
nor to any of the various components of the
democratic, to say that these are conspicu-
ously the best elements and the best influ-
ences, the most advanced, the most intelli-
gent, the most courageous reform forces, in
all our political organism.
"Ths is one of two conspicuous advan-
tages which President Hayes would have
over President Tilden. His work would be
easier, because Of the more sympathetic and
stronger hands about him. because more Of
the recognized and trusted leaders OF reform
would be associated with him at once. The
second and connected advantages would be
the absence of great clamor or cause for
clamor for general change in the office
holders under him. The great body of the
democratic party, clearly enough, do not
mean their promised civil service reform
shall begin until after there has been gem
eral change in the offices. The spoils doc
trine must have one more illustration before
virtue shall set in. Whatever President
rilden's own purpose might be, he could not
wholly resist this demand. He has created
too many obligations too many expectations
among his party friends to make it possible
for him to refuse very wide aud denoraliz-
ing change in the public service. BE his
abstract principles and promises the most
satisfactory, in practice we should pretty
certainly have under him such AN extent of
ofiice-holding change as would give the coun-
try despair on this question of civil service
reform, aud lose for it the great advantage
of the present aroused state of public feel
ing, and perhaps set back the whole course
Of administrative reform for generation.
ave by no means plead for the retention
of the entire present civil service army, but
if we are to put in practice the new reform
doctrines, it is essential that we begin rad.
ically at once, and wherever faithful, capa-
Die and honest men are in the public ser
vice, keep them. Now we presume it is
fair to say that two-thirds, if not five-sixths,
of the present otiice-holding class are doing
their work well and satisfactorily, and that
to turn them out and put in new and mex
perienced men would be a great inconve-
nience to the country and heavy loss to its
treasury, while it would throw away the
present favorable state of public opinion for
placing the public service on an improved
footing. President Hayes would find abund-
ant field for change in conspicuous cases
of incompetency and corruption in the gov.
eminent service. file could not fail to i'm
prove them promptly aud efficiently. But
he could easily stop there, as President Til
den with his surroundings, with his obliga
tions hardly could do.
=" 1t is in these two respects-the assoca-
ton with him of the most conspicuous and
trusted reform elements of the country; and
second, the greater ease with which he could
enforces the new civil service reforln-that
Governor Hayes has his conspicuous advan
tages rs reform candidate over Governor
Tilden. In some other respects, the advan
tage is perhaps reversed. In most others
there is little TO choose, from the independ
ent and liberal point of view; but these ar
guments in favor of Governor Hayes seen
to us clear and impressive and while it is
by no means certain that they will be sufIi
cient to decide the election in favor of Gov
emor Hayes, it is manifest that they are al
ready deciding in his favor majority of the
more reflective and the more independent Of
the reform vote of the country"
The HAMBURG RIoT--Anofher Tersion.--
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