New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-06-05
IrITIIERED RLDSSON,H.

money, Free Trade, and Home Rule" those
promises were SO far credited that they gave
the Democratic party chance to show what
il could do. Tho unrestrained power OF that
Marty in the lower House has at least enabled
il. by the passage of bills embodylng its ideas
of reform, to give the country proof that It's
professions were not unwarranted. What has
il done2 As independent observers we nave
been compelled to criticise the iameh'apie lail-
IRE of the Democrats to do anything emitting
them TO the confidence OF those who DeheVe IN
Hard Money. MIR. MoTison's confession that no
legislation respecting the tariff Is probable has
proved severe shock to those who believe in
Free Trade. What has that party done to Sc
cure administrative rcform'
We give it iull credit for many panstaking
investigations. Mr.. Belknap has been exposed
Mr.. Robson is on the ragged edge. In the
Schcnck business there has been prolonged
examination and the speech of Mr.. Hewitt
sets forth facts which fully justify the in
oui.y. The Public Printer has been inyesti-
rated and the conclusions of the Committee
elicit general public approval. Nor Is there
disposition to blame the Democrats if many of
their investigations have ended in water
- lIllio.' IL vas lIitII w DttiNh ioA ii""'
and 10 expose it. That duty would not have
been faithfully performed if there had been no
inquiry excepting where fraud WAS known to
exist. 1t is the custom with Repuoh-
can party organs Of the baser sort to insist
that these inquiries arc altogether prompted
by malicious partsanship Let it be granted
that self-intercst in this case gives the spur to
virtue. The Democrats hunt for Republican
misdccGs, of course more zcalOusy than they
w0uld hunt for misconduct OF Democratic
officials. That is human nature. But the
pcCpio wanted an uhsDaTing investigation, and
therefore placed in power III the House Il set
OF men whose sclf-intcrcst would prompt them
10 be uusparing The country wanted to know
the worst. Tho Democrats are not to be
blamed if they also. want to know the worst.
But what else have they donef Docs the
duty of u party intrusted with power end
with fro cxucsure of the misconduct Of its
foesf BY no means. Every caruid man feels
that 'he country has the right 10 expect some
thing else from men who gained power be-
cause they promised to reform the pubic
service. Exposure involves instant responsibility
for correction of abuses. The Democrats have
proved, l.yOnd possibility Of dispute, that
civil service used ~ "a mere partisan machine
tends irrcsstibly TO corruption. They have
shown that the dcmoralzing tendency of the
suoils system extends to every branch OF
the service. Brt what have they done to cor
rect the evil I Not one of them has made IN
effort to restore tho competitive system pro-
posed by Republican Commission. and uiti-
matoly discarded because it did not SHIT Re
publican spolsmcn. Not one of them has en-
Gcayorch 10 put an end tn the selection OF
officials ~ reward for party services. In
deed the very suggestion proyohes smile,
for. az lar "a the Democrats have had power,
they have filled civil offices upon precisely the
came principle which, in Republican practice,
has proved 20 corrupting. They have selected
clerks ard doorkeoprrs, not with regard to fit
ness, but because of past services to the patty
or the Confcdcracy. Not only has this party
faed to attempt any reform of the system
which has been found 40 pcrnicious, but it has
adoptcd that very same systcm in the sclcc-
ton of officials. and, considering its limited
opportunity, has given reason for the belief
that Democratic craftsmanship would produce
quite rs much corruption as Republican parti-
sanship.
IL viii be said that the Democrats, though
in power III the House. have not had power to
BASS laws regulating tho appointments, or tho
tenure Of office. Ii IL true that, i'll respect TO
r. forms of the civil service, as well - in
respect 10 tho currency question, there has
been "A feeling that any strong measure, IT
,dOptcd by the House, would probably be ar
rested in the Senate. Bat VIC cannot avoid
fire conclusion that If the Democrats had been
very much 10 earnest they would have sen. to
the Senate such measures, forced that body to
take position for or against them and boldly
appealed to tho country upon an issue thus
sharply defined. They have not even taken
a single step in thai direction. Not
by hostile partisanship only. but by the most
candid and impartial critics, it will be said
that thus far the Democrats have shown no
disposition to deprive the civil service of its
partisan character, or to upro0t the spoils sys-
tenn which has so demOrazcd it. They have
energcticaiiy exposed Republican misdceds.
But they have IA yet entirely failed to show
that they wish to get rid OF partisanship in
tic public service. They want to put Demo-
cIati into office instead of Republicans. But
tley fail rs yet to show that they want TO
select Democrats with sole regard to The public
welfare, or to place them in Office under such
circumstances as to secure fidelity to the
public welfare rather than fidelity to party.
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