The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-12-28
The Renaady.,


views, given In the laas International Re
ciesc, were referred to by us yesterday, has
much to say about the remedies for the de,
plorahie condition OF the nation. He seems
to dream OF the healing effects OF a /" civil
reform in the matter Of appointments to
and removals from Office. MFG. w. Cur
IT'S, the bigotea editor Of Harper's Weekly,
has q mania on this matter, and President
GRANT permitted him to experiment upon
it for some time without success, and then
had CuRTIs's machine thrown into the rub
bish-pie. The whole system OF examina-
ton by experts is absurd. Why Is 1t that
individuals and private companies have no
difficulty in employing capable men In
every branch Of business aud manufacture !?
The Government could do this just as
easily. "
The only difficulty is the fact that In our
political system offices have become the re
ward Of partisan service, and no matter how
severe the system Of examination of appl'-
eants for office, none will be appointed save
OF the right stripe OF partisanship. Gov
eminent service. never viii be faithfully
and efficiently performed until this baneful
priuciple-this making public offices party
property-is ended. This cannot be done
without an amendment OF the Constitution,
which shall take away the immense patron
age OF the Federal Executive by making
the tenure of Office during life, or as long as
the incumbent is capable and faithful. That
is the only remedy for this great evil. Can
it ever be applied5
The writer in the internationat-we think
we recognize him to be prominent lawyer
and statesman in the North-thinks q great
deal may be done to put = check upon pub
lie decentralization by prohibiting acts CIV
ing subsidies to corporations or advantages
to persons; stopping the creation or con-
tinuation of unnecessary offices: all OF
which rest so entirely upon the honesty and
practical wisdom Of the public administra-
ton that nothing short Of proper constlt-
uency and faithful public representatives
and officers can regulate them for the gen.
eral welfare and the preservation OF public
virtue.
The essayist from whom we quote thinks
the education of the public is, after all, the
great remedy. Public intelligence is great
thing. But in this country the first step to-
wards the moral reformation Of people and
public servants is to unlearn great deal
that has helped to carry the nation to tt e
very brink Of the most terrible fate that
ever befel nation. Unfortunately,
the schools OF large Dmt Of the
Union continue to impart this vicious
what shall we call it 2 It is moral and SEN
timental, and mixed up with error, bigotry,
and uncharitablencss. 1t is this teaching
that has brought about the present ano31a-
ous condition of the national body polite.
\ condition in which fanaticism and malice
find qualification in the prostration and
humiliation Of the superior race to another
that is unfit to exercise the privileges Of
taking part in the government Of the coun-
try. A qualification that may be safely in
dulged by those who enjoy it since they are
outside the arena where the struggle is
going OIL, of which they are spectators.
See the consequences! The political dis
orders and irregularities which are yeXing
the nation and making the exercise OF the
dearest rights of the citizen a farce Oh
| what farce!
The first step towards remedy towards
the recover Of the nation from its "craze y
is to restore to the people their control over
the public administration, and to put an
end to the acts of usurpation which have
kept the public administration for years
irresponsible to the people.
That done, there will ensue that condition
of calmness and sound Judgment which will
enable the nation to see the dangers that
threaten it, and to SO about. applying the
proper remedy. Unless period of peace
and harmony can be secured to the people
there will not likely be any improvement;
but rather an increase in public depravity
and official corruption until the finality-
and what will that be -. .... .-... B.