New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-05-08
RESr FEON POLIIICS

REST FEOM POLITICS.
If the generally accepted pr0verb be true
that that government is best that governs
least. it must be no less true that the best
political condition sIhat which gives MS the
least politics. The business Of politics as car
ried on in a democracy, and rs we have seen
it carried on in this country now for several
generations, is far from being profitable to the
people or conducive to the general vel
fare. Wherever community is found
to be enerossod in politics, With political
topics uppermost, political discussions always
rife, and party spirit rampant and bitter
there We nay be sure, one OF two Things
equally deplorabe will be found true. Either
past mistakes OF f0lli5s have brought about
business pr0stIatiOn, financial depression, and
the disasters of hard times, for which ali sorts
of political Quacbs and empires are urging
political cNpcdicnts and makeSIft- as remedies,
or prosperity has engendcrcd the ideness which
isso fruitful Of mischief; and the abandonment Of
honest industry for political inventions Is the
beginning OF downward progress. The c0un-
try is prosperous when its citizens are 50 fully
occupied each with his own individual pnr-
suit or occupation that he has little time
and less inclination for wrangling over r1liclr3
II disprting about political principles. The
cordlfoD of political activity which is midi
cat q h. political questions being uppcTmoSt
in everyL11ys mind and engroSsing every
bo,ly's thoGr-l Is, is either the resultant or the
precursor of what we call "hard times" That
j. not q condition of health which sets the
whole community on debating over Che policies
of parties and the functions of government.
Sound men do not spend their time discussing
their constitutions or wrangmg over the
merits of competing doctors or rival specifies.
That is the hest administration which gives
us the least politics which leaves to the whole
body of the people the promotion of the gen
eIal welfare in Che best and the only proper
way, 10y individual attention 10 individual
business and personal concerns. That Is the
wlscSt conduct of government under which its
complicated machinery runs so smoothly as
hardly TO attract notice. One of the worst
features of President Grants administration
was ITS amazing fccundity of political questions
very few of which it ever settled or Withdrew
from public discussion. What with Santo Do
mngo aunexati0n-about which we did not
hear the last word until the last annual mes
sage; the currency question III endless phases
civil service reform in infinite variety; South
crn reconstruction, with its tram OF expert
mcnts and failures the Indian policy, with
all its uncertainties and extravaganza, corrup-
ton and waste the changes Of Cabinet officers
and loose system of appointments and all the
| other strange freaks of those eight years, that
Administration managed to keep the country
constantly stirred up and che political pot always
boiling. There was never any lack of political
/ .,ft l.a IL ~
during President Grants two terms Ii hardly
needs 90 he added, certainly requires 10 dem
onstration. that no good came out OF all THIS
abundance OF politics. The country is OBJ
| ViOusly not any more prosperous for 1t, nor Is
| ii any wiser except as it may have learned the
lessons Of bitter and Improbable experience.
II is Of course too early now, upon barely
two months trial, to pronounce judgment upon
the administration of President Hayes. 1t is
not too carly however, nor Is 1t improper, to
point ont how it has made an uncomm0hly
GOOD beginning, and to take encouragement
therefrOm. If we may be permitted the cy-
preston there is Mt so much politics as there
was three months ago. Without any fuss
or furry or demonstration OF power
or attempt at display several Things
have been settled quietly taken out
of the field of discussion. And The most
noticeable thing in connection with the change i
the ease wi,h which it has been accomplished.
There has been so little management about II
that disturbing questions seem almost to have
settled themselves. After Yeas of Federal
Intervention in the South had brought about a
political condition which taxed the utmost re-
sources Of craftsmanship to preserve the dp-
/ pearancc OF order, the Administration simply
! ordered intervention to cease and the end
was reached. At once there was order; the
/ question which had excited most discussion
| ceased to disturb. There is considerably lcS'
/ politics for the dropping out Of that issue So
/ in the matter of civil service reform: there II
no flourish Of trumpets, no grand announce
ment, 10 elaborate programme; but The
| thing seems to be going ON. The Admins
tration is just doing it: that's all And
with that work done aud the service c!canecd,
another question drops out and we have sri
less Of politics. So in all directions, tho
new Administration seems to be doiue
| tho best work in the most quiet, transformations
way. Already the politicians begin to ME,
their bones of contention, and 10 wonder what
parties they belong to, and upon what new
issues they can set the people by the ears
Meantime the President adheres with sucl
! amiable obstinacy to his policy OF settling