New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-02-13

the old regime insisted that the fault-iindeis
and critics were mere theorists and d0ctim-
aires, who did not understand the needs OF
discipline and organization and a strong party
but had wild and visionary notions, winch the
men "inslde politics" knew were unpracti-
cal and absurd And thereon the con-
troversy grew, and the discussion ragged
till some people began to think that to be
inside politics was to be by that token DIS
honest and corrupt. Thinking men always
allow wide range for such discussions. 1t Is
not necessary to adopt the extreme view
of either side of such question. III
is very old maxim that the salest
way is between the two. The men ln-
" side politics are not by any means all so
bad as some of the ardent refOrmers have
painted them, nor ere all the ardent relor"-
ers so Impractcable and visionary as they nave
been set down to be by the practical pOliti-
clans.
THE TRIBUNE. because it has been fore
most advocate of the publication OF politics
and the reform of the Government service
does not consider itself estOpDed from falr
and honest criticism of policy of admlnlstra-
five reform, which now Outruns the most VS.
breaks down utterly in the most caprlcious
and confusing manner. We give the
President credit for an honest pur-
pose in many things he has undertaken,
but we do not attempt to conceal the
fact that in others he has shown the
most unaccountable weakness and indie
cision. 1t is quite certain that the credit
for the clever and wise things he has done, if
it belongs TO anyone but himself, cannot be
claimed by the Republicans in Congress who
answer to the description of men " inside
"pOlltics :" for if there is anything settled and
positive about the President so far, it is
that he has not consulted or been advised
by these men. 1t is equally clear that
they are not responsible for any of the mis-
takes and omissions that have been made thus
far. The first year of his term having now
pretty nearly passed, and one quarter OF his
time and opportunities for accomplishing some
good for the country having gone by, 1t would
seem proper and wise for him to consider
whether his experiment, so TAR as IL may he
called an experiment, is success III It's erect
upon either his party OF the country. we
do not speak now of his Southern policy,
in so far as the withdrawal OF troops
and the abandonment of Federal interference
in the Southern States is concerned. That
was not only Just, wise and expcdlent, but
compulsory upon any Executive who regarded
his Constitutional obligations. We refer now
to the policy which the President seems to
have marked out for himself from the begin
ming, and which may he definitely described
as excepting out of politics"
II was one of President Grants peculiarities
that he never read hostile newspaper criticism
when he could avoid it, and never discussed
politics with personal or political opponents.
The reverse of this is the case with President
Hayes. His temper is too even and amiable
to he affected by criticism, and he conse-
0uantiy does not shrink from reading
it; bur on the other hand, rs rule,
he avoids consultations upon politics
with his friends, and more often seeks
the advice Of his opponents than of his sup
porters. 1t seems a good time now for the
President to ask himself whether he was wise
TO accept the extreme view of the rcformers
that all the men "insde politics" are bad, and
to be indus,riOnsly avoided. We assume that
he knows-to think otherwise would be re-
Election upon his intelhgence-that the reform
of the Civil Service. of which some of his
supcrservceable friends made SO loud pro-
CARNATIONS in the early part of his admins
tration, is very far from fulfilling the programme
offered, or answering the public expectation.
II lacks system, consistency, conference, pur
pose the dead level of 1t, and the best that
can he said of 1T. in the Judgment of an I'M
partial public, is that il is series of honest and
well meant plumbers. For these blundcrs, and for
the apathy in the public mind, which is partly
The fruit of tLcm, the men " inside politics
are not to blame. Is it not possible that we
might have escaped some of them had the
President shown disposition, ever 81
slight, to trust the experience and common
sense Of some of the practical politicians
Under President IIayes's Administration
the country is drifting. That is not reform.
He is placed at the helm, not to keep out of
"poIitics," but 10 steer. Ii is a good thing to
keen the crew from pilering; that reform
need not be interrupted; but if, meantime,
We are drifting toward national reputation.
there's something more important to be done,
and the question is, Who is to do It'll
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CONST4NTIAO ORR IN 4 NEW LIGHT.