Litchfield enquirer., 1877-12-27
PERSONAL POLITICS.

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 PERSONAL POLITICS.
 Personal politics had field day in the Sem ate, Wednesday. Mir. Conklings frank asser- ton that the affair was his own, his. appeal to Senators to vote with him because fhe pro- posed removals in the New York Custom House were intended to break him down and dishonoE him politically; r sufficiently character ized the struggle on one side; while the bit of gushing eentfmentalian attributedto Mir. Burn side, that kfhe never would go back on an old soldier who had served under him." meaning President Hayes, unfortunately represented too faithfully the spirits and the methods of other side. These two remarks indeed, fairly illustrate the perversion of our later politics. The only question properly before the Senate Wednesday, was the question whether the Presidents nominations were in the interest of the purity and efficiency of the civil service. With this question Mir. C0nkling' spersonal in- juries and political success or failure had noth- ing more to do than had the proceedings in the Vanderbilt will case. Yet the considerations which the New York Senator so candidly ac- knowledged are the real considerations which have largely controlled the administration of affairs for yeazs--not the public well-being but the prosperity of private purposes. On the other hand the fact that General Burnside commanded a corps in which General Hayes served had nothing more to do with this ques- ton of the civil service than had the fact that OSlnan Pasha fought with superb skill and bravery before the surrender of Plevna. Yet for years Important measures and policies have been determined on grounds just as remote as these. Men have been appointed to office, not because they were qualified for office, but be- cause they had served in the war. Laws have been enacted not because they were right and expedient, but because they conformed to cer- tain historic and obsolete notions, and the Re- publican party has maintained it's organization not upon what it was doing in the present or intended to do in the future, but upon what it had done in the past. Thelow state into which our politics have fallen cannot be understood without keeping in view the traits of which these remarks of Messrs. Conkling and Bufn- side are capital illustrations.
 There are several exceptions tOtlie generally unsatisfactory course of the discussion which preceded the disereditable result of Wednes- day. Mr. Bayard, onthe Democratic side, treated the subject in a statesmanlike way. He considered the legal questions involved, and supported the nominations because he be-. heved that they were in thedirection of reform. He did not concern himself about ''the cour- tesy of the Senate" or inquire whether the feel ings of any of his vain and sensitive Senatorial brethren had been wounded Nor did he urge his party associates to vote in certain way in order to break up the Republican organization if possible. We should like to make Mir. Hoar's speech another exception but, while it took the right view of the case there is nothing to show that it was of that aggressive temper which secures followers and forms public opin- ion. Mir. Hoar and his colleague Mr. Dawes, vote with the administration, but they have missed excellent opportunities to do 1t good service of another kind. They represent Mass achusetts, the state which has declared in the most direct and emphatic way for the Presi- dent One of them at least, Mir. Hoar, is thoroughly equipped for parliamentary battle -expert in debate, ready in ret0rt, quick to see the exposed parts of an adversary, and not reluctant to thrust spear into them. Iii hard to see how these two Senators could have neglected the chanc@to take a strong position in support of the administration and to hold it in bold and deaant way which would have brought many recruits about them; but they have neglected 1t more than once. MT. Hoar, we are told, t'did not talk at any length, con hning himself Go a statement of the relative constitutional powers of the President and Sen- ate" It is to be hoped that his speech was not so tame a one as these words suggest. The
 
 spirited leadership on the side of the adminis- tFatiOn. This defect is not peculiar to We'd nesday's contest. The one thing which the ad- nIinisiratiOn lacks is leadership of this kind; and lacking this it lacks almost everything which can make the just and wise measures of the President successful. .ffSs t8IEs Es
 There vas one omission in'the debate which will be observed with very great regret. That the controlling motive of some men eminent in public life is a narrow partisan and personal ambition is no secret but never before, we believe, has the motive beensoshamelessiy ac- kn0wledged.s Ihe Tribune saysthat Mir. Conk- hng's speech gas Gone of the most brilliant, eloquent and able of his life" What was the brilliant Senator eloquent over? His personal wrongs and his individual prospects. We are told further that he pranced up and down the aisles of the Senate, shouting loudly and ges- ticulating violently For what? That he might exhibit his personal sores and solicit the application of the balm of sympathy and sup port to his individual wounds The mcrtif fying feature of the case is that no Senator, Repub- hcan or Denocratics came forward to rebuke, in the interest of decency and duty, and aside from the merits of the particular controversy, this prostitution of official responsibility :
 t is impossible to say what will be the re- salt of this victory of the Conkling Senators. For one thing, nobody need be surprised to see the triumphant Custom House officers forth with re-establish the machine. Certainly they are encouraged to returnto their caucusses and their conventions, to resume their functions as members of Assembly district committees end ward cluhs. and once more to control thes par ty by crOwding out all Republicans who are nCt-Ofaceholdes or the tools of ofiieeholders. This Is a natural and logical sequel This is just what their master, Mir, Conkling, probably will order them tO do. We do not see thal anything can prevent the restoration of the old system. the revival in this city, for instance, Of the scauaalpu4 corrupt and disastrous alli ance between the Custom House and Tamma. ny Hall, unless the President reafiirms hisciv. Il service order and finds way to enforce it.
 What do you think of the administration q asked one Republican of another, not long ago.
 ''I voted for Hayes. was the reply, land approve everything which the administration has undertaken to do; but do wish that ths Pfezident would make vigorous and persist ent application of his ofacialboot without stop ping to put . sponge on the toe of it everJ time he applies iL"-From Me Neo Yorl EoeRine Post.