Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-03-29

that Hayes had not the votes in the electoral
college necessary to constitute an election
And if Louisiana did not vote for Pack
ard, the whole world knows that Louisiana
did not vote for Hayes. lie did not doubt
llayes's election, but if Packard was not
elected, Hayes was not. And in this matter
he claimed that the desertion OF the path of
duty by Hayes was not less fragrant than
that Of President Buchanan.
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
In spite Of all this vociferOus prate about a
reform OF the evil service, no man has f0rm-
ulated it, NJ man has defined it. do not
know what they mean by it, The President
did issue an order lorbidding those employed
In the civil service from acting on political
committees or in political conventions. Il
that what Is meant by r'fjrm oil the civil
service? II so, the President has already
abandoned it, or ! am misintormed: or, ii
he still believes that that means reform, he
il the only man in the United States who
does believe it, That is not reform
that is tyranny, tyranny which no prede-
cessOr OF his ever Attempted and no success
or will venture to initiate. Undoubtedly
the first obligation of n public officer is TO
discharge his official duties. II he neglectS
to do that, he oug hit to be removed, but, IT
no Goes that, then the President who re-
moves him because he attends political or
religious meeting. or because be acts upon
political committee or Is u trustee OF
| church, uses the power oil removal not to
regulate the official conduct of the incum-
bent but to control his personal conduct.
Once it was indnstrou-ly advertised that
public officers should not bo removed during
official terms without cause. believe in
that rule. have myself adhered to it. But
the President has hlgrsntly violated it.
That surely cannot be what is meant BY re
form of the civil service. Latterly it has been
suggested that the great reform consisted
in making appointments to office regardless
OF the advice OF senators and representatives
from the States, and 50 smashing the ma
chine. la some conspicuous places the very
reverse has been done. What the rule is
upon this or upon any point touching ap-
| pOlntments it is not given to finite intelii-
eence to know, but | have four remarks TO
make upon this last suggestion. First. All
| Presidents have been. all Presidents must
be, and President Hayes is, guided by some
advice, and that advice docs come and will
] come from enc or the other OF three sources.
Either il will be supplied by those whom
| the several States haye selected for their
| representatives, or by those who have not
teen but aspire to be chosen a. representa-
lives. OF it will como from Office brokers
who have no political aspirations but do
thrifty cash business. Second. When any
| President will absolutely relieve representa-
tves from all responsibility for that multi
tude who want Office and do not get it, he will
| shield them from that service which most
impsIrs tho usefulness and imperils the con-
| tinuancc of their emrlOyments. Third.
| When any President will take upon himself
the sole responsibility Tor all men whom he
| does and ell others whom he doessnot ap-
point. he will not need 10 pledge himself
against a second term. The best man ever
born could not achieve second term under
such bad. Fourth. Whether the peO-
plo will have an improved civil service " hen
| its agents are selected on the advice of those
in Congress, depends upon whether the
| people send their best men to Congress or
keep them at home
Ii is said that Senators dictate" to the
President. deny the assertion. 1t is con
spcuousy untrue Not many years since
nearly the whole Senate advised President
Lincoln to change member If his cabinet.
President Lincoln was never remarkable
for obstinacy ct opinion, yet he did not
comply with the advice of the Senate. and,
even in these times OF unbridled mendacity.
| would like to see a man bold enough to
assert that any Senator or combination of
senator's ever dictated the course of Presi-
dent Grant. Should man ever be called
to the presidency 20 pusillanimous thst he
cannot discriminate between advice and die
tation, the sooner he quits tine White
House, and lets himself for q coachman, the
better.