The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-10-26
Trammelling ofice-Holders.


we have no doubt Of the .earnestness AM
purity OF the motives OF President HAYE
in insti.uting his ciyil.service reform, an
we arc sure that his determination and firm
ness is sufficient to enable him to carry
out il it be possible FOR him to do so. Il
must feel little annoyed at the manner Il
which Senator MORTON treats the snb1ec'
The frank and prompt opposition OF IN
Senator would be far preferable TO MS co"
tempt for the reform, and bis asSuhp'.o'
that the President may innocensis e'hp'o.
himself about it, for it will soon appe'
so absurd that even he will abandon II u
disgust. Such reflection upon 'uc .ne",'
calibrc OF the President, so soon al'et III
had given the paralvzcd Senator the KISS O.
ne,cr. is both offensive and ungrate'uI. Ihe
nobler sentiments seem to have no more
afr.ct mon Senator MORTON than Wouiu
I;obtning have upon black-gum stump.
President HAYES, like both the statesman
and moraist, went to the root OF the erea'
cyi! in this country; but he certainly wants
the means OF laying the axe squarely TO TINS
root. That the Offices OF the country arc
the great source Of public corruption all
men see. They have for every presidential
term since Mr.. MONROE been regarded as
the rewards for party service. And office
holders have eXerted themselves to avoid
public censure and retain their places.
They have, whenever on trial. done all they
:, could to bias public judgment BY interior
- Is h.f
HAYES considers the great evil. His sense
al right and Justice leads him to assert that
the oflicehoiders should keep out OF politics
because they have no right to Interfere i'll
their own cases. Besides, they have 10 right
to employ the time they should be serving
the public in serving themselves by control
ling elections in their own favor.
Morton and those like him consider the
public treasury at the mercy OF the party
in power, and they do not want any such
civil reform as shall encourage scrupulous-
ness in the matter OF employing the means
and power Of the Government for the pro-
motion Of party ends. Mr.. HAYES is deeply
sincere, and the rdicue OF his measure
must be seriously offensive to him.
The trouble that is brought upon Dir.
HAYES is the want OF proper law govern
inc the tenure of Office. The present laws
and customs make the Senate participator
with the Executive in the matter OF ap-
poin:ments, and this diminishcs President
UAYEs's authority over the oiice-holders.
They look to the Senate. The recusant
officer OF the customs in New York, who
would preside over meetings OF the Repub-
lican Club, although MIR. HAYES Glsap-
proved Of it, looked to .CoNKLISG Il Co.,
and they certainly gave him countenance
and encouragement.
Nevertheless, il the President is firm he
will force good deal OF backing down on
the part of those disposed to resist his re-
form. lie has done vast deal OF good;
but he has yet great deal to do. he can't
back out. The Senate will be surely ready
to take all and more than the ground he
may surrender in conciliatory spirit. We
rather think his consulting the Pennsylva-
mans as to the man he shall appoint Min
lister to England will be made available to
strengthen the intermeddling Of Congress
with the Offices. The authority Of the Fed
eral Executive is such that he will be held
accountable for every appointment he
makes, and clearly he ought to have the
right to follow his own judgment; for he
ought not to be held responsible for the
Judgment and taste Of other people.
But we repeat what we have said often
before, that the reform Of the civil service
can never be completed until the Constitu-
ton is amended so as to make the tenure OF
Office unlimited save By good behavior and
competency. AS long Us offices are made to
terminate with an administration, party
will demand that they shall be the re-
wards for service in the party, and there
will be that change and decentralization IN
politics which have done more to corrupt
the public channels and disturb the public
peace than all other things that could be
brought to bear upon the public character.
Even If President HAYES puts the breaks
upon office-holding rings and corruption
lists during his administration, unless ne gets
a constitutional amendment all that he does
will probably be undone at the next presi
Dental term, and offices will continue to ot
the rewards OF party baseness and the
means of influencing elections. Mr.. HAYES
is in the right III he effects permanent re
form he will deserve the lasting honor
the land. In his struggle he will find tina
he will have to fight heroic fight.