New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-11-13
APPOINTING AMBASSADORS.

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APPOINTING AMBASSADORS.
Are there any more State delegations which
have established a lien upon foreign mission
The gossip about the disastrous attempt OF our
amiable Secretary of State tOreconclle the claims
of PENNSYLVANIA with the principles OF civil Ser
vice Reform has hardly died away, when 1t Is
discovered that a private arrangement was
made long ago with Illinois; and by the
time Colonel Ingersoll is disposed of, 1t may
PERHAPS. turn out that there is another claim
ant in the background waiting a quiet moment
to step forward and demand his mission, and
number three may perhaps be followed by
number four. Before the Senate proceeds any
further with the appointment imbroglo, 1t
would be interesting TO know just how many
of these suTept;ious obligations the Cabinet
has ahoat, and just how far the country Is
likely to be involved if its drafts are all hon
ored.
There is dispute just now between the
Executive and the Senate over the proper un-
Outstanding of that clause i'll the Constitution
which empowers the President to nominate
land 10y and with the advice and consent of
" the Senate, appoint ambassadors and other
public officers one cOntending that the spirit OF
this provision is to give the Senators real
power of selection. the other holding that they
are only to exercise the authority OF veto
upon an improper choice. If the President
wishes his Interpretation to be accepted
by Congress and the country, he ought
to show that the privilege OF selection
is safer in his hands than in theirs. If he
wishes to convince us that the practice OF di-
vidiug the patronage among Senators is a bad
one, he must satisfy us that he has something
better t. put in its place. The great dogma
OF Civil Service Reform, that the Office must
ALWAYS 90 to the best man, is admirable. II
that is to be the practice there Is not
another word to say; the Senate must sur
render; the victory of reform is won. But
if the rule is to read one way, and
the practice is to run another. it may
be that the President is demanding of the
Senate too much If, for instance, the first
class missions are to be tossed, one to the
politicians of PENNSYLVANIA, another to the
politicians of Illinois, and so on, to be dis
posed OF by them according TO their convent
ence, the debOndir Secretary merely cXcldlIn-
ing, as he goes in to dinner. "There, gentle
"men, settle it among yourselves, and call me
"Out when you have agreed" ii Is plain that
the Senate viii have some reason to object to
the new order of things, and opportunity to
PROFOUND some very unpleasant questions.
Suppose it should ask the President where he
gets the authority to appoint ambassadors by
and with the advice and consent of the Hi
nOis delegation
Civil Service Reform must Justify itself by
it; fruits or 1t must fall. Ii Will not do for
the President to yield everything to eccentric
Cabinet officers, nor will it do for him to as
sert i'm extreme doctrine in vindicating his
appointing power against supposed usurpa-
tons by the Senate, and then give away that
power to State delegations, or to secretaries,
or to other bodies or individuals whom the
Constitution and the laws do not recognize i'll
this matter. Mr.. Hayes is placed in diff
cult situation. He has devoted himself, with
the puIcst and most honorable pur-
pose, to the work Of great re-
form. 1t is the work of his life
If he succeed in it, he will rank with the
benefact0rs of his country. 1t is because we
realize the importance Of his undertaking and
honor his ambition that we are troubled by
the mistakes which put unnecessary obstacles
in his way and ALLEVIATE from him a multitude
of good Republicans who might be his friends
and allies. The caucus of last Saturday in
Washington seems to have had some good
results. Already, they say, there are signs of a
better understanding between the Capitol
and the White House, and we doubt not that
4 modus ricendi will soon be found for the
rival powers. Bat President Hayes must curb
the extravaganza of some of the headlOng old
children to whom he has trusted grave affairs
of State. When Republican delegation comes
to the White House clamOring for "recogni-
" ton" it really is not craftsmanship to open
the window and chuck them a foreign mission.