National Republican., 1877-12-22
Reviewing the Account.

| ceptance or in his inaugural address, to
secure its favor and hearty appreciation. 1t
is not hard or unjust task-master. 1t makes
no new and severe terms with him as it's ser
want Itdoes not desire to reap where it has
not sown, or to gather where it has not
strewn; but it does claim that, having been
elected by the Republican party through
much tribulation," upon the platform of
principles which it had adopted as the guide
Of its counsel, and in accordance with the
traditions and usages that have been re-
spected by each Republican President who
has preceded him, President HAYES is in
honor bound to adhere to those principles,
traditions, and usages so long as he holds q
position through the pure agency of Repub-
lican suffrage. The Republican party asks
this much and nothing more, and IL will not
be content with anything less.
If President HAYES is not willing to
square the measures and policies Of his ad-
ministration by the principles and usages
Of the party which elected him, the least
that he can do in honor is to frankly make
that declaration to the world, so that Re-
publicans may not labor under the delusion
that they have Republican President,
while history is rapidly unveiling the fact
that they have something else. 1t is not in
accordance with Republican principles or
usages for him to honor man in his Cabinet
who revilcs Republican principles and des-
pises the Republican organization; who fills
niche in the history Of the late war on the
side of the rebellion who declares that he
is now, and has been during somewhat
protracted political career, n Democrat, and
nothing else 1t is not Republican meas
re to desert the Republican party in theu
South in the hour of its peril and surrender
il to the tender mercies of the Bourbon
Democracy without as much as feeling of
sympathy or a word Of commiseration for
those Southern Republicans in three States
where his calling and election was made
sure, and without whose votes he never could
have entered the White House, except as
visitor.
1t is not in accordance with tho doctrines
Of the Republican faith for the President to
turn his back upon the colored citizens Of
the Southern States and leave them defense
less against the prejudices and hates of their
former masters, and without any guarantee
that their rights of citizenship will be pre-
served from violation, unless they shall con-
sent to exercise their suffrage under
the dictation of their oppressors; and yet
this is precisely the condition in which the
President has left the colored citizen of the
South by the logic Of his so-called Southern
policy.
This sad and disastrous mistake might
have been overlooked and forgiven but for
the fact that it has been coupled with
variety Of circumstances 30 much at vari-
ance with the popular idea of Republican
ism and Republican duty and consistency,
that the whole budget in its present shape
is little too much for the respect and en-
during patience of the average Republican
throughout the country. Yet, in the midst
of all this diverse and adverse influence,
which holds possession of the White House
by the grace and favor of Republican suf-
frage, rendered under the Republican flag,
and for the Republican cause there is u
strong desire on the part of every true Re-
publican that the President shall be saved
from himself and the inevitable conse-
quences to the country and his party, if he
persists in his present hybrid course.
The ciyil-service policy that had been pre-
pared by some unskillful and unwise, If not
wantonly mischievous hand, for Presidential
adoption and use, is among the gravest
blunders of this nine months Administrsi-
tion. 1t has brought alienation, distrust, and
ill-feeling within the party lines, without
solitary compensating benefit. 1t has served
the purposes of prescription without bring
ing reform 10 the service. Changes have
been made under it to answer personal
spite on the part of some Cabinet minister
or other subordinate, but never to our
knowledge for properly established cause
and seldom without exchanging experience
and ability for qualifications of an inferior
grade. This is the pratical effect of civil serv-
ice as it has been demonstrated thus far
in the removals AND new appointments that
have occurred. This, however, after all, is
of far less consequence to the general well
fare of the country than that feature of
civil service reform which virtually closed
all advisory relations between the execu-
tive and legislative branches of the Govern
ment. President HAYES is the first
Republican President who has declined
to be consulted and advised with by
Republican Senators and Representatives
from the different sections of the country in
regard to official changes in their respective
States. In the adoption of this line of pol
icy he has virtually assumed that he knows
all that is necessary to be known on that
subject, without. reference to those who, by
local familiarity with the qualifications of
have heretofore been regarded
as having the means of superior knowledge.
The natural effect of such q system of
civil-service reform has been TO throw the
Executive and the representatives of the
people apart, and produce state of feeling
exceedingly improbable to h wise and judi
cious conduct of the affairs Of Government,
so far as the distribution of patronage is
concerned. If the President fancies him