, 1877-03-16
THE BOLD INITIATIVE.

THE BOLD INITIATIVE.
Every good CAUSE requires n leader, md
tho leader requires united courage and wis
dom. 4 necessary reform is not always i'm
medlately practicable because It is morally
or prudentially demanded. Timo and instru-
mentalties aro requisite, rs we'll an q desira-
bio object and good motive. A clear head
guided by moral principle may sec with per-
feet vision that reform Ia needed in given
direction; but it does not follow TINT tls peo-
ple zee It, who yet must ordain 1t. And Tho
rrofessed politicians will probably be tho
last to havo faith in It, for 1t will bo pretty
certain 10 run counter to their selfish plans.
Hence tho weil-conoeived idea mus. gain
currency. To thissend 1t must be announced,
and then denouncedj .ranst DO advocated
with zcal. and endure opposition with pa
tienco must be called by some good thing
theoretically, only unfortunately .imprac-
ticable, and be ridiculed by others as MI
absurdity equal to Don Qai1ute's attack
on tho wiu.lmills. It's authors must
expect to 10 i,npcached as to their mo-
tives and their sanity, md 10 hear them
selves styled fanatics, hypocrites, rhnrisees,
mnrplots, sentimentalists, md lemagogues,
who arc simply ambitious Of famo and power,
serving self under plea Of protecting tho
people. A. number Of years will elapse, with
this experience, nnl the public mind will
gradually become accustomed to the ilea,
which, when familiar, will not appear quito
so absurd, Or yot 10 entirely i1npraeticable.
Other voices will occasionally 10 raised in its
favor, and, once in while, resolution n
It's behalf, mildly and vaguely phraset1, 30 as
to commit nobody 10 anything definite, will
actually DO passed by political convention.
By-and-by the timo will come, II only somo
one IL wise enough to zee 1t, whom strong
aud courageous leader can champion aud
carry tho reform.
The Civil.ssrviee Reform has tcen passing
through these successive stages since tho
early efforts of Mr. JsNokxs, Of 1lhodo 1slanti,
to lraw Tho oar,,cat attention OF Congress
aud Of tho people TO tho aAbtocs. 11o was
jeesed At for his pains, but yet sowed much
goul soed, which now bids fair to bring forth
fruit. lilo indeed only represented what had
been In tie minds ot honest, unlmrtisan citi-
[SAf tD1 - klAGAAtANut@p3tA HAApG AhUhEH
JAcgsoN introduced the corrupting "Rpoils
system Of distributing tho public otllccs.
The reform IL indeed butt return 10 the
p,ror prausico of tho early days Of the 1le.
public, aud ought, therefore, to 10 practical
bic antl proper; while its absolute necessity
IL created by tho yaat increaso Of Offices
within tho gift Of tho Administration as re-
werds Of moro partisanslip. hut though
tho reiortncrs lnvo waxetl comparative
" numerous, and tho public mind Inns
been neasurably leavsned with their iacas,
there WIZ needed both "the man and tl,a
hour" for q successful attempt to reduce
theory To 1'ractice. And the nation may we'll
DO thankful that both havo arrived. 3tr.
HAYES believed in the principle, waa nom1-
mated through the efforts Of those Of like
faith, over rivals who represented. at least In
certain cases. tho "n,acl.ine" policy Of
"1unning" Government in the interest Of
party-managera accepted the nomination
on that express ground, and was voted for
by enough ii those who had the reform at
heart, md who trusted his capacity aud good
filth, to elect hin, Kino months between
the nomination aud the Inauguration was not
sufficient period to enable him TO forget tho
principles to which, he stood committed,
aud so he rropouulel them second time,
In his inaugural nddress, to the t51eat a4ton-
ishment Of the politicians who cultivate short
memories. Their CALCULATIONS OF surprise,
not always plona In character, may still bs
lcara at Warrington aud elsewhere.
mo ff,s1 1rAt- 1. ri. l. 49,