The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-05-17

and II is in NO wise suggested that any
citizen had petitioned for his removal o.
that official delinquency on his part wa
the reason OF 1t, In the place OF an ex
perienced officer, In the midst Of his term
fixed by law, 1t Is proposed suddenly 4
put q man who has had no training iol
the position, and who cannot be said "a
have any special fitness for It's otiCia
duties, In
THE INAuGuRALoF PRESIDENT GARFIELD,
delivered on the 4th Of March, stand these
words: "Ths civil service can never be
placed on q satisfactory basis until 1t Il
regulated by law, for the good Of the ser
vice itself, for the protection Of those
who are entrusted with the appointing
power, against o waste Of time and the
obstruction Of public business, caused by
the inOTdinate pressure for place and ior
the protection OF inCumbsnts against
intrigue and wrong. l shall, at the proper
time, ask Congress TO fix the tenure Of the
minor Offices 0i the several Executive de.
partments, and prescribe the grounds
upon which the removals shall be made,
during the terms for which the In.
cumbents were appointed" How good
the distinction Is which would make q
majority OF the officers the prey 10
intrigue and wrong and shield the minor
offices from like havoc, and whether the
C0lleot0Ishlps oil the country should lelopg
to the exposed or to the protected class
need not be decided here. Assuming
General Merritt TO be an officer oil the
average fitness aud honesty 1t might be
reasonably argued that all the Senators
should, with alaCrity, advise his displacs.
msnt by a man OF obvious superiority,
Possibly 1t might be said tbat all should
advice the selection In General MeHiLt'B
place of man who, without superior
fitness, has rendered his country or even
his party conspicuous and exalted service,
THE CASE IN HAND
does not belong to either OF these classes,
The vocation OF Mr., Robertson and his
legislative and professional experience and
surroundings do not denote Buperorlty in
the qualities, the knowledge Of business
habits and familiarity with the revenue
laws and system OF the United States,
which might make him more competent
than General Merritt TO collect the vast
revenues aud administer the vast business
pertaining to the port OF New York. Ger.
iainly he cannot, In this respect, be held
90 an exception to the rules oil right and
consistency on which the Constitution and
laws have placed the public service. We
know Of no personal or political service
rendered by Mr. Robertson 80 transcend.
ant that the colleoto ship OF New York
should be taken In the midst OF term
and given him as reCompense.
Mr.. Robertson is reported by the New
York Tribune 10 have declared that his
nomination was 70 reward"
"a REWARD"
for his action as delegate to the National
Convention. II Mr.. Robertson In bis &C.
ton was Influenced by sense Of duty
II lie voted and acted his honest Convic.
tions, Il Is difficult to see what clsim he
has for any reward. Not 10 speak Of such
reward, the action Of which an estimate 10
thus invited Is understood to be this:
Mr.. Robertson and aixty.nin other men
accepted from the State Convention 0
certain trust, They sought and accepted
the position OF agents or delegateS to the
National Convention. The State Conven.
ton declared that its plainly stated judg.
ment and policy was 10 be observed and
supported by those It commissioned
10 this declaration. All selected as dele.
gates gave IMPLIED consent, but several oI
them In addition made the most specific
personal pledges aud engagemen'l TO ex'
ert themselves 10 good faith throughout to
secure the nomination OF General Grant.
They made this pledge as q means Of OBJ.
tanning their own appointment as dele.
gates, and they did, as we both personally
know, obtain their seat9 In the National
Convention upon the faith oil their per.
sonal statements Of their
EARSRsrNEss AND FIDELITY
Tho ohlloa,ion thrs asuumed wa und.,.
go. A.. ,".ss-i,.. - -
stoeu 70 inVolVe tne integrity as mucu aS
the obligation Of one who receives the
proxy Of stoCkhol lder 10 a corporation
upon q pledge and promise TO vote Rs his
principal would vote. Whether Mr..
Robertson was or was not himself bound
not only by honor and implication, but by
expressly giving his word, becomes quite
immateria In view Of the claim made for
him. i is insisted that he "organiSed
the bolt" or as 1t has been sometimes
stated "he was the leader Of the bolt"
This 10 10 say that he invited, persuaded
and induced others when no knew bad
given their word, and had obtained their
seats by doing So, 10 violate their word
and betray not only the Republicans as.
bembled In the State Convention, but
the Republicans oi the city districts,
as well as those who had trusted
10 their honor. Whoever Counsels aud
procu.es another TO do dishonest or dis.
honorable act must share with that other
the guilt, and should share also the odlum
Justly attaching 10 II. We are, therefore,
wholly Unable upon whatever ground we
view tosee any justification for ourselves
should we become parties TO using public
tfust1 which belong TO- the people 10
requite such service In suph modes.
But the appliances employed TO