New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-10-30

age. but their fanaticism may be enkindled II
the holy places are needlessly prOfaned The
reckless officer in Algeria who pulled Mara
bouts tomb to pieces drove thousands into
the field. In like manner, the garrison In the
holy city may set the whole country on fire
if they cease to respect the religious instincts
of the population.
Ex-Secretary WINDOWS experience in the
Treasury Department opened his eyes to the
urgent necessity for thorough reform OF the
system of appointments for the Civil Service.
A week before President Garfield was
shot an outline of practical scheme Tor
remedying some of the crying evils
of office-hunting was informally discussed
at Elberon, and this is now lald
before the public in a familiar form in the
general press dispatches Mr.. Window would
alIot to every State its own share of appoint
ments in the various Departments at Washing
ton, and as fast as vacancies occur from any
cause he would fill them from lists fur
nished by examining committees In the
States. Examinations would be held at
stated times and all applicants for
clerkships and subordinate Offices would
be invited to present Themselves and when
ever the State was entitled to an office the
competitor of the highest merit would get 1t.
By this system the Civil Service would be re-
cruited from a selected body of competent ap-
plcants in place of the horde of mendicants
that now hang about the Departments at
Washington. The ex-Secretary makes the extra
ordinary statement that fve-siXths of the sub
ordinate appointments conferred during the last
eight months have been begged and given
as public charity. The ohice-hunters borrow
money to go to Washington, and not being
able to get away, dog the steps of heads
of Departments, Senators, congressman, the
Executive himself and from their poverty and
sheer helplessness succeed in fastening them
selves upon the Civil Service.
The results of the German elections are so
uncertain that it seems premature to form any
conclusions The leading English journal
assumes that the Empire has pronounced
against the Chancellor's economic policy, but
it may turn out that the rural constituencies
have given the Conservatives and the Centre
such hearty support that the gains of the Lib
eral factions in the cities will be wiped ont ;
and even if those gains prove permanent. Pro-
lection was only one of many issues which entered
into the canvass The Progressists, who
have led the poll in Berlin, have always been
genuine Free Traders, but their success in that
city is no new thing. They carried every seat
from that city in the three previous elections
except two wrested from them 10y the Socialists.
The defeat of the prominent Jew-haiterS
is a hopeful sign. Not so encourag-
ing is the steady growth of the
Socialist vote. In the three preceding electoral
contests this dangerous party cast as many
votes as the PrOgressistS, and One-fourth as
many as either the National Liberals or the
Centre, although their highest number of rep
resentatives in the Reichstag was only four
teen. The probability now is that they will
increase their representation as well as their
popular vote. The Chancellor will be harassed
by the election returns. One of his sons has
been defeated in a constituency which has been
considered safe for the Conservatives, and the
new Rechstag will probably be more umman-
ageabe than the last. He will get on, for he
has curious way of governing without as
well as with, a majority but his temper will be
continually rasped. The Germans will not
consent to be good children and let him do all
their thinking in politics.