New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-06-24
THE CANVASS OF 1876.
Confined IRON First Page.

and ref0rmers generally, which it was expected
might be compelled to stand outside OF tho Re-
publican party and perhaps outside Of both parties,
during this campaign. has become q campaign club
within the Republican lines with the right to bear
torches and wear wideaw axes. The incident illus
traes the consolidation, not on OF the Republican
party, but of Republican elements, which Gov.
Hayes's nomination has brought about. At the
same time it must I've admitted that some at least,
of the independents are not wholly won over.
While Gov Hayes's record raises the presumption Of
a pure Administration. they think it by no means
furnishes the proof required that he will DC real
Civil Service Rcformer. OF those with whom have
talked no one of this class has put his views in so
striking and interesting way as Mr. Horace White,
who was the editor of The Chicago Tribune in the
days when it supported Mr. Greeley. When asked
il he thought the nomination of Gov Hayes strong
one before the country. Mr.. White said:
lido not think il is strong one per &c. but think
II can lbs made So"
"Why not q strong one per soN
Because nobody was positively and alirmatlvely
for Hayes before the Convention met. Ohio itself
not for Hayes, at least. 1t was divided between
Br stow, blaine. aud Morton, with a preponderance
for BrstOw It's vote was cast for Hayes in the be-
ginning for the same reason that the vote of the
Convention was cast for him subsequently be-
cause he was convenient and acceptable com
promise
"lf he was n convenient and acceptable compro-
mise why should lie not be strong candldateP
" He may become so | think likely he will hut
at the present time he has the Jealous support of
the machine politicians, nor that of tho reformers.
The politicians arc holding back because they want
to alarm bim and make him believe he can't be
elected without them, and thus force him To give
pledges and make promises about the distribution OF
paronage-tho division of spoils J he reformers
are holding back because they rca don't know what
kind Of stuh Mr.. Hayes is made OF. They know he
i an honest man, a good soldier y scholar, and an
exemplary citizen, but they don't know him IN the
4l.r, a "A nlafr nj
public men of unbomishcd character. who have
been serving buffers and cushions for the Grant
AdIninistration,-io whom the reformers perhaps
might be wi ling to vote, but for whom they could
not work with any zeal or carnesncss. Gov. hayes
appears to he one of this nulnbcr."
why do you say, then, that Gov. hayes may De-
COM strong candidate r.
Because he may satisfy the reform element of
the party that he is genuine reformer HIMSELF so
that they will feel justified In Working for HIN. The
machine politicians will hold back long as they
think there is any chance of frightening Mr. Hayes
and when they find they can't 40 II, they VIII fdll
into lnc--wICh them half loaf - always better
than bread. They can't AFFORD to have a Demo;
crut elected President. The same vote that would
elect Democratic President would elect Demo-
cratic House OF Representatives, wipe out tine Re
publican majority III the Senate and WrcSt Dalt
dozen state Governments ana thousands Oh county
"What way can Gov. Hayes adopt 10 satisfy The
reform element Of the party r.
by answering them in some unmisakab!c and
convincing manner that he WILL If elected, execute
the Reform OF the civil service promised in the nith
rcso.atioD of the PLATFORM
SIS tnat resolution satisfactory to your
ut is entirely sO,p said Mr. White. " If executed
by one WHO believes liz it, and IS friendly to It, and
il irn enough TO carry II out. 1 am sure that 1t
would satisfy every man who supported Gen. Bris-
tow in the Convention or out OF the Convention.
The resolution declares in favor OF a permanent
CIVIL service based upon capacity and good charae.
ter, and IL expressly denies 10 Representatives, ana
Senators in Congress the rgt 10 dictate or inter
fere with appointments 10 office. In other words, 1t
puts the appointing power baek into the hands. of
The Executive, where the Constitution placed IT.
"Wouldii't such declaration on the part of Gov.
Hayes turn the senators and Representatives against
him w E can tncvdo, They want to he reelected
don't h,yi II Hg Is defeated they defeat ed, too
Moreover the present oice-ho.ders, take IL, don't
want to be- removed, and they would support WIN
all tho zeal, a candidate Tor President whose
purpose moi To remove any competent oihcer-
that is not to remove any one our oi mere cdplce
of his own, or Of the Congressman IN the District
Furthermore If the Olicc-hOiders See this pOlnt-and
think they NAV he trusted TO do sG-thcy VIII very
soon bring any factious Senator'S and representatives
there may be into good state of discipline Reform
of the civil service Is perfectly easy any PRESIDENT
who nj heart desires to accomplish IT.
Would not the Senate refuse TO c0i.irm the lres-
dents appOntee- in such ease = -
Not n the OihCc-hOldCrs and tho people should
sustan the President. assume that tho great
majority Of the people are IN favor OF eva service
REFORM ana Just the kind of reform which the plat
form promises To SUPPOSE that the Senators are
going 10 wale against the lresdent, tie oiiice-
holders and the people, all at the same time, -
S4.EItily aU3liIu, III iDl WHOLLY Il'i'uiou'.
WHAT officer, do YOU uhdcisiyLd 10 be lnclnd:d
in the permanent civil service contemplated III tie
platform ~
AIlexrept Cabinet officers and perhaps the hgher
grade OF foreign The platform says all
except those which necessarily political in thcir
nature. The Cabinet officers certainly belong % the
category Of political officers. They are part OF The
Administration, but tine heads Uf bureaus are not.
WAY should the Auditors OF TIE treasury and the
Commissioner Of Patents be liable to removal any
more than the QuaIicraGst. ruonela! OF lhe Amy
fine llIgl Engineer the Navy
Then you think tlatil Gov. Hayes should satisfy
the Liberals and Independents that he was
thoroughly in favor of civil service reform, they
would take Off their coats 9ld go 10 WORK Tor MN
Certainly do. have not talked with any OF
them, except such as have happened to meet IN the
streets OF Chicago; but know that the men who
participated in the 18th of May conference ut New
York are not Ofce-scokers. ! know that they are
laboling for honest government sOlely-not merely
for an honest President, but for general pullica,
ton Of official hfe which shall have permanent ANA
srl-sustanng features and characteristics. Ihey
would n, soon have Hayes Brist0w ior President.
if equally convinced of his mettie."
DO YOU think that II Mr.. HIVES should give the
kind of assurance you speak Of he would walk over
the course ~ go 81,
Ono. do not think anybody will walk over the
course this year. Ii is very small thing to ash al
Gov HAYES that he shall faithfully carry out ire
principles of the platform on WHEN nc stiI,.s,
think such an assurance. however wonld aCd nuch
TO his effective strength. But these are haid times,
and hard times generally operate against the party
IN power Moreoyer COY I E sn w' Of III 1bc GRANT
adlninistlaiion-the Bclkuapery and Babcockcry OF
the past eight years. Bristow was the only canIi-
rntir,lv clean But Ha;es will be less handicapped
Win Grant than any other candidate except Bris-
low. do not think this viii be an easy campaign,
but the chances at present are IN FAVOR Oh hayes
and Wheeler !,
Are You satisfied with the platform as regards
the currency question T. - ....a.t
Not entirely Bat | do not attach much import
ance to platforms this year. ! think Gov. HAYES
himself is sound on the currency question: ana
think the Republican party IL sounder thah inc
Democratic" -,
.. Mhnt 10 Won thinl, Of the Tariff plank ~