New-York tribune., 1877-05-02
TILE RETRENCHLNG PROCESG

THE RE1RENCHING IHOCFoO
The duty laid upon the heads of departments
and bureaus in carrying out the reform p0llcy
of the Administration is not by any means a
pleasing or agreeable one 1t is not pleasant
at any time to dismiss public or private ser
wants from their places and take away from
them what may be their only means OF
gaining a livelihood. 1t is especially un-
pleasant to cut any one Oil from
stated source of income at this time,
when there is so much of distress
and privation, and so little prospect for the
persons dismissed of procuring employment.
The carnestness with which these Government
employees plead for retention, and the difficulty
of resisting their appeals may readily be
imagined We know something Of the per-
sistcncy with which places under Government
are sought, and the embarrassments under
which the unfortunate dispensers of patronage
are placed by their inability to supply
places In ANYTHING like a reasonable pro-
portion TO the demand. But to refuse to
make an appointment is an easy task
compared with the worse than thankleSs one
of dscharging persons already in the service
and setting them adrift upon the cold chari-
ties of the world. Yet disagccabc as the
work is, il must be remembered that the in
teIests of the country and of all the people re-
quire it to be done: that the people themselves
have demanded and the Admin. tration they
have chosen has promised it. 1t is heroic
treatment, TO be sue, but the only treatment
by which evils already of alarming magnitude
and constantly growing can be cured.
The conduct of government and the admin
stration of civil affairs are matters of business,
not of sentiment or emotion. They relate not
to the heart but to the head. The lesser evil
to the individual, the personal misfortune or
calamity. must be overlooked in the wider view
and Larger care for the general good and ulti
matey bcncfccnt result. The victims OF
official retrenchmcnt rarely rise to the phi
los0phic consideration: their vision is mar
rowed down to the purely personal as
poets Of it and the unpleasant effects
upon themselves. This is natural enough; 1t
is in accordance with the first law OF nature,
the instinct of selfpreSeTvati0n. 1t is not
strange that they make piteous and some
times fearful appeals to the sympathles OF the
officials who decide in the matter; that they
bring every sort of persuasive argument and
influence to bear to save themselves from dis
missal, and that all having failed they should
turn upon the heads of departments,
the Administration and its policy, and
the party in power, with complaints and
reprOaches. moments reflection OF course
shows them tO be just and unreasonable.
Government cannot furnish employment To all
who seek it. There is, and must be- under any
circumstances, o vast army Of men and women
out of work, TO matter how Literally the de-
partments are managed in this regard. There
must always be disappointment in waiting for
some of the seekers of office, and always grief
in store for some incumbcnts when. policy
OF economy is found necessary and the AK OF
rctrcnchmcnt begins to fall.
The great public, whose welfare and comfort
must he the highest consideration Ot govern
mcnt, while insisting upon the coldly utillta-
rian view that the present sacrifice shall be
mado in order chat larger and perhaps fatal
ones be not incurred, eyteIflS its sym
pathy to Che men and women who are
The immediate sufferers from the policy
of rctrcnchmcnt. But public sympathy is
one thing, the conduct OF government quite
another. The heads Of bureaus and depart
mcnls who lave this disagrcca6lc work 10 do
deserve sympathy also. No doubt many of
them experience quite rs much pam IN being
Obliged to turn deaf ear to the appeals made
TO them as do the applicants themselves. But
the present great duty of the officers upon
whom this responsibility is laid is TO carry into
the conduct of government The principles aud
rules of economical business management,
to cut down oiiiciaism to a point where the
best service is secured at the lowest cost, to
make an end OF all sinccures, and draw
broad line of distinction between serving the
Government and being pensioncd upon it.
The process is not pleasant for any of the
parties concerned but necessity cOmpcls it,
and it may as well be borne with resignation,
if not with cheerful philosophy.
INu OE LnNG NTRLEE