Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-07-18
From the New York Tribune.
Why Criticism Hurts.

The essence of the slashing letter from
Gail Hamilton, which we print to-day Gas
we'll as of several which have preceded it)
is that the appointments of the Admins
tration do not in some cases come up to
the high-sounding promises that have
been made for it. This does not seem to
us at all wonderful; and the sarcasm OF
the brilliant critic would be far less effec-
tive but for the gush with which superser-
viceable newspapers have heralded every
step of the Administration, and the I'M
wise pomp OF speeches and pronuncia-
mentos wherewith one or two members OF
the Cabinet have sounded the Civil Ser
vice trumpet before it. No merchant can
organize bis counting-room without max
ing occasional mistakes, which only time
and experience can correct. Is it reason
able TO suppose that every appointment
by new Administration shall be that of
ideal Civil Service reformersP 81 am a
Spirtualist," said Oliver johnson, ''but
am not damned iool.n We are Civil
Service reformers, but we do not expect
impossibilities, and are sadly conscious
that the millennium has not arrived.
Only we think it would be better If
friends of the Administration would not
persist in declaring that it has. We think
it moderate estimate that two-thirds of
the unfayorable criticism 10 which Presi-
dent Hayes has been subjected is due to
the absurd standard which some of his
friends have set up for him, and by which
he is consequently Judged. When man.
or some official friend for him, proclaims
that he is going to reverse the whole
course of things, calls on an admirng
public to tell if they know what this or
der of his means, announces that it means
absolute purity in the Civil Service, posi-
lively no removal except for cause, and as
positively no appointment except for con-
spieuous merit, the inter ignoring of the
politicians and fiat refusal TO take mere
political considerations in the least into
account--when this sort of standard is
set up for him, and the public judgment
is thus defiantly challenged at the outset,
we must expect that every short-coming,
however slight, will be relentlessly criti-
cised. 1t would have been better for the
President If all the gush of the newspa-
pers and all the pomp of promise from
his friends as to what he was going to do
had been suppressed, and the public kind
Illness had been left instead to settle natu-
rally upon what he did--above all, it
would have been great piece of good
luck for him If Gen. Carl Schurz had been
kept practicing Reform in the Interior
Department, instead of preaching the
millennium In New York and Boston
The Generals devotion is unquestionable
but tact is not his strong point; and If he
had not led the public to expect the mil
lennial standard, the Administration
would have had vastly more credit for the
good work it has done, and been less ex
posed to the sharp arraignment of Cal
Hamilton's letters.
1t is a curious illustration OF the slap
dash way in which newspapers leap te
conclusions, that Mr.. Blaine has almos
universally been held responsible for tn,
letters of this series already published
In point of fact. it was not until the indie
pendent critic had finished the manuscript
of the first twelve earring such change
as the progress of events compelled). an
was engaged In the preparation of tn
thirteenth letter. which we print thi
morning, that Mr.. Blaine knew anythini