Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-01-11
A New Phase Of Bosslsm.


whereby the service may be reformed, has
suddenly descended dangerously near to the
level of the political boss. In seeming emu
laton of the methods of a character IL has
so persistently mathematical that shining
light in the work of civil service reform has
served notice on President Arthur that he
must stay the stubborn course of his APP
pointments, and select independent repub-
leans as his subordinates in the discharge
of his executive duties, or be responsible for
the disaster which will surely follow dis
regard of this admonition. In a leading
article entitled " The President" that Jour
nal recites the list of cabinet officers Mr..
Arthur has chosen, from Judge Folger to
the latest. It refers to the selections made
for high subordinate positions, like Mr.. j.
Bancroft Davis in the state department, and
Mr.. Acton for the assistant treasuryship at
New York. 1t loftily commends the ap-
pointment Of Judge Gray to the supreme
court bench, as If that act derived all its
merit from George William Curtis conse-
quential approval. 1t raises no question as
to the honesty, the purity, the eminent ca
pacity and fitness for their duties of Judge
Folger, of Mr.. Frelinghuysen, Of Mr.. Brews-
ter, or of the other distinguished gentlemen
whom the president has called into the SER
vice of the government to fill places occa-
stoned by resignation. Its grievance is
that these men care all republicans of the
stalwart school," 1t insidiously main
tains that the steps of the administration
are all in the reactionary direction" and
"that they will certainly lead it and the
party to disaster" 1t affirms that a. the ad
ministration thus far represents the minor
ity of the party as shown at Chicago" and
proceeding always on sinister hypothesis
respecting the purpose of the administra-
ton as shown by its " stalwart steps, d" threat
ems it with some awful doom at the hands
Of independent republicanism, and lodges
the responsibility for the result with those
who make it inevitable. Having by inu-
endo and by indirecton made bitter and
unreasonable attack upon the administra-
ton, an attack which it had not the hardi-
hood to make openly, or apparently dis
mayed by the CHASTITY features of the spook
of "stalwartism which its morbid fancy
had conjured up, the Weekly pusillanimously
begs to add that it must "not be understood
as saying that it believes the president
intends to attempt to carry the party and
the country backward. His course has been
too prudent to allow that to be assumed"
and utters some gracious words of approval
of the presidents expressed readiness to
sanction and enforce the Pendleton civil SER
vice bill should that measure become a law.
The true inwardness Of Mr.. Curtis evi.
dent hostility to the president is this,-he
is disgruntled because his political friends
and sympathizers have not been appointed
to office. In this unamiable and disaffected
frame of mind the head of the civil service
reformers loses his temper and threatens
the administration with disastrous conse-
quepces if independent republicans are not
served with share Of the loaves and fishes.
Honesty, capacity, fitness for their duties
regardless of party or factional politics, is
the grand canon of civil service reform.
Having primary regard to the essential
qualities of fitness, it has been generally
conceded that in his high political appoint
ments the president should surround him
self with men in active sympathy with his
views of public policy. No journals, in the
disturbed condition of politics few months
ago, were stronger advocates of this politi-
cal maxim than those who now criticise
the president for the character of his ap-
pointments 1t is not claimed, nor can it
be successfully, as Mr.. Curtis knows, that
the presidents appointments fail in the ut
most requirements of the ritual of the civil
service reformers. 1t is only because they
are reputed stalwarts," are not of the " in
dependent republican faction that objec-
ton to them is made, and opposition to the
administration threatened by the chief of
that faction. In what point favorable to
Mr.. Curtis his attitude towards President
Arthur differs from that of Mr.. Conklng
toward Mr.. Hayes or Mr.. Garfield, it is not
easy to see. There is disappointment in
each case because political friends are not
appointed to Office, and in each case there
are threats of direful opposition if the pres
ident does not regard his wishes. Mr..
Conkling was open, bold and pronounced in
his opposition; Mr.. Curtis is insinuating,
hating and cowardly. Each in his sphere
seems to have been actuated by similar mo-
tives and to have taken characteristic ways
to express his resentment Of presidential
indifference to his wishes. Each is auto
cratic and the president must bow to him
or he will lead his faction against his ad-
ministration. The very thought or fear
that Mr. Arthur may do something wrong
fills Mr.. Curtis soul with greater anguish
than the open violation of the most cher
ished tenets of civil service reformers by the
presidents predecessor Mr.. Garfield re-
moved officers whose official conduct was
irreproachable to put in their places his
partisans and personal followers, and MIR.
Curtis looked on complacently, uttering no
word OF threatening or admonition, Mr..
Arthur has made no such removals, but has
only supplied vacancies caused by the in
dependent" who in an hour of trial deserted
him, or by excusable designations To these
vacancies he has appointed men whose
political affinities, beyond the fact that they
were representative republicans of high in
telligence and mature experience, were I'M
known from any active connection with
factional politics. That they are "stal-
warts" is undoubtedly true-stalwart in
brain, in integrity, in principle, in capacity
and in their determination impartially and
faithfully, and, to the best of their abilities
to administer the trusts committed to theil
hands. As long as President Arthur contin
ues to make such stalwart appointments
the people will sustain him without enquir
ing to what particular wing" of politica
party the appointees belong. In the ligh
of all the facts Mr.. Curtis consistency il
subjected to fatal strain. If civil servic,
reformers endorse him in his unjust, un
reasonable and mischievous attack on tn,
president, their cause will be thorough,
wounded in every respect by its pretended
friends,a and the people will begin to turn thei
eyes to the more just, sensible and practica
methods outlined by MIR. Arthur in his lette
of acceptance and in his late message for