New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-06-23
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
,rrrrp From GAIL HAMILTON.

w.sunrgx's REMOvAL~-TaE cUsroMHoUsE-
MIR. EyARrs.
90 the Editor Of me TrtoWne.
Sm. In the sumner Of 1876 Mr.. Tyner was made
pe.tmaster-Gencra, BY President Grant. As ne had
heon Assistant Postmasler-ieaeral, his promotion
might AZ frst blush. to be in the line of Civil
S.rvice Reforin but that IL a delusion. We have
m, Nation newspapers authority FOR saying that he
Owed his appointment to that old war-horse of the
Ssnate Ring. Mr. Morton He was "a strong sup
porer OF the Morton policy in the South" says The
Naiios Of Jay 13, 1876, and got his present Office
Cor voting for the FoIce bill last year. kGT Re-
form Cabinet there was but course toward Mr..
Tvner-turn him out neck and heels. On the con-
trarv. the Reformers suddenly discovered that
"vhenAe was promoted TO the Postmaster-General-
ship in July 1876 he brought TO the discharge of
its duty marked ability" that his business aDil-
tiles and iOag experience Ia postal matters would be
of value to the Government that :" he Is not only
an efficient officer bat a pleasing gentleman
in manners AID address" and that " his
consent to perform the duties Of position
with which he was thoroughly familiar would give
promise of continued efficiency in the postal
service SO It seems his promotion for purely
political aud even a very questionable reason was
Just as good in It's results II he had been promoted
on Civil Service Reform principles; and that the
Reformers burning FOR a radical change, could find
no better man than the one whom that corrupt
poEtciau Senator Morton, had put in as reward
for being his scrViceable tool
After al this, there was on Reform grounds
still but enc course to take regarding dr. Tyner
retain him in the position for which he had 50
thoroughly proved his itness. Not so. Mr.. Tyner
was displaced and Mr.. Key, Of whom | venture 20
say the country at large had never heard IN con-
neCton with the postal service, put IN his place
And NJ KEYS first annouus elnent OF radical change
in his department the declaration that ' ne had
no intention Of making any changes and that he
desired to unth machine bout as his distinguished
predecessor had done" His chief recorded exposition
Of Civil Service Reform principles Is that If the
Southern Democrats oppose the Administration,
the President wiz be compelled to use his official
patronage in sucn a way 90 give him strength IN
his own party; whereas should Southern Demo
Gratis wisely extend him q support he VIII be able
10 deal his patronage TO them literally
His most brilliant feat IN the Reform AGministra-
tou which will no. mix politics with business, and
Will have 10 appointment eXeep; for fitness, the
appointment Oh the recommendation of TWO North
err Democrats and two Southern "caTpet-haggerS'
for the purpose Of showing that he was not gov
cIred BY amy prejudice against Northern Republic
cans Of man who had been dismissed the public
service and the subsequent discharge Of the same
man on the representations Of an anonymous tray-
eer Here / think the Rsl0TIners right, and that
this is radical change. ! recollect no other In
stance of a Cabinet Minister within two months OF
his appointment, personally and directly pledging
tie Federal patronage as pay tor votes Clyll Ser
wee Reform ala well 20 disp,ace Nj Tyuer, and pat
Nj. Key in his place. for 1 10 not believe that Mr..
Tyuer with all the training Of bis RiHgnaster Nor
ton would ever nave been equal to the accomplish
ment Of this feat Bat when il comes 10 the
mere performance of the peoples post-otiicc
will aqt
Reforner who declares IN allusion TO Mr.. Tyner',
reluctant acceptance Of q su0orduate position, that
civil Service Reform is half accomplished when
Ole Puil .oudescends 20 play second fiddle" think
that Civil Service Reform is standing on what 1t Is
pleased to call its head when it isis Ole Bull to pay
second hddie and puts in the streetOrgan man 10
lead the orchestra.
Nor does the matter seem 20 he materially mended
bv M KEYS late sudden outburst of Spartan viz
tue upon the head Of some unlucky special agent
who seems not to have the knack of knowing what
t. say and what TO understand without saying. This
specially stupid agent blur-s out thai the under
standing when hc was appointed was that he should
All his party friends in organizing an Administration
party in his state" " You not stomly re-
joins this Bfutus of Reform, you were not ap-
pointed TO organize and build up Administration
party In your state Won were appointed % do the
work Of the Post-O9ce Department" Now, in
view Of the special agents assertion that ne under
stood that ho gas To aid in building up Admins
tration party and in view OF his chiefs declaration
that the patronage was TO be used 10 strengthen the
Administration in the South, the war-dance Of in
couuntibility executed by NJ Key in his letter OF
june 10 does not seem particularly imposing an
inclined TO think that the special agent was more
frank than false. " cannot, dare not, VII NOT
saws tIis Cabinet Casabiauca, give special priy-
lege % any agent" The gentleman doth protest
too much methiuks. The fearlessness, the self
sacrifice the heroism with which the Postmaster
General sits in his easy char at the PcstOice, and
marshas his special agents 70 do battle with the
ferocious foes Of the Posi-Oiice Department is
enough 70 create a soul under the ris OF death. We
always supposed. until Mr.. Key came, that the
postal service was a comparatively tame and peace
fal affair; but one blast upon his bugle-horr-aud
down the glen ride armed men whose blood shall
stain the heather! ION horseback aud stage lines
AID even on foot"-think Of special agents raihiag
30 their business -" In rain, sunshine and storm
probably and properly for d0gday fog or January
thaw they may be allowed 20 turn in-bGt no.
We find as We read that they are not going
20 be allowed to drizzie ont OF it that way
Night and day ia oH sorts o. heather this martinez
will have his trained warriors securing the country
il headlon, hunt foI lost letters and pifarng post
masters!
But what inspiriing views Of the postal service
We should have missed had that special az mt hap
peaed not TO write his Offending letter just 1T this
ne, Just IN tlae to give Mr. Key opportunity
u parry and ausfg bis impTudent promise and still
more imUludent threat thas tie patronage Of the
P..tOfics Deplltmeut should he used 90 uphold OF
cat down the soathera Democracy according "a
that .ti-necked party should bend refuse 10 bend