New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-12-11
I'D -LNTESTlLENT.


The trouble in the Toledo Post Office wakes
md wanes with the changes in politics. but
we are never allowed to forget it long. The
male ghost of Bowling, side by side with the
snook Of slaughtered Civil Service Reform,
persistently rcvisits the living world, ana
vexes the otherwise calm and dulcet dellDer-
ations of the executive sessions. 1t shows
how the times have changed, that
little affair like this should disturb the
course of politics. In General Grants
dav. to make and unmake postmasters
for the sake of a Senator, was quite an ordl-
nary operation of party government. But re-
formers have to be careful. If a man will put
on stills, he cannot 90 registering about the
streets he must pick his steps carefully. When
Mr. Hayes declared that there should be no
removals except for cause, and no Interior
ence by the Senate with the distribution oil
the Executive patronage, he deliberately cut
himself off from great many OF the prlyl-
leges and amusements enjoyed by his prede-
cessors. He chose the part of a reformer, and
the people are not unreasonable in expecting
that he will play it right through to the end.
1t is generally understood that the changes
in the Toledo Post Office were made in order
to buy for Mr.. Stanley Matthews seat IN the
Senate Mr.. Hayes was very grateful to Mr..
Matthews, but perhaps he begins to realize by
this time that he carried gratitude too far. Is
Mr. Stanley Matthews worth all he has cost
In the Senate he has added little to the
strength of the Administration. With all his
abIlity-and in intellectual force lie is unques-
tionably the peer of the foremost Senators-he
has carried little influence i'll any good cause
he has been regarded by his fellOw-mcmbers
not exactly with suspicion, but with the
awkward and uncomfortable feeling which
men have toward any one who has got into
their company in n doubtful and irregular
way The Senate seems to have looked upon
him as the nominee OF the President, rather
than the choice of Ohio. We have said that he
carried little influence in any good cause; but
he does carry influence for evil. On one sub
iect only has he impressed his individual
opinions upon the Senate, 'and those opinions
are in direct antagOnism to the Presi-
dents most cherished sentiments. Mr..
Matthews is not content with support
ing the outrageous schemes of repudia
ton against which Mr.. Hayes has
made such a gallant stand, but he is now
engaged in the supererOGatory task Of dis
CrcultinR Ihc country DS 'OHOuiiCht i'SOA"'i0ii'
His declaration of dishonesty accOmpllshes
nothing in the way of legislation it only pro-
claims to the world the disposition OF the Con-
gressmen who vote for 1t.
What does Mr.. Hayes think Of his invest
ment i'll Stanley Matthews Was it worth
while to sacrifice reform for this 1t was
plain, even year ago, that the struggle of this
Administration must be to defend the public
faith. There was no danger so imminent,
even then, as the danger of bankruptcy and
dishonor The hungry SOuth and the clamOr-
Gus West had already begun the attack upon
the public treasury and private property which
now fills all honest and sensible men with dis
may, and the part of a prudent President was
to consolidate his party and lead it out to the
protection of the National honor. In cOmplr-
son with this duty, all else was Of little account.
The search for Old Line Wings and the
substitution of one gentleman for another in
the New York Custom House, were but trivial
occupations in such critical time, like polish
ing the door knobs while the house is atre.
Let all these minor matters wait. 1t Is not
question now who shall distribute the patron
age of the party, but whether the party itself
shall hold together. 1t is not question how
the Republican party shall treat the South,
but whether the South and the regulators
together shall not strangle tho party and di-
vide its effects. 1t will be time enough to quar-
rel over methods of administration when we
have saved the country
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TIE SILVER PROBLEM