New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-06-13

it. Not only was there entire unanimity IN
denouncing the attack on the Presidents title
and an entire absence of real controversy over
the question of indOTsing his Administration,
but there was an Endorsement also. The Con-
vention recognized in his Administration the
highest integrity and patriotism, the most
sincere effort to promote political purity ana
harmony and secure general business pros
"perity throughout the whole country
For this the President is indebted, hlst
and directly to the Democratic crusade
for fraud; and, secondly, for the unanlm-
ity with which it was approved, to an absurd
and outrageous speech forced upon the Con-
vention by the preposterOus Beatty. When
this ranter called Mr.. Hayes "a scoundrel"
it was only another instance of the Presl-
dents good luck in his enemies.-Ihe
remainder of the platform is excellent III
many respects. The demand for a cessation OF
financial agitation comes with pleasant
sound from an Ohio Convention; the approval
of the course of Southern Democrats III OPP
posing revolution is well-timed; the denuncl-
alton of the new Presidential campaign Is
hearty. There are some knots, but not In the
big planks.
One of the great statesmen of the Civil war
once said, in speaking of desired reform
which could only be accomplished by change
in the fundamental law "YOu can't amend
"the Consultation" Mr. Clarkson n. Potter,
in bis address before the literary societies OF
Roanoke College, Virginia, delivered yester-
day, recognizes just as clearly the difficulty OF
amending Constitution for which the Ameri-
Ia t1t hov
reverence. But it is by this process, no mat
ter what inertia or actual opposition Is to be
overcome, that Mr.. Potter hopes to see the
evils which now exist i'll our Government finally
cured. He has nOfath III spasms OF Civil service
Reform on the part of Administrations, though
q spasm should last four years. lie has 40
faith in attempts to lessen Che evils OF over
legislation by sporadic efforts to get good
men into Congress and the Legislature. lie
insists that the only eiiectual way to prevent
either Executive or Legislative crimes against
the general good is to make the commission
of them as nearly impossible as it can be
made, Or to use his own phrase, by severely
" deprving the Legislature OF the power to
"leg1sate for any citizen III preference to OF
cat the expense OF the whole" Ia like manner,
he would deprive the President of much OF
his enormous patronage, which, Mr.. Potter
truly declares, the telegraph has vastly mag
nifed, and would distribute 1t to localities,
ekcting postmastcrs and giving suboIdl-
nate place-holders fixed terms. Thus the
battle Tor Office which, now that one hand
dispenses a hundred Thousand appointments,
assumes, every four years, the character oil a
gigantic struggle, would spend Its force iH
thousands of insignificant contests. He would
place some check on corporations, and would
save Congress from temptation by establish
ing courts of claims. The Fathers were inno-
vators /; we must be also. 10 adapt the Con-
stitution to present needs rs TO continue,
"not to change it," Mr.. Potter's paper
will attract attention, because its author is
known to be a more intelligent student OF
public affairs than many Of his colleagues IN
Congress, and because Of the gravity and sim
cerity with which he discusses great and grow
ing evils.