New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-12-14
S0nE REFLECTIOAs ABOUT REFORM

Reform by jerks does not succeed. If the
President wishes to achieve success in the
promised improvement of the public service,
he will have to pull at it constantly, steadily,
and consistently 1t will not do to please
Senator Matthews by an appointment at
Toledo, unless he is ready to please other
Senators by other appointments. 1t will
not do to sling appointments at delegations
from PENNSYLVANIA and Illinois, if he means
to disregard the delegations from New-Iork.
Ii will not do to crafty the personal
wishes of Mr.. Evarts, whose influence with
Republican Senators amounts to less than
six out of forty, and to arouse the personal
ontagOnism of Mr.. COnking, whose in
fuence with Republican Senators seems
considerably larger. 1t will not do to please
himself even. by the selection OF his private
secretary, or any other friend, for official p0-
sition unless he is ready to cOncede much to
the personal friendships of other leaders OF
his party The country was tired OF Grants
personalities in Observation-Disclosures. But the
country does not know why there should be
substituted personalities of Matthews, Gordon,
Evarts. Schurz or Hayes. If it is promised re-
form, it wants reform.
II is not to be denied that the President has
felt cOmpelled to cOncede much to the wishes
of certain members of his Cabinet, and some
things to his own personal wishes, which were
not in any strict sense demanded by regard
for the public welfare. Therein ne has great
" weakened his influence with those who
hoped for and wished to sustain strictly
business Notwithstanding removals except
for cause, and no appointments except for
10 fprtn hos 70
markedly little, apparently, for the satisfac
ton of his own personal feelings. But If re-
form means nothing for Others, it means
nothing for him. AS for Mr.. Mat
thews. and members of the Cabinet,
if the President turns aside from
the straight and narrow path of reform
to please them, or either of them, why, it is
asked should he not turn aside to please those
who share with him the Executive powerg So
the very men who most heartily approved the
Presidents promises are puzzled and chilled
by his performance, while the party leaders
who have made the Republican patty
strong and have saved it in many
n doubtful struggle, and who might not have
been disposed to resist an absolute and un-
compromising abolition of the use of patron
age for personal or partisan ends, are moved
to strong opposition when they are asked to
consent that such use of power for the
benefit of others shall be continued, but
not for their own benefit. Impartial and i'm
personal reform il would not have been easy for
them to oppose with success. But transfer
of party fayors from Republican leaders to
Senator Gordon, and of personal fayors from
the ablest and most influential leaders of the
party to Mcssrs. Matthews Eyarts and Schurz,
not only incltcs them to resist, but makes
them strong in resisting.
1t must now be apparent to President Hayes
that reform that runs on one leg, or on one
leg and n crutch, cannot win race. Shall
be abandon the eilortl Sincerely, we hope
defeat will only move him to make more
intelligent consistent and stronger efforts.
He has lost much precious time, and much of
that hearty confidence with which his letter of
acceptance and his inaugural address were re-