New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-12-13


in the pursuit of a grand purpose must come
out right in the end, we should despair OF the
American people
1t is because we sympathize so entirely WIN
the Presidents ambition, and recognize so
fully the dignity of his character that we
are sometimes provoked by tho blum
ders of his Cabinet cOunsclOrs. Feeling
strongly, as we do, on the subject
of genuine reform of the public
service. how can we look with patience
upon such performances rs the proiier
of the Brazilian Mission to John a. Lo-
gan, and the Swiss Mission to Schneider
and the Belgian Mission to Sanford, and
the Gillian Mission to Osborn How are
we to characterize such grotesque diplo-
macy as putting up the English Mission
to be rallied for the benefit Of the distressed
politicians of Pennsylvania, and tossing the
Berlin Mission out o. window, to be scrambled
for by the unemployed statesmen Of Illinois
How is it possible for us to approve the Gus
tom House appointments at Baltimore and the
retention of Simmons at Boston, while an at
tempt is made to remove a competent and
honest Collector at Newly Orl, and to buy his
acquiesccnce with a consul generalsiip All
the principles of the Presidents reform are
oSteDtatously violated in these transactions
Promotions are made without merit, removals
without cause in one instance the "claims
of machine politicians to the patronage OF their
State are recognized with an opcnness that
General Grant would have thought indecent; ;
in another case the wishes and Judgment Of
the leading men of the party are gratuitousy
4 -, only Do
pubIicans excluded from Office, but, "a it APP
pears from the extraordinary letters OF Scha-
ator Gordon read in the executive session Of
The Senate ten days ago, Democratic Sena-
tor, being allowed TO control the nomination OF
an important officer i'll his section, recon-
mcnds man precisely because he Is strong
Democrat, and the nomination is confirmed by
Democratic votes
That the Republican party should revolt ut
some of these things, was inevitable. We
urged an effort at reconciliation and harmony
before the Ncw-York appointments were sent
in the second time. We urge it again now. The
talk about Presidents getting on as well
without a party as with one Is sheer
nonsense. In the whole history of Par
liamcutaIy government, whether in this
country or elsewhere, there is no
record of an Administration successful
without Effective party support. The
President cannot afford to be supported
by Democrats; AMI he cannot afford
at crisis like this to break up
the party that elected him. There is no
substantial reason for an irTeconcibie diff
ference with his natural supporters there is
every reason for trying to get together again,
and there is no need to abandon Civil Service
Reform. Ii is only necessary to abandon such
buIlesques upon it as we have limited at
above, to comprehend that the proper
discharge Of political duty is not a necessary
decentralization for public Office, and that
other things being equal an Administration,
to deserve support, must make appoint
mcnts that will strengthen its supporters. If
that support is to come from the Republican
parts, then the Republican party must not be
broken down 10y needless quarrcls on points
where the Administration is not living up to
its own declared policy. Let us have peace!