New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-04-26
E1DLY DISAPPOINTED.


A good deal of astOnishmcnt-in some in
stances bordering on Indignation and in others
on dsgust-has been manifested at the treat
| ment by the President and heads oil depart
mpnts of the able and influential Senators and
Concressnen who since the 4th of March
have handed in their little lists OF names
for appointments. Members OF Congress
have heretofore been almost absolute III
these matters. They had only TO name their
candidates and receive their share of patronage
They supposed that fashion was to continue.
They are indignant and Disguised that 1t does
not And yet last yelr tncy-many OF them
in person, all OF them by their delegates
sOlemnly resolved in the Republican Ma
tional Convention in this wise: Under
81 the Constitution, the President and heads
I" of departments are to make nominations for
" Office: the Senate is to advise and consent
"to appointments, and the House of Repre-
sentatives is to accuse and prosecute iaithleSs
officers The best interest of the public SER
I" vice demands that these distinctions be re-
"spected; that Senators and Representatives
- should not dictate appointments to office"
They said in addition that " the inyariablc rule
ain appointments should have reference to
"appointees giving to the party in power those
"places where harmony and yigor of adminlsra-
"tion require its policy to be represented, but
"permitting all others to be filled by persons
"selected with sole reference to the efficiency OF
"the public service and the right OF all citi-
"Zens 10 share in the honor of rendering faith
"ful service to the country" This struck the
country as a fair statement of a correct prin-
ciplc, and so it met general approval.
Among others who approved it cordially was
the simple-minded ard plain-spokcnl cIson who
has since become President. In his honest,
straightforward way lie accented it as the
sincere uttelance of party that proposed not
only to conduct = campaign but to administer
the Government upon it, He took special
pains to communicate to the party and
the country his belief in Tie principle here
enunciatcd in his letter accepting the nOmina-
ton. Not dreaming but THAI the party was as
much N earnest about it rs ne was himself,
he proceeded TO act III accordance with the
resolution as soon as ne entered upon the
Presidency. 1t il difficult 10 say which OK
pericnced the greater surprise, President
Hayes at finding that the politicians
of his party meant nothing by the
resolution, or the politicians at the dis
covery that he "took it all for wheat and il
the Innocence of his heart was about to carry
it into effect. The President may have had ii
shadowy sort OF suspicion that this was Il reso-
luton for the campaign and not for the Adj
ministration, but the politicians never sus-
pcctcd for moment that he would
treat it seriously. 1t was something
of shock to them to learn that the
President considered himself bound to fulfill
the promise. The politicians had not been
used to such performances. They had passed
similar resolutions before in all sorts OF con-
ventions. They had served to amuse the pco-
pie, and had never interfered with the regu-
lar appointments of Congressional pat
rOnagc. Why Mr. Hayes should put
on the airs of refOrmcr after
he was secure in his office they could not uiI-
dersiand. And many OF them are standing oil
in questioning attitude toward the Adj
nins.ration now, not because their patronage
has been cut off-oh no, perish the thought -
but because they have great fears that the
rights of man will be invaded and liberty sold
out.
1t does not yet appear how the new plan
will turn out 1t may prove failure. Bat
whether it does or not, one thing is certain :
it is what the Republican party promised that
| President Hayes if elected would do, and
what he also promised. 1t is an awful warn
! ing, to convention managers at any rate
| against putting promises into platforms that
they have no idea of redecniing. For it may
sometimes happen that they get a candidate
simple minded enough to tell the truth and
| do as he agrees.