The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1876-08-10


man of scrupulous integrity, of strong feeling OF
honor, of quiet energy-a man who has fulfilled
all public duties which have ever devolved upon
him with success and in every respect without re-
proach; a man IN whom the desire to restore and
preserve honor to the Government springs from
the natural tendency of his nature, and not from
arifce or affected feeling. tits quite as well known
that in his official capacity he has repealed the bad
elements of party and surrounded himself with
those most deserving of respect. In the Presidency
he would therein not be less succe ssful especially
as through his decided rejection of second term
he would withdraw from the influences which would
surround him all opportunity to excite in him any
other emotion than that of making a single term
honorable. This is extravagant praise, but 1t
| has the advantage of being true. The realization
of this feature of reform seems to me, therefore,
as thoroughly secure through Hayes as through
Tilden.
But it has always been very important matter
| to me- not only that corrupt officials should be
brought to punishment, but that the most profita-
BILE source IF corruption-a system OF plumber
should be checked by permanent and thorough
reform of the civil service The question, and the
end be attained?' Now, if I am convinced
that Mr.. Hayes will undertake with honest
twill and carry out with all energy exactly
such a thorough reform of the civil service
as that for which have striven, what right have
you to assert that by supporting Mr.. Hayes tread
my convictions under foot? Have I reasons for
these convictions Let see. In his letter of &C
ceptance, which in this respect leaves far behind
i the Republican as well the Democratic plat
| form Mr.. Hayes has presented the clearest and
compIetest programme of civil-service reform with
! which am acquainted Untiring and i'm partial
prosecution and punishment Of dishonorable 9th
cials no more appointments by request OF
members of Congress; no removals except for de-
fcient service; the official no longer the tool of
party: honesty, capacity and fidelity the only
claim to official promotion, thereby total abolition
of the system OF plumber; the reform secured by
legislative means. Do you know better pro-
pramme? Would not its realization fulfill all
which L have advocated in accordance with my
convictions?
HAYES A PRACTICAL AND ENERGETIC REFoRMER.
But you may say Mr.. Hayes is not the to
carry out such programme. Is this based upon
anything more than mere conjecture Would you
not have said three weeks ago that MIR. Hayes was
not the man to present such programme? 1t has
been said that Mr.. Hayes has suddenly transformed
himself into civ-service reformer for the sake of
effect and in order to the votes of the indie
pendents But he has expressed the same views of
reform ia the canal-service, and even to some ex
tent with the same words, in speeches and inaug-
ural addresses delivered years ago. This may have
escaped you, as it did me, but it is neverthe-
less true. No one, not even yourself, doubts that
Mr. Hayes is a thoroughly honorable man, who
honestly intends to practice what he breaches. He
has shown that the substance of civservice reform
il completely clear to his mind, but you deny him
ii outrage and the energy which are necessary in
order successfully to meet strong opposing in
fuences. Moral courage in one thing implies moral
courage in others. Have you considered perhaps,
how much moral courage must be inferred Of can
didate for the Presidency who opposes the most
| powerful official influences of his party by such
programme? He stands at the beginning OF the
campaign in which the policy Of the candidate
would dictate to him the necessity OF keeping favor
with all strong influences of party, especially those
already organized. Yet this candidate issues
manifesto which. in its comprehensive and
sharply defined requirements, is in itself the
severest criticism of the existing misrule Is this
want of courage? This candidate says to the mem
bers of Congress that in of his election they
must expect from him no concessions of patronage;
to the officials that no party services will be desired
from them to the politicians, that electioneerlng
work will no longer be valid as claim to an office;
to the President who has been twice chosen and is
s.williog for third term that whoever would I'M
dertake such reforms must deny himself the amb-
ton of second term The man who in the critical
period before election, has sufficient courage and
fidelity to his convictions to issue such manifesto
will also have the courage after election to re-
sist whatever hostile influences may surround him.
With these influences with which Mr.. Hayes will
have to battle am we'll acquainted probably few
know them better, undervalue their force by no
means, but in this relation another element mustbe
considered. In the last few years serious move
ment in favor of a thorough reform in the civil SER
vice has taken place within the Republican party
this movement mas been frlitless. Why? Hardly
sc much because the politicians who go for spolls in
Congress have not been willing to give up their pat
ronage and the party leaders their machine but es-
peciay because the President, who is called upon
to play the leading part in this reform, never prop
erly knew what civil-service reform meant; and
since his personal friends and associates, as we'll
other interests lay so much nearer to his hear ne
was glad to conceal himself behind the opposition
IL Congress in order to defeat the reform have
always been convinced that if the President had
been sincere the opposition might have been over
come and the reform have been carried out within
the entire scope of the executive power. If he had
done so much, Congress-, under the pressure OF a
public opinion invoked by the President, would
! finally have accommodated itself to Legislative
measures in the same direction. The better wing
of the party would therein have actively seconded
| the ,sdent, and Mr.. Hayes, in his struggle for
| the fuflment of his programme, would have
| found a powerful support in the same
element; for this element will be particularly eff
fective when it finds itself naturally advocated in
| the first executive officer. nave no recollect1on
of any similar effort on the Democratic side with
| the exception of single speech OF Senator Cor
| don on the revenue service, and letter OF Mr..
/ Clarkson Potter, which, however, contained prop
! ositions of very dubious value. What is under
/ stood as civil-service reform in the Democratic
/ camp has been shown by the Democratic majority
! of the present House of Representatives, which,
without provoking an expression of dissatisfaction
| from single one of its members, simply replaced
| all Republican officials, without distinction, by
| Democratic ones. You know rs well as I do what
| scandals from this change. People may say
| that this was the usage of party True. But such
usage Of party must cease before civilservice re-
| form can begin. I am sure that do not venture
too far when I assert that you, equally with my
SELF await nothing else from Democratic admins
tration than a universal expulsion of all Republ1-
can officials, good as well bad, and the appoint
ment of Democrats in the manner of a I" new deal,
according to the traditional rule of the system of
spoils. You know also, just we'll as l. that even
now hundred thousand Democratic patriots stand
ready to hurl themselves upon the long-desired
booty 1t does not trouble me particularly II this
or that Postmaster Collector is Democrat or
Republican, but it must be clear to every one that
such procedure only makes permanent the system
of spoils and keeps open the most prolific source OF
corruption.
MR.. oTTENDoRFERs JUDGMENT OF MR.. TILDEN.
Now, what do you look for in this particular from
Mr.. Tilden? Will he oppose this great and covet-
Gus assault upon the booty, which is coming not
only from the North, but more especially from the
South, and which Will surpass everything which up
history
Will he brave it, and at the cost of his personal pop
ularity in his party stld back home the office
seekers that he may retain in office good men, and
! remove only bad ones? Allow me to tell you, sir,
that you do not believe this. Inc carrying out OF
such a reform, than any other political task,
requires, first of ALL an unselish and undertaking
devotion to purpose, that which is called single
| ness of purpose" a freedom from demagogic bias
and from the grasping after pularity. a contempt
for all wire-pulling and pc itcal-machine manage
ment. Is it your opinion that Mr. rilden CORE
spends to this picture? As for mysef, it is known
to you that never, like certain other independents
raced the Of Tlden best lie that of Brstow, that
/ I might recommend the candidacy of the former IN