The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-05-03


first. the bottles afterward. Mr. Kilbourn
assures them that there will be '.every
facility afforded them for Q thorough exami-
nation of their contents."
The Republican Reform Club and
Governor Seymour.
The Republican Reform Club of New York
is new political institution which has its
headquarters at No. 80 Union square, Its OBJ
jects are tersely declared in its address to the
people, and we shall state them with still
greater brevity. The first reform which
they ask all patriotic citizens to unite to
achieve is resumption Of specie payments.
The second is thorough non-partisan civil
service. The third is retrenchment >and
reduction in the public service. The
fourth is Ito signalize the opening Of the
new century of our national existence by
having nominated by the republican party
for President not mere political partisan
but statesman of tried character, in sym
pathy with the best sentiments of the people
on all public questions, conversant with the
affairs of government, discriminating and
Independent in the choice of public servants,
one who will thoroughly reform the public
service, and whose name alone will be o
guarantee of official integrity, of wise and
prudent administration, and of fearless
enforcement of the laws" All these objects
are excellent, and the last is especially i'm
portant.
The only objection that can be made to
this admirable programme Of reform is that
it is not sufficiently defnitive We do not
complain of vagueness in respect to the re-
sumption of specie payments, for the
methods of obtaining that are already under
stood nor in respect to retrenchment, for
the means of effecting that are also clear
enough. But when the club speaks of hon
est, capable and faithful civil service, and
of President who will thoroughly reform
the public service, and statesman of tried
character, we feel that something more ought
to have been said as to methods, as
well as objects, by body of such
influence and power. The true states
men of the democratic, as well as the repub-
lican party. are equally DESTROYS to obtain
these ends. Nothing could be stronger than
Mr.. Seymour's speech at Utica He said
that the great issue now before the people
is (Which party shall have the highest aim
which party shall stand upon the highest
plane of patriotism which party shall out
step the other in the great and noble effort
to restore. to build up and make our country
glorious9" In this speech there was much
spirit but little form. The eloquent orator
did not indicate with any exactness what
modes of reform he wished the democratic
party to adopt. 1t is no clearer than the
proclamation of the Republican Reform
Club. Everybody wants reform, but we
observe with regret that nobody afirms the
only methods by which it can be secured.
What has become of the one term amend
ment to the constitution? The cause of the
present degraded condition of our govern
ment is the continued personal rule which
creates an evil and dangerous ambition.
Mr.. Seymour alludes to this cause. The Re-
publican Reform Club says the public heart
is sickened with the spectacle s'of betrayed
trusts, of high places sought and held
solely for private gain," and it afiirms that
lit should be made known to self-appointed
party managers that their despotic control
will no longer be tolerated" But neither
the democratic leader nor the repub-
lican club have one word to saw
of the only principle that can take the ma
ton from beneath this despotic control, that
can restore to the people the authority these
self-appointed politicians have usurped.
We shall not repeat our arguments on this
question. We shall only say that those who
preach reform without proclaiming their
faith in its fundamental principle cannot be
trusted to secure it. Those republicans are
ideal reformers who protest against civil
service evils while they propose no plans
for their removal, and the root of
civil service corruption is, was and
ever will be executive ambition. The
democratic party advocated the one term
amendment in the desperate struggle of
1872, but it has not one word to say for it
now. All are silent None are more utterly
dumb than the Presidential candidates. If
they will not speak how can we trust them
fully! What is the assurance that the sue
cessful candidate and the triumphant party
will not repeat the policy of Grant and his
administration party when they aimed-as
some of them still do-to keep the govern
ment as personal possession for indefinite
time? There is no security in promise of
reform the people want the pledge
What the Cable Il Doing.
There are, no doubt, many thousands of