The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-08-25

Out WuoS AS btanulnR ntu peen IN tnt
party. In appointing new officers the
characters and efficiency Of the candidates
was not inquired into, but only into
their service to the party. This
Recommendation was everything, the Ciyi
Service Bureau was like a pigeon nroost
and nobody could tell who OF the evei
changing officers was honest or dishonest
EVENT. a dishonest officer was deteatet
and had crime to bepunished, some Con
gresham that had recommended hin
came and protested against his removal b
cause he was such a useful friend
and could not under any consideration b
spared in the campaign. The ward
politicians gained greater influence, and
their inaence had more weight than hon
esty and character. Thus corruption
cameunder the protection Of the party
This went on till its reached It's climax
under Buchanan Just before the war
\ for under his administration one part Of
the party tried to'overcome the other par
and sought political influence by all
means. The consequence was, corruption
and theft grew fearfully' The same was
the case under johnson. But as for as
Grant is concerned he has the peculiar
weakness to believe his office is only
made for him, and he may reward his
friends and worry his enemies, and
among his friends were very many doubt.
full characters. Therefore this merit
belongs to the administration Of Grant,
thatit has by the greatness Of corruption
shown the necessity Of radical reform
even to the most stupid mind. But
how shall this reform be brought
about? II man suffers Of ulcers
in consequence OF blood poisoning
the opening Of the ulcers is not sufficient.
The poisonous blood must be purified.
Even so in the civil service. There Is no
reform possible if the appointment and
removal OF the officers is separated from
all political influence, dependent upon
the word and intellectual faculties Of the
applicant. An Examining Committee
could easily determine the last men,
toned conditions. But Whist party IA
vors a reform in this sense. More, TO
Judge from the platform it alone is not
advisable. The character Of the candi-
dates is also to be taken into consideration.
In one fact both are unanimous. Hayes
will remove corrupt officers and Tilden too,
but Tilden will remove the good officers
also. Hayes has been Governor OF Ohio
three times and has proven himself
friend Of reform. Every one knows him
as an honest man--that is admitted by
his most bitter enemies. In his letter he
iavors reform clearly and explicitly. He
says that corruption originated more
than forty years ago by the introduction
Of the system Of booty. He wishes that
in the appointment Of officers respect
should be had to their abilities and char
acter; that officers must be made indie
pendent Of party influence; that we must
return to the principles of the founders
Of this republic, and that by legislation
we must supplement what Is wanting.
He honestly promises TO favor this re-
form, and he Is the man to keep his word.
But what does Tilden say? All OF his
expressions are OF the relative kind. He
speaks Of raising the standard Of qualiti-
cation, OF gradual improvement, Of an
examining committee, II possible; but he
does not enter into particulars like
Hayes. His speech is dark, and 1t all
turns on this, that the Democrats must
have all the offices, and to this all the
other Democrats agreed. But who Of
them desires to reform Tammany Hall,
or the Swallow-tails, or the Short-hairs,
or the Confederates in the South? Yes,
they all want offices, and the system Of
jackson, to which the whole party is
bound by all its traditions. What
a deluge OF office-seekers there will be il
Tilden il elected We have had pre-
lude Of il in the Lower House OF Con-
gress, where all the officers were ousted
10 make room for the Confederates-for
Fitzhugh and the rest. What scoundrels
those Confederate soldiers have indeed
proven themselves to bel They were
valiant in their attacks in the days Of the
rebellion; but heavens! what valor they
will show when they come to make their
grand attack on the oticesl Will MIR.
Tilden then be able to stand this
storm. We may get rid Of the old thieves
but may God preserve us from the new
ones. The devil may be gone, but the
devils will remain. But will Hayes have
the courage to carry out this reform. He
has shown great cours 20 IA speaking be-.
fore his election against the system Of
boot, thus cutting off 10 his friends all
hopes OF reward. The same courage is
shown BY his reputation OF a second
term. Tilden writes in similar strain,
but says he will make no promise because
bis promises are not worth much, but he
advises legislation by Congress to restrain
him from the second term, just as If he
was not to be trusted. But will Hayes be
able ifelected for President to enforce re.
form. In his position as President he
will have the appointment Of officers in
his own hands. Grant 10 be sure has ex-
cused himself for not being able
to carry ont reform, but his heart was
not in Il. He had the second and third
term on his brain, therefore, he sought
shelter behind the opposition within the
Republican party, but he might
have found friends Of reform
among the republicans II he had
wanted. Although there are many
black sheep among the Republicans, yet
as whole they are on the side OF intelli.
eence and morality, and II is the support
OF this element that Mr.. Hayes as Presi-
dent may calculate upon. He will eman-
cipate office-holders from party thrall:
dom, and he will thus create for himself
an army OF friends against which the
party satraps will avail nothing; and
should Congress refuse to support him,
an appeal 10 the people will secure Con.
gressmen who hold TO q different senti.
ment. have had experience OF
long standing in Washington. | am not
given to illnsions, but do not say that
things can't grow worse than they are
now, and that any change will be a change
for the better. Things may, grow much
worse, II that party which has invented
and patented the system'ot booty should
come into power under Tilden, who
has grown 10 be sixty years old he.
fore he bethought himself Of reform,
This Is the favorable time for reform.
Let us now vigorously push on what has
been begun. The peoples conscience
has been awakened. We'must now raise
the intelligence Of the people TO the same
standard. A change from Grant to Til.
den will be nothing-a change from Re.
nnhlioan hodtv m N nemocratic one