New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-07-13

retained WHY the transfer is to be made
we are not Informed, but it may wen De
that the Secretary of the Treasury had goou
reasons, which the outside world knows
nothing about. The case has excited so
much attention that we presume thesc
reasons, whatever they are, VIII be maze
known. Probably there are reasons also Tor
the appointment of Major Weeks. Major
Weeks is a very active Brooklyn politician
and President of Republican Ward Assocla-
ton in that city, and he is therefore. to all
appearances, the kind of man who ought not
TO hold a Government Office under the new
Reform rules. But of this branch of the case
there must be also, as we have said. a sufficient
explanation; and we shall do well ID spare
our criticisms until we are i'll possession OF all
the facts.
The rumor of Capt Brackets removal ex-
cited more attention than perhaps the import
ance of the position justified, because just
now the cause of Civil Service Reform seems
to be in Il critical condition, hanging be-
tween n grand success and notifying and
disastrous failure; and few manly acts on the
part of the President, few plumbers, or
few demonstrations of weakness may settle 1t
one way OF the other, not for ever, but at least
for many years. Mr. Hayes began with an
admirable scheme of Reform and yet hardly
n week has passed since his Inauguration
without some noticeable departure from 1t.
His true friends are perpetually embar-
raised by the difficulty of reconciling GER
tam actions of the Administration with
the principles upon which the whole fabric
of Mr.. IIayes's new Reform policy Is built;
y
and necessity of eevatng politics and pun
fying the Civil Service are sadly dlsheart-
ened by every error of the leader whom they
would 80 gladly follow. They cannot shut
their eyes to what happens all around them.
They cannot ignore public scandals. They will
begin to ask by and by whether Mr.. Hayes
ever was in earnest about making no removals
except for cause, no appointments except for
merit, and stopping the activity of oiice-h0ld-
crs in the management of the machine. They
will do him injustice if they question his sin
cerity; we are sure that Mr.. Hayes is an up
right and a high-minded man; but the world
is always uncharitable and suspicious.
We suspect that the trouble with the Presi-
dent comes largely from misconception OF
public sentiment by trusted members Of his
formed of the difficulties to be overcome.
They believe that the people, and especially
the RefoImers, are enthusiastically supporting
him, satisfied with all that he has done, CON
iilont rs to the future; while the managing
politicians are only ANXIOUS 10 be cOncil-
lated. Hence, these gentlemen, while preaching
Civil Service Reform most Justify in speeches
and pronunciamentOs, are privately busy
stretching the Reform Rules TO please the
managing politicians relaxing the regulations
for fear of offending this or That conspicuous
leader, and sometimes using the patronage,
to tell the plain truth, i'll substantially the
same way as their predecessors. This is
mistake. 1t is only the part of true kind,
ness to t II the President that if he imagincs
the country is already delighted with his
course 4, is dangerously deceiving himself.
People watch it coolly and critically, ready to
be pleased, but not yet satisfied. The Adj
mmStration cannot hold with the hare and run
with the hounds.