New-York tribune., 1876-01-04
THE ADDRESS.

,I l. leen vfr, .7q,tifying to me II / could
coIue fore You at The ginning OF the Centsl year
10 discourse Of the wOnd rfu progress our country mas
made in population, wealth and the ants OF CIVILIZATION"
But il would have been an uugacious en0oachment on
tbc province Of the dstn gushod orator Who has been
chosen tc perform this service at the close OF the brs
century Of national oXstenee in the nan "n'le
our independence proclaimed TO the world Ahd!e
1 feel that 10 is an ungaeful task 10 speak OF spclh
and political evils before Tie sounds OF rejoicing With
which the new year vas usLered in have become
faint upon the ear. But there cannot, perhaps. be
more appropriate season for looking cur ialuics
boldly IN the face ana c0usderinghow We NAY convert
them into future trumILs. 1t was Thought by ON rs
that some profit might be cleaned from the discussion
connected as have been from time to tme with pnic
aatrs: and [ have yielded to their opinion though
without much hone OF ustlyng t From tie dos1i'oy
nature Of my subject what have 10 say VIII necessarily
be discusiye ana 1t ha.Oy he expected to rise To
tie level of an ordinary arrdng cement, much less TO the
rank OF formal Discourse and am apQreAcnslIe thal
the Eircr portion ny audience viii d-yo little graft,
fcatlon from a very plain treatment OF a very Gnat
tractiye theme But If the State of Ncwforh should
ever have the gaHany 10 confer on ttm t1e rgl- 10
the ballot they my possibly be benefited by some OF 10y
suggestions
A CIVIL SERVICE DEFECT AND IFS REMEDY.
U Is certainly marvel that tIe trainers OF ne tonst
tnon OF the United states should have succeeded IN
framing and agrton- upon ioua Of eoVcInn nt so lce
from mperec,ors and chat after the lapse Of more than
flrpe-fIlIiei- r. Il,;l "a
TALLY mOdif ia material IS well as ethical ohati ici
tics 90 little cause should De- found FOR changes n its
StTucUUc. But there is dcleoj OF administration WIlch
twill be difficult to remedy without an amenGmen. by
the concurrent action OF Congress ana thTccouris OF
the States The defect Is functional and yet il seems
only ltDle Of cure ly an organic change IaUde
TO the iulnense number OF appointments made by 'he
Executive Department This patronage, as it Is called
il usua lis REGARDED as syultC OF influences but 10 Is
questionable whether il NOT IA one respect an element
OF discOntent. Tor every candidate for IN Important
o6ce whO Is mccessfnl there are many who are dis
appointed; aud I doubt very much whether lIes-
dent ever derived a personal or political aovan-
tago from the exercise Of the appointing power. The
enormous Increase in the member OF appointments, n-
ecparabe from g'Own in population and wealth. aud
from anhppncation Of tGe authority OF the Go9eIameut
10 the administration OF i vastly augmented resource,
has uale expectations and hopes in regard TO the d-tu
button Of office an active agency IN our general elections
1t is deeply TO be regretted that it is Whom vital
principles measures OF policy involved, the uiru
sion Of selfish interest to influence possibly deter
mine the result cannot be Otherwise than dem0rA1DZ
ami 1t might under peculiar circumstances be very IN
juri0us in its consequences. The theory OF Our political
organization i5 that public Offices be created and
bestowed in The interest the public service. IN pg8o-
tce know very wo that they nave bceE conferred 10
reward political partisans for their activity 90
the polls and for aiding to achieve party
successes. 1 think il may b. said as truly that this
patronage, it has been not improperly called. has
sometimes been used TO promote the denomination Of the
Chief Magistrate OF the Union a second OF 0tli3.
/ aludc 10 period somewhat remote from our Own
time; and there was for believing that in in
stance, many ears ago Cabinet officers scc ted be-
fore the Presi lent entered on Lis first with
10 his reelection for second Il is quite obvious that
with such supposed personal interest in tie distribution
OF Offices there should be danger OF losing sight OF the
theory Of system that the best fitted by their
talents and gritty for pubic trusts shall be chosen TO
ia fO ed "
regret though not perhaps, with wonder. Chie Mags
tyates but they have their weaknesses like the
Testof and It is not oien perhaps that the head Of
government secs II he has the courage and sag
acity 90 act bis knowledge that the suIest mode OF
gaining the appreciation Of his cOuntymen Is 70 carry
into his Administration discrimination TO spurn away
all te ggestions Of sciaterest and all the basos OF
party and personal associations, and his Official acts
10 be guided solely by the best good OF his country.
know but one mode Of remcdyng tie evil referred to-
at least Of mitigating g. for the remedy is perfect
and that is to confer the Cho' Magistrate
strained dl-uteesedness By making him ineligible 10
Office for second term IL will not, Il "a true, deprive
him OF the power Of rewardpg his political friends and
supporters bat 1t viii dyest him Of OF the most
seductive motives TO selfish action by rendering t Oh
lect unaainable AMI inspiring him with the higher am
biuon OF gyius his countymcn puro aud bcueG.ent
administration aad securing for himself a cnyable
place in the history Of ils country
PARTY AID OEOPRAPnICAL Distribution OF
oTTCEs
There are gorae kindred evils the fruits Of the mutip-
saton o. Offices, which grcaty be 1eDosed. TLey
have to be generally regarded n the nltue oi
benehocs rather than public tustH, and might haye
been expected, hs dlaorcnt s.atea are now claiming
their dsrbutiye share. not satisfied With the great
number OF local sppointmctsjudgc' dstrcta.toneys,
maTshas collectors OF Internal revenue po5tmagters,
and in cases. collect 1rs Of the cm-, naval officers,
tnrveyors and hosts Of cctpgs and olcr they have
procured through their mCmbes OF C0nes the passage
OF an act providing tina. after the first dly Of this Ccn'en
nil year the appointments in the Treasury Department
az Washington shall De dstibIted among tho states AMI
Territories according TO their population. As fair d
vision tie spOs the arrangement is uncxcc onable.
Bat under such system Il IS Necessary thot deputy
collector, deputy auditor or a clerk should inii JET
icfson's requirement OF being honest capable and faith
fu to the Constitution, but he must also have geOgaph
cal qualification Ale must be M0TylandeT Jersey man,
Californian as the may be. There would Ger
tslly De- equity in tbs rule If public Offices TO
be considered chiefly beneficial enpoyments for the
pcumbens end trusts he executed for the good
Of the country; but it is departure IRON the theory OF
tie Government demorazing In its teBdcucy. and may
be injurious in practice by rendering 1t impossible in an
emergency for the Government 10 command the services
OF person OF special qualifications from one State be-
cause another State has its quota OF appointments
IN other words particular person. who II wanted from
Virginia or Penns yvana, II their sts full cannot be
appointed because Rhode Island Nevada has not Its
complement Of employees. This tendency 70 make public
Offices subservent local and pllvae interests carries
With IT the greater danger that they will come TO be used
tycinsively for party purposes Some progress has
already been made IL this direction BY removing enl'