The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-07-03
civil Nervice Reform.


When the National Republican Con-
vcnlion met at Cincinnati and declared
to tho world that Civil Service Reform
was great public necessity, all the poll.
ticians said ION the stump that it was
glorious plank in the platform; and when
the President came out in his memorable
letter Of acceptance and formulated the
declaration Of the convention in favor. Of
reform into something practical in the
way Of u promise, the same politicians
still said Ton the stump that he had hit
the nail on the head. Oicoursc they h nd
no idea, and, least Of all, no desire, that
he would ever carry out his letter and
make good his assurances to the country.
Political promises follow the rule, in the
estimation Of politicians, Of lovers prom
ises; they are made to be broken. And
because the President Is not politician, =,
but an honest man, and because he took
the party at its word, and has undertaken
to redeem It's pledges TO the world, he is
stirring up the soreheadG all over the
land, and they are showing signs Of dis.
affection. For instance, there are rumors
as to what the Canerons will do this fall
in Pennsylvania, and it is even intimated
that Pennsylvania and Ohio will go Dem
ocratic in October by reason Of the cool.
ness OF certain soreheads. To this threat
the President simply responds: "All
right, let them go Democratic. That is
your business, not mine" This is the
substance Of his reply as given in dis.
patch to yesterdays Cincinnati Gd=slte.
We quote the whole dispatch, as follows :
WASHINGTON, July 1.-The President
returned last night. Those who have
heard him express himself aimee the man
Hesitation in certain quarters OF opposi.
ton to his civil service order say that he
il undisturhed by the assaults OF the ma.
chine politicians. The President is con-
scious that he has only desired to DO
right, and has only done right. lie does
not seek second term. He has no friends
TO reward or enemies to punish, and in.
tends 10 administer good governmentby
appointing honest, efficient, and capable
men only to office. The threats OF
hostility on the part OF the CamerOns or
OF any o(the old political warhOrses do
not disturb him. lie will make the best
choice for candidates for Office that he
can. Ii the Senate declines 10 confirm
them, he, without being disturbed, will
select other candidates. He is not 10 be
driven from his position by the abuse OF
the very class Of people whom he expects
that his course will displeaSe. Ills
Southern policy is II fact, and he feels
that il his civil service policy is not nc.
Ceptable TO the machine politicians, it
will be supported by the masses Of the
voting people, aud will at all events do
somelhirg 10 preserve free institutions.
Disappointed leaders may threaten to
throw away this State or that State. II
they succeed in doing this they may in
jure themselves, but can not hurt the
President. This is the outline Of the
view which the President, according to
his friends, takes Of the present situation
The Presidents Southern policy" as
it is called, is made the convenint cloak
under which many politicians disguise
their purely personal and selfish disap
pointmentS. He has no Southern policy,
as such, save not to interfere in the al
fairs Of the Southern States a. long as h'
is not called to preserve the peace be
tween contending factions. He means to
honestly carry out mis- letter OF July 95th
1875, in this, as in his civil service re
form. And in this honest effort on hi
parth he will have the support OF tht
masses in Oaio and Pennsylvania this
fall, and in every other Northern State.
Whatever may betidc the Republican
party it will not be the weaker, but tn,
stronger in the long run, on account o
the policy Of the President.