New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1877-05-30
THE a EsEDEHr On CIVIL sEREIUE Re
~ FORM.
We have vieWed Che deliberation

select none except officers whose integrity
will insure public confidence and whose
competent qualifications will illustrate
the principles of the party. Official in
cumbents can effect nothing by their elo-
quenee and less by their largesses. The
American people look with suspicion
upon men who labor for continued office
or for promotion. The class of men who
commend party to the people must be
able and disinterested. They must be
prepared to show that the party they
commend has done or can do more for the
people than their opponents. This class
Of yaen must have the same property and
personal interest with the people whom
they address. 1t is, then, in the modest
and unexceptionable discharge of their
official duties that the hired employees of
government can aid the government. 1t
is only by the measures which that gov
eminent presents to the people that it can
claim their support. Clubs Of Office hold
ers, acquisitions upon the salaries of
clerks and porters and the purchase or
manipulation of votes are but very small
agency in determining the votes of the
American people. Our experience has
been that the Republican party at one
time held the whole Federal, State and
city patronage, not only of Louisiana,
but of some other States of the South. 1t
appears that this patronage could not
save these States to the party; the infer
ence is, therefore, that the success of a
party requires something more than the
influence of persons paid to strive for
keeping themselves in Office. President
Hayes seems to have taken ground square
ly against the spoils doctrine of the De-
mocracy. He appreciates the influence
of employees with the contempt it de-
serves. Hence we have the following in
his recent letter to the Secretary of the
Treasury:
1t is my wish that the collection of the
revenues should be free from partisan
control, and organized on a strictly bust
ness basis, with the same guarantees for
efficiency and fidelity in the selection of
the chief and subordinate officers that
would be required by prudent merchant
Party leaders should have no more in
huence in the appointment than other
equally respectable citizens; no assess
ments for political purposes of officers or
subordinates should be allowed; no use
less officer or employe should be retained;
no officer should be required or permitted
to take part in the management of po-
litical organizations, caucuses, CONVEX
tions, or election campaigns. Their right
to vote and to express their views on pub
lie questions, either orally or through the
press, is not denied, provided it does not
interfere with the discharge of their official
duties.
We Auay sec from this that tho FRESH
dent has profted by his experience and
observation upon those blowers who insist
upon running the party. He is satisfied
that the success of his administration
must depend upon higher grade of tai
emit and virtue than that possessed by an
average place hunter. He will depend
upon himself, not upon these makers of
clubs and managers of conventions.
There is to be, in New York, no super
numerary employe borne on pay roll
for his services as striker. No assess
ments on salary shall be made to fur
nish party leaders with the luxuries of the
season, or the pleasures Of travel. Party
leaders will not be allowed to place and
pension their followers upon the offices of
the country in preference, it may be, to
more competent incumbents. Officers in
the pay Of the government will not be de-
tailed to make campaign canvass to the
neglect Of their official duties.
1t may not be amiss to imagine what
effect this policy would have had upon
the position of the Republican party in
Louisiana had it prevailed for some years
past We touch very lightly upon the en-
parte investigations in which the Dem
oerscy now endeavor to throw reproach
upon Republican officials. We make no
serious concession when weadmit that We
have had some very careless book-keepers
who may have been very active partisans
We hardly hope to show financial record
thatwill demonstrate Republican officials
to have honestly accounted for all that came
into their hands, and to have observed the
law strictly in all their transactions. A
single false entry, one improper applica-
ton or diversion Of public money, would
injure the Republican party more than ali
the activity Of all its ofaceholders have
ever benefited It, We may fearlessly say
taat the conventions, which have been
composed in good part of oficeholders
and directed BY partisan leaders, have
not given to the Republicans the candi-
dates most acceptable to the people.
We are satisfied if the political en-
pIoyes shall be kept kenneled and the
choice Of men and measures left to the
Republicans Of the country and city q
far fairer. fuller and more satisfactory
ticket can be presented to the people Of
Louisiana than could be chosen by '.parti-
san leaders and employees. in many cases
absolutely without knowledge Of the peo-
pie or interests Of the community. With
thNC ustomhouse appointments, It Is emf
ndnlly important that The merchants who
do business With the government should be
satisfied. Ofacial vigilance is Of The
hiehaat consequence. No merchant Who