New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-09-07

did not practice with the help of his machine.
Yet it is no other than Simmons himsefi
who is chosen to carry out the scheme
of Civil Service Reform in Boston whcreat,
naturally, the merchants and other respectable
people are digusted and indignant. In Bal
tlmore the Custom House, during Gen.
Grants Administration, was the arena OF
faction-fght between the Creswell wing
and the Fulton wing of the Maryland Rcpub-
lIcans and the influence and patronage of the
establishment at the time of Mr.. Hayess in
aug,IratiOn were in the hands of the Creswell
party. Instead of showing the cold shoulder
to both cliqucs, and appointing as Collector
some practical business man OF high character,
who would devote himself to the collection OF
the revenue, the President turned out Mr..
Creswcll's man only to make room for Mr..
Fulton's man Fulton assuring him that II he
would do so the party could not fail to carry
the next municipal election. Ii is hardly nee
cssary to add that the new Collector is an en-
inent devotce of those political pursuits which
officers of the Civil Service are expected to
forswear and that in view of the cast-iron
rules, such an appointment creates great deal
of unpleasant comment
Thus far, reform seems to have been prolific
only in fresh scandals. But there is one case IN
which if has been understood that the President
intends to enforce his rules, and it has been so
mismanaged that 1t threatens TO make more
trouble than all the previous blunders. Mr..
Cornell has been fair Naval Officer and
very active politician He has, at least, not proved
the most obnoxious of OurpOrt officers IN either
capacity. His relations with one of the most emf
nent of Republican leaders are 50 close that 1t
would be the extreme OF folly to seek quarrel
with him. Yet he has been induced To take
an attitude OF apparent defiance OF the Prcsl-
dent, which it is impossible tn overlook. lie
refuses to resign either his Office in the Gus
tom House or his membership of the
State and National Committees. Now we
have great regret, but no hesitation
in saving that, for the conflict which
seems to be impending, the Administration
is chiefly to blame. At the beginning OF
his term Mr.. Hayes had an excellent oppor-
tunitv to settle Mr.. COrnelps case without all
this uDr0ar. lie might have then obliged the
Naval Officer to choose promptly which posi-
ton he would retain, and if he had been asked
for his resignation then, IN accordance with
the rules. there would have been no excuse
for making complaint about It. But the Adj
ministratlon has Omitted along discreditlng
the rules by its own conduct, allowing officers
10 laugh at them, creating hostile pnbllc
sentiment and tempting people to believe that
the long-deferred issue respecting the Naval
Office is only part Of a quarrel with Mr. Conk-
ling. If Mr.. Cornell had been asked to retire
in March, The country would have applaudcd
the Presidents courage and impartiality. II
he is Ia. ned out now, large party will regard
him as political martyr. 1t Will be dli1cult
to convince the world of the reality OF re-
form which sacrifices Cornell, appoints Thomas,
and spares Simmons