The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1877-08-09
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.



The administration is intensely graft
fed over the nomination of Judge West
for Governor in Ohio, and for the en-
dorsement by the Convention OF Mr..
Hayes, policy. Sec. Sherman is very
positive in regard to the ability of the
Republicans to carry the State, and
bases his Judgment not only upon the
unanim1ty of opinion expressed by the
Republicans, but upon the nomination
of Bishop by the Democrats, as he re-
CARDS Mr.. Bishop as one of the weakest
men that they could have selected. His
record as a 'sKnow Nothing" and his
Identification with the North American
party will certainly render him obnox-
ious to the Foreign vote in all parts OF
the State and particularly so in Cincin-
natl, which city is regarded as being the
balance of power in the approaching
election. The endorsement of the Adj
ministration by the Convention IN such
unequivocal terms shows that the party
is united and that they are thoroughly
determined to win notwithstanding some
portions of the party in various parts of
the State are not at present exactly
pleased with its action towards South
Carolina and Louisiana. Hence tho
iubilance of the administration. 1t is
composed SO largely of Ohio men that
we here naturally regard this rs al Ohio
machine run by the State of Ohio AID
intended solely for the benefit of that
favored State, hence had an Ohio Con-
vention refused to endorse us we would
have to put on sack cloth and ashes over
the want of affection evinced by our
source of all political wisdom and great
ness. The silver plank gives no partic-
ular uneasiness and the opinion is very
freely expressed that Congress will have
no difficulty whatever in legislating on
it as desired by the Republicans. The
lower House being Demo ratio it remains
with that party to determine what shall
be done in the future with silver, and it
Congress pursues the policy laid down
by the Republicans, MIR. Sherman says
is cannot hurt or impair the credit of
the United States.
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
[ observe from the newspapers that
there is much of a hullaballoo in many
portions of the country over the efforts
of the administration in behalf of civil
service reform. I suppose every fair
minded man will agree that this is a
matter which is surrounded with per-
pIexities and even with grave difficult
ties. If the angel Gabriel were at the
head of civil service commission and
had Michael for right hand angel, l sus
pect the reform they should suggest
would be met with a very considerable
opposition from two large classes of
persons, namely, the ms who do not
want to go out, and the outs who wants
to go in out of the cold.
I may state as matter of intelligence,
and not either in approval or disarproyal,
that the administration has two princi
pal objects in view in this regard. First
that honesty and capacity shall take the
place of partisan services as recommen-
dations to Office. Second that the old
system of congressional contrGl shall be
abolished. 1t is believed tls.t tho result
will be an efficient conduct of public
affairs, vastly more economical than the
present, greatly more prompt in doing
the public business, and almost infinite
ly more satisfactory to the people. In
the accomplishment of this reform there
will, no doubt, be many mistakes COM
mittsd, and many misteps made, but as
a long observer CT the qnspeakably slow,
shabby, shiftless, and stupid manner in
which the public business is conducted
at Washington, [ must say that we
ou3hS in all common fairness fto give
the old man chance" and see what
comes of it. Whatever may be the fact
in he country, tain that SO far
as Washington c. is concerned, our
civil service, so far from being the best,
is the worst on the planet, or on any
other planet. It has already been much
improved here, notably in the Bureau of
Engraving and Printing, MIR. Mcpherson
in charge, by the public printer, John
D. Defrees, in the Consular appoint
ments so far M ,de by StateDepartment,
and il the Navy Department. The War
Department have SO few civil appoint
ments that there is little room for i'm
provement there. You may safely bet
your everlasting fortune, however, there
will be no more such bad mishaps as
that which befelt the lamented General
Belknap.
THE CAPITAL. DURING VACATION.
Our National Capital is an uncommon
dull town during the vacations of Con-
gress. 1t is not place of general bust
ness, there being very few wholesale es-
Establishments here, and scarcely any
manufactures. One of the most beauti-
full cities iii the country, or in the world,
for that matter, the time to visit it is
during a session of Congress. Then
the hotels are crowded; then our broad
streets are lively with foot passengers
aud splendid equipages; then are thea
tres and other place of amusement in
full blast during evening, both houses of
Congress attracting large crowds during
day. But now inthe midst of heated term
and the loag vacation, our city of mag
niticent distances is hardly less gloomy
than big graveyard.