Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-03-16
APHENOMENA Al OFFICIAL.


The present administration has developed
one man-but one man-who has manifest
ed sufficient respect for Mr.. Hayes to volun-
tarily offer to obey the famous civil service
No. 1. His name is john B. Hawley, and
for several years past he has occupied the
Office Of assistant secretary of the treasury
under John Sherman. Gen. Hawley is about
to enter energetically into the canvass for
formed Mr.. Sherman that he cannot consist.
emily hold his Office any longer, as he could
not do justice to its duties and at the same
time attend to his interests in Illinois. He
begs leave, consequently, to surrender his
post in the treasury department. at once, so
that he may devote his entire time to the
management of the Republican caucuses
and conventions at home.
Gen. Hawley's example is worthy of imita-
ton by other candidates for public Office
who are now holding positions in the federal
service, and by none more SO than by the
chief of the treasury department. Mr..
Sherman has long been an avowed candidate
for the Presidency, yet he continues to hold
a position at the head of one of the principal
departments of the government, welding
patronage that is almost unlimited. This
patronage is being employed, too. in such
manner as to most advance his interests.
While the conditions of supporting him may
not be expressed in set terms, he can easily
distribute his favors among those whom he
knows TO be friendly to his cause, and thus
in effect secure their active support. This he
has been doing in the past, if we may believe
such excellent Republican papers as the New
York Times and Tribune. His conduct, there.
fore, is scarcely removed from the dominion
of bribery. At least thus it will be regarded
by the majority of people.
We have never taken much stock in the
sincerity of Mr.. Hayes desire to purify the
public service by the means indicated in his
famous order. At any rate his effort was
bound to be abortive unless he
had the hearty cooperation of those holding
responsible positions about him. The fact
is that there has been little perceptible
change for the better during his administra-
ton. Postmasters, msrshals, revenue
and customs collectors, cabinet
ministers and others, have taken
as active part in the manage
ment of political bodies as ever before, and
except in few instances where a change
was desirable on other grounds, they have
not been punished. At every election since
his installation, the cabinet officers have per-
ambulated the country making political
speeches as was their wont under Grant, and
appointments have been made more with q
view to the political influence of the ap-
pointees than with view to their fitness.
Such state of affairs does not argue great
amount of sincerity certainly.
It is about time, if the present admins
tration desires to save what little reputation
remains to it, that more of the federal officials
who desire to enter actively into the political
arena follow the example set by Gen. Haw.
ley. Such course would not only conducs
to the success of the aspirants, but would
immeasuraably increase the efficiency of the
public service. Though the course of the
official named is somewhat phenomenal,
there seems to be no good reason why it
should continue to be 80. Mr.. Hayes has no
political future before him, and it can make
no difference to him whether he pleases or
displeases his subordinates. During the
few remaining months of his official life he
should put his foot down aud insist that
Order No. be rigdly observed, and by this
means he may redeem many of the blunders
of his administration.