New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-02-16
NEW. WORK DAILY TRIBUNE WEDNESDAY, FEBRUAKY TO- Io0L

action likely to provoke much pubic discus
sion. President Garfield, no doubt, mas we'll
formed ideas of the course it is proper
far him TO pursue as the Chief Magistrate Oh
the Nation and the representative OF inc VIII
of the party which elected him, but ne Is
mich too wise statesman to map OUT ue-
tailed course of action for himself IN his
inauenral address, or to recommend measures
of LEGISLATION which cannot be adopted uh'li
tbe new Congress meets next Deem
her. lie knows that Presidents are
iudged by their performances and not
Inv their promises, and he will be chaTy OF
declarations that have no practical bearing ON
his immediate duties as Chief Magistrate. The
Constitution wisely cODtempates an interval Oh
nine months between the Inauguration ol
President and the time when he Is required u
present bis views and recommendations 10
Congress General Garfield will undoubtedly
take advantage of this respite TO become Ia
miliar with the workings Of the vast a1hin-
istrative machine which he must manage
Meanwhile the pressure of office seeking, winch
every new Administration must submit TO- VIII
NOT greatly interest the public. 1t Is no.
likely that any sweeping changes VIII DC
mode in the public Offices. If General Gdr-
fields remarks to the Independent RepuOll-
cans who called on him IN Washington
last November were correctly reported, ms
idea Of the Civil Service is that every capable
official should serve out tire term FOR W'lch
he is commissioned, and that at the expiration
of his term the question Of his reapp0lntmeht
or of the appointment OF another man III MS
Mace ia one for fair consideration. This OF
course apples only to the higher 0ll1cas.
! Clerks and other inferior officials are not COM
missioncd for definite periods. General Gar
field can protect himself with this excel ent
theory from the assaults OF place hunters, and
| by declining to remove efficient incumbenS
will have ample time to make wise selections
to I'll vacancies as fast as they occur.
The coming season is, therefore, likely to
be dull, politically; but it promises to be one
of great activity in the business world. The
| Thought of the Nation turns from parry strife
TO tho work of material development. People
will care more about the progress Of great III
dus rial aud commercial enterprises duling
the next six months than about tho move
mcnts of the pUli.irian'. The completion OF Il
new route to the Pacific Coast by WY Of the
| Southern Petite and Atchison, Topeka and
santa FG Railroads., to occur next summer,
will attract mu h attention. 80 VIII the OPEN
ing of thu Northern Pacific Railroad into
Montana the cons, rue ion of a M. th IN branch
OF the Union Pacific into Id no and Montana,
and the Oprr lli0ns OF the new Gambia Pac tic
Syndicate. The new Mexican railway enter
prispS will also create great deal or interest,
including, as they do, plans for the compile
ton Of line from the Rio Grnde to the
| Cry Oi Mexico, lrc across the Tchuantepec
ISthmu> and a line southwark from the
Ctp,tal through the rich Mexicm State
OF Oaxaca to the fertile little Rcpub-
lies OF Central America The ship-tran-
sit projects, including the Panama and
| Nicaragua schemes and Captain kadsS ship
railway, are 50 lar developed as to command
great deal of Iubllc notice. Within the
borders of our olG-srttled States many new
railway enterprises are on foot. new line
from New FORK to Chicago is sure to he com
mcnccd. The Iivairlcs and consultations 0i
Old lines viii attract attention. Othcr great
industrial schemes are in process OF organ!zd-
! ton. company has been formed TO dram
vast areas of swamp lands in Louisiana !;
another company proposes to reclaim the
Everglades of florida aud convert them INFO
sugar pIantitlohS.
New mines are being opened in the Far
West. Trus of tn .usards of acres OF prairie
in Dikota Will be broken up tins season and
,own to wheat. Tie Hudson River is being
! runnclcd; the great East River Bridge will
soon Ia completed. Thousands of new fac
tories, mills ANA workshops will be built.
, Tnc g.uwth of our cities promises 10 exceed
anything Witnessed in recent years. Every
wllrrr there Is the fcrmcut of new
PROJECTS and the stir of Now efforts.
/ tnc signs of the time, are not at fanlt We are
at The bcginuIu of year oi wonderful National
growth and prosperity. WIKI so much to
occupy their mlnd N tho activities of the
business word IT viii not be surprising If pcO-
pie insist or laying politics on thc shelf until
next fill. They have entire confidence that
governmental affairs will be in capable and
patriotic hands, and they want rest from the
dins-Gong OF partisan strife.