Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1881-02-28
THE RETIRING ADMIN
ISTRATION.

In few days the career of Ruther-
ford B. Hayes as president of the Uni
ted States will be at an end. The mer-
its of his administration have been many
and its mistakes have not been as nu-
merous or serious as its opponents would
have US believe. The best public opinion
is inclined to regard this adminlstra-
ton as about the cleanest, and, in some
respects the most successful of any in
recent times. Its scandals have been
very small in comparison with those
that have preceded it; and we are dis
posed to think that time will vindicate
its course in relation to most public
questions. with which it had to deal.
The hostile criticisms of the admins
tration are principally on account of its
southern policy and its efforts to estab-
| lished civil service reform.
In regard to the southern question, it
may be said that the policy of the pre-
ceding administration had not been en-
tirely statesmanlike, nor successful in
its results ; and before the expiration of
his term, Gen. Grant had admitted the
necessity for a change in this policy,
which had nearly effected the ruin of
the republican party in the south, while
it had not materially checked the diff
cultes and disorders prevalent in that
section. So far as this question was
concerned, President Hayes entered up
on the duties of his Office under circum-
stances that were peculiarly embarass-
ing. 1t was necessary that a republi-
can party should be built up in the
south to restore the balance of political
j power. and that measures should be
taken to traDquilize that section, while,
at the same time, the political rights of
all her citizens. without regard to race
or political belief, should be fully main
tanned. The design of such a policy
was truly commendable and it also
gave assurance to the southern people
that the republican party henceforth
had no purpose of exercising arbitrary
or unconstitutional power in dealing
with the South, and no intention of dis
regarding the limitations of law in the
enforcement of equal political and civil
rights in that section.
In his efforts for a "pure and I'M
partizan administration of the civil SER
vice" the president was opposed by a
large section of the party who were most
influential in its councils, and who were
J strongly attached to the spoils system
: and opposed to permanent office hold
, ing class in civil affairs. Of course the
president had little or no support from
i the democrats in behalf of this reform
: so that al his attempts to harmonic.
I the discordant elements with which ht
was surrounded on this question. WERE
; wholly futile The "stalwart" opposi
ton to Mr.. Hayes efforts to reform tn,
: civil service in harmany with the reso
: luton of the convention that nominated
him, explains why he has done SO mucl
that is inconsistent with that principle
f and, also, why he was practically una
t BILE to enforce his famous executive OF
q der of June, 1877. No president ca
= carry out any policy, though it be i'm
: posed upon him by a national conveI
ton, unless he is sustained by at leas
a majority of his own party and ma
jority in congress. 1t is apparent tina
. the failure of the president in respect t
: civil service reform, though it cannot
considered as total failure, is du