New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-08-06
it has taken, and the sooner it does so the
better for it's own dignity.
REFORM PROFESSION AND PRACTICE.

1t Is to be hoped that the discussion of the
subject of Civil Service Reform, which broke
out in July in the most unexpected quarters,
may not run its course and cease before De-
cember. Whatever may be the exciting cause,
1t IS certainly OF good augury to see one Dem
Ocratic newspaper after another ayowing itself
IN favor of a reform which if adopted will
keep the administration of affairs out of the
acquisitive hands of Democratic strikers for
many years to come. This in itself would be
great gain, worth making almost any sacri-
flee for Several National elections have been
striven for and won by the Republicans, purely
on the conviction of a majority of the
people of this country that it is not safe
to trust the business management of this
Government to the hands of the Democratic
party as at present organized and composed
III the independent voters throughout the land
could once be convinced that in cleeting a
Democratic President they would not be turn
ing out of Office the tens of thousands of
trained Republican ofliceholders by whom the
affairs of the Nation are on the whole so well
| carried on, there are a great many who would
like the novelty of voting for once for q
Democratic candidate, just to change the
monotony. AS The TRIBUNE has several times
before observed, the very hour in which the
Democratic party and its authorized candi-
y DpODIe
that in the event of Democratic sue
cess, the present administration of sub
ordinate Offices will will not be interfered
with, except for just cause that hour the
struggle of n vast majority of ofliceholders to
keep their places, by defeating the Democrats,
will be at an end. Every intelligent man
knows already that oflicehodcrs were under
no terror from MIR. Hayes, and that they will
be under no terror from General Garfield No
one has feared, for the last four years, that he
would lose his place if he did not work for
the party, and no one fears to-day that Gar
field, or his Cabinet will turn him out for
minding his own business. 1t was Hancock
whom they feared in 1880; it was Tilden
whom they dreaded in 1876, in spite of all
| their professions of Reform; and they did veo-
| mans service to prevent the hosts of Northern
| and Southern Democracy from taking possess
sion OF the Government. This is a perfectly
| natural impulse, and no amount of pamphlet
discussion or empire legislation will prevent it,
IRIS being the case, it is n source of sur
prise and qualification to some of our reform
ing friends that a few Democratic newspapers
and Democratic statesmen seem in favor of
such reform. 1t is true that any manifesto
ton of common sense and proper feeling from
that quarter is an occasion for surprise, and
party will ever be brought to acquiesce in any
policy which shall condemn the cardinal
Jacksonian principle of giving spoils to po-
litcal victors. So far as we have seen, they
do not wish to commit themselves to anything
more than the safe proposition that it ought
to he made penal offence for a Re-
publican oiiiceholder to contribute money
for the use OF his party. But if the leaders
do show the courage and sagacity to stand by
their present professions until next winter,
we think there il little doubt that Mr.. Dor
man j. Eaton's bill, or something like it, will
be adopted by Congress, and the reform will
be started fairly on its way. There is no
danger that Republicans will look with ieal-
ousy upon such work as the Democrats may
contribute to such n contamination.
We are continually warned by so-called in
dependent organs that it will not he well for
the Republican party if it allows the Demo-
Gratis to take the initiative in this reform
There is not the slightest danger. This re-
form, as well as all other reforms, must be
effected by the Republican party if it is to be
effected Mt ALL \ little perfunctory beating of
| the bass-drum of reform during the hot months
when politics lanquish, and discussion of abstract
questions of morality divide the field with the
mammoth gooseberry and the socable rattle
make intelligent men forget what the two par
ties have done and are doing with the Civil
Service. 1t owes its primitive degradation to
the Democratic idol and exemplar Andrew
Jackson. John Quincy Adams made two re-
| movals, for cause, during his Administration
Andrew Jackson, following him, Immediately
made two thousand for political reasons, He
and his Democratic Successors brought the
service down to that disgTaceful state from
which it has been slowly struggling onward
ever since. Nothing could be more shameless
than the contented infamy of the Blu
chanaD Administration in regard to APP
pointm cnts. Every succeeding Republican
President has done something to better the
condition of affairs. Grant, so far as pro-
fessions went, was an improvement on Lin
con though he lacked the persistent con-
science to carry through his plans. Hayes
with all the shortcomings of his Aciministra-
ton, made great step forward, as is evident
in most OF the departments at Washington
and i'll the Custom House and Post Office mt
New-York. We have no doubt that the Presi-
dency of General Garfield will show a still fur
ther advance in the direction of practical and
sensible reform. And we are equally sure,
in spite of all the Democratic leading
articles and platforms of the summer, that
their party is as incapable of reform as the
leopard is of spotessness. They still think
more of Jackson than they do of Mr. Eaton.
They think more of Tweed than they do of
Mr. JAY And if, for our chastisement, they
should ever regain control of this Govern
ment, the platforms of to-day would he for
gotten the statute we hope TO pass next