New-York tribune., 1876-06-14

"and cOOlly ana lnpuuently aSsumo W Piep"~
"the official states, to parcel out nominations
"and the appointments to be distributed as the
"rewards of venality, and thus to make every
"thng mercenary in party politics"
Whether MIR. Chrisdancy had any particu-
lar persons in his minds eye when he skctched
this description of type OF civil servants IL
is not for Ills to say; but what better couih ne
have done if his purpose had been to define
| ate the managers of the Conkling movement
II was the oilice-holders in this State VINO
"cooly and inpudently resolved to parcel out
"pomjnations,n and to control the honest non
Office e-seeking people into the support OF such
| candidates as these ofiice-hoders themselves
saw fit to name. When they had accomplished
their purpose at Syracuse, they marched
with brass blowing and banners futtering
to Cincinnati, and there they are now
trying to do on grand scale what they did al
home on a small one. There Is no disguise
about it, The machine Is quite open, ana
everybody can watch its workings There Is
not citizen of average common sense VINO
does not understand all about the Conkling
movement. Ii is strictly an Offce-holdeIs' ar
rangement There is no popular feeling behind
il the Senator has on the contrary great deal
of adverse popular feeling to overcome II ne
expects to be President; and there IA nothing
to be said for his strength as candidate ex-
cept that he will get the influence OF the
CustOm-hOuse and the P0st-Ofiice, anu
so much of the purchased vote of Pennsylva-
MIA "a the new Secretary of War may find
himself able to deliver Yet the first action OF
this New-York delegation after reaching Gin
Mr n
to offer for the inspection of the Platform Com-
mittee Civil Service Reform plank Ihe
gentleman who perpetrated this rather daring
joke was the eloquent x-Lieutenant-Governor'
Gen. Stewart l.. Woodford. Mr.. WOOdford Is
not great American humoIist, and we are
bound to believe that he was in solemn ear
nest, but it il rather too mnch for the gravity
of mankind when he asks that crowd to set up
as the champions of civil service reform
1t must be admitted, however, that the re-
form which Mr.. WO0dford commends is OF
mild variety, not likely, if it should be
adopted, to cause his associates any real lncon-
yenience He asks the Convention TO resolve
"that the Republican party will carry forward
"a thorough and systematic reform of the civil
"service in such manner that while giving
"to the party in power those places where
"harmony and vigor of administrationrequire its
"pollcy to be represented, all others shall be
"flled by men selected only with reference to
character, fitness, economy, and the right oil
"the people of all parts of the country to
"take part in the honor of serving
ait faithfully" which it will 'be OH
served, is about equivalent to promise
to let the people scramble for all the offices
the managers do not want. Indeed if we look
ut the resolution critically, we may be left in
doubt whether Mr.. Woodford did not intend
10 declare that it was the proper function OF
the office holding g igarchy to control and
direct the masses of the party, make candi-
dates for them, and shape their policy. Judge
Dttenhoefer and Mr. Orton, We understand,
are to help Mr.. Woodiord put his resolution
" into a more acceptable form" Perhaps we
shall know better tomorrow what it means.