The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1877-07-14
REFORM OR PARTISANSHIP?

Recent occurrences in connection with
the Baltimore Custom House illustrate the
difficulties which we recently pointed out
in the way of convincing the country that
the civil service is being Thoroughly reform
ed when there is no distinct system by
which to Judge the Presidents course.
The statements regarding the displacement
of Collector Wilkins at the Port of Balti-
more and the appointment of Mr.. Thomas
arc very conflicting, but careful examina
ton of those which have been made on
both sides fail to show in what regard the
change was required by the principles of
civil service reform laid down by the Presi-
dent in his letter of acceptance and repea-
ted, expanded, emphasized in his inaugural
address. Indeed, none of the statements,
if we except the letter of Mr.. Wilkins in
which he declines to resign at the request
of the Secretary of the Treasury, made
under the Presidents direction bear upon
these principles at all. They are mainly
concerned with assertions and counter-aS-
sertions as to the manner in which the
rival candidates for the position have ser
we'd the partisan interests of the Republi-
cans of Maryland. They show lively
appreciation of the value, past and pros
pective, of the patronage value, of the
SuSJOui llOuSc III Ouc Clique Ut
another to control the party machinery
but they seem to leave out of sight as
irrelevant and insignificant the capacity
and honesty of the chief parties to the
quarrel, and their purpose to carry out
reform "radical, thorough, and complete"
in accordance with the Presidents pub
lished programme. The advocates of one
candidate denounce the other as eds
organizer;' the opposing disputants retort
with the epithets "malignant " and sore
head" We are impressed with the fact that
if what all the friends of each have to say
regarding their favorte's merits be true,
both are singularly untitled to take part in
the task to which the President has pledg-
ed himself.
Judging by his own declarations of his
purpose and convictions and surely no
one can ask for fairer test, Mr.. Hayes is
not required to consider the success Of the
Republican Party in Maryland in making
his appointments in that State, except so
far as such success may be promoted by
the selection Of competent and respectable
men, who are in sympathy with the radical
reform, and who will, by their conduct,
sustain the claims of the Republican Party
to be the party of reform. Desirable as it
undoubtedly is that the Democratic rule in
the State should be broken down, since it
has been proved to be corrupt, arbitrary,
and eXtravagant rule, Mr.. Hayes principles,
as defined by himself, forbid him to use the
offices under the Federal Government as
patronage" to accomplish that end. In
deed, it is plain that no organization of
"workers y in the federal offices could
begin to exercise as wholesome and efficient
an influence in promoting revolt against
the Maryland Rings as would be exerted by
Il
istration of the Federal officers in the State.
That is, in reality, the only kind of aid
which the Republican Party of any State
is entitled to from the President, and it is,
moreover, aid of the most powerful char
acter. If the Administration can prove to
the country that its removals and appoint
monts are guided solely by considerations
of public interest, that men are removed
only because they are unfit or appointed
solely because they are fit, for their duties,
we have no fear of the effect upon public
sentiment Such course would streng-
then the party immensely, would give it
certain positive hold upon public esteem,
and would call to its support the aggressive
and sincere reform feeling of the country
with something like the enthusiasm it once
awakened as the party of Emancipation
and the Union.
lilo. hoWCNCl, 10 uoO luC NlCW IahCu vi
the matter by the gentlemen who have been
carrying Oh what is known as a vigorous
contest" at Washington in the interest of
Mr.. Wilkins and Mr.. Thomas for number
of weeks past. We have nothing to say of
the strength of the claims put forward in
behalf of either of these persons as leaders
of Maryland Republicans. 1t may be true
that Mr.. Wilkins has been inefficient in the
manipulation of the machine, or it may be
true that Mr.. Thomas can be relied on to
effect combinations with certain elements
of the Democracy that would "give the
Republicans the State" Both gentlemen
seem to have devoted a great deal of time
and strength to this kind of work, and to
have made goodly number of active
friends and hearty enemies in the prose
cution of it. But we do not see why their
talents or their wants of talent in this
direction should have guided the Presi-
dents action. If it be the fact, as is
claimed by Mr.. Thomas friends, that Mr.
Wilkins was put in the Custom House as
a mere locum tenens, to keep the place warm
for Mr.. Thomas until a new Administra
ton should arrive in Washington, that
fact is not creditable to any of the parties
concerned in the bargain, and it is not one
of which Mr.. Hayes was in any way bound
to take notice. On the contrary, it was a
bargain of the kind which the courts refuse
to enforce, when made in business affairs,
as Opposed to public policy" and which,
in politics, is distinctly contrary to the
declared views and pledges of the Presi-
dent. We should be sorry to suppose
that Mr.. Hayes had considered any such
arrangements as remotely binding on him,
or had failed to repudiate it as at once i'm
pertinent and vicious. 1t would be source
of incalcuiable disappointment to the
friends of genuine civil service reform if
the President whom they supported because
of his clear and advanced principles on
that subject had lent himself to the con
summation Of thoroughly unworthy
intrigue of this character. That they are
left in the dark on the subject is due, as
we have said, to the Presidents failure to
embody his principles in clear and intelli-
gible system, and to enforce such system
in a uniform and public manner. His
friends, who are his friends because they
believe his announced policy of reform TO
be sound one, have confidence in his
good intentions, and would be very glad to
see them demonstrated beyond all doubt by
his acts; but they cannot find in such in
cdents as that ofthe Baltimore Collectorship
any very effective evidence of his earnest
ness or efficiency in applying his policy.
". !. Times.