National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1877-05-23
4atipual gepnblitau.
wEDNtspA Y.:..:. :::.:.MAN u |.
PREACHERs IN pnLLrLfS.

Preachers who faithfully attend to their
legitimate calling and duties have no time
to mcddle in politics. The New England
conference of the VI. T.. Church a short time
ago undertook to regulate President
HAYES Southern policy. and they wcrc ~
thoroughly condemned by the public scnti-
ment Of the county that as body they
felt heartily ashamed OF themselves The
African NJ. 4. Zion Conference, in session
here, has also gone into The political field,
and passed resolutions indor>ing Marshal
D%CGLAss and in reference to Southern
Appointments, etc. We are too ohtuse to
understand how FRED. DoUGLAss' reno, al
or retention in office, or the Southern ap-
pointments are to affect the cause OF IT.
igiou.
Yesterday the members of the Conference
called ut the White House in body. Their
congratulations and prayers for the success
of the Administration were perfectly proper,
but when they assumed to interfere in u
purely political mattcr, and one Of local in
terest to us, and not to them, they became
meddlers In matters that did not concern
them. Here is what their spokesman said
We are not political l,ody. Mr.. President, nor ar,
white ci.ns I n W. i Sf tSO d i 'S yo
honor, the President We are herrtn ask h,r sin,pt
he s! TSmsS !" fs S " f j. ti, 6 S
tSa and a hn he sa be- Gelroy s IN a nr.r IL
slsiy Tue sS'rsn,e maisvolrns" Of ihc parry that
ing wrongs have been subjected to hy the PARTY
that arr now clanorns for the removal of Mr. boTI.
that you VIII not b" Influenced IL your dScisIcn i,
popular scniineui.
If they were not n political body what
right had they to interfere in political mat
tens? And what right. furthermore, had
these proiesscd followers Of the Prince
Of Peace to assume that Mr. DorGLAss' re-
moval was asked to satisfy the extreme
maleNoiencc Of the party that hates his
race" If they had inquired they would
have ascertained that there WAS no such de.
mand for any such purpose. What warrant
do they find in the Scriptures for IN attempt
to regulate matters Of State? Ifpre.Chers
will attend to the salvation of souls they
will have u life work before them. The
spiritual matters are in their keeping. The
temporal matters in the keeping of Others
FURTHER REFLECTIONS on CII'IL SER.
VICE
The question of civil service reform is -
unlimited in its extent and application thai
once raised it is difficult to put an end Il
the inquiry. The precise power of the Gov.
eminent over the employee would seem
clear enough for it must liz conceded to BE-
roequal with its power over the employ.
ment, and that is obviously entire and ah.
s0lute. But the lOdgInenI Of this power
and the measure of its exercise have never
been determined by such competent author.
ity rs commands the confidence of the peo-
pie and establishes settled prece,lents.
Many insist, and this seems TO he the view
Of Congress that il is distributed among the
several branches OF the Government. But
II this be 40 the judicial branch
has never exercised any part OF it, and has
consequently been rrmiss in Il duties
And as it is not apparent in what manner
this branch OF the Government could par
ticipate, except upon n final determination
OF questions arising out OF It's exercise the
better opinion would appear to lie that
there Is no distribution OF the power what
ever; and that being in its nature purely
executive 1t belongs exclusively to that De
partmcnt
1t will be admitted that the existence Cl
the authority somewhere is indisputablr
how much socver its residence may he uucs,
toned. But the iullness OF the authority
has not heretofore been exercised, and Just
how far in that direction reform may &C
consistent with the freedom of the citizen
engaged in the service, is II point oi differ,
ence and cause of embarrassment. Tho
prOpriety OF its enforcement in oil it,
completeness US affecting the selection am
retention OF officers and employees is va
rously considered. aud the diversity q
opinion Is caused by the variance Of prem
Uses. II all agreed that the power wa,
strictly executive. 10 he enforced by tn,
mony in their conclusions, and correct judy,
ment would result. II the theory he once
adopted that the Executive is solely respOn,
sble for the condition and efficiency Of thy
blity would, the character and c0mprtrur,
OF the force employed there would h, u.
suggestion Of limitation upon the povpI
for in 50 FIR ~ the power should hr hri
limited responsibility would cease. al
the Government itself would he r,nU3,
irresponsible. In such view OF the cr-,