New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-11-04
1HURLoW WEED on THE CAMPAIGN
A LETTER DICTATED BY THE VETERAN on HIS
sICK-BED 10 a sTENOGRAPHER.

l.
SIR: have never, during the sixty-four years OF
my political life, known things SO badly muddled
"A they ere now The atmosphere Is charged with
had elenents-:he first If not the worst, being civil
Service Reform Mr. George William Curtis aud his
confreres have discovered what everybody else
knew long ago that our greatest political evil Is
ofice-Seeking But they utterly mistake the source
of the evil and its remedy-lf indeed, there be a
remedy Compared with the offices TO be hlled
there are four or five times many ohce-Seekers as
there were thirty forty years ago OF this state
of things there are obvious causes One Is the
defective character of our educational system, which
fails 10 teach boys how to work. another Is the uni
yersal presence of ma ;hinery which deprves work
ipgmen of emp0yment and third Is this civil
Service Reform, which, instead of simplifying mat
tiers. lures additional hundreds into competitive
examination.
These Civil Service Reformers seek TO make
capital by denouncing the spoils system" am
a believer in that system l. awakens and stlmu-
latcs the best elements of American character, The
farmer boy is encouraged to work diligently By a
promise that he shall have an hour in which to play
ball or fish IN the afternoon. The schoolboy studies
hard to get 20 the head of his class obtain prize
Clerks are industrious and faithful in the hope OF
advancement in business. Private soldiers are
spurred TO gallant deeds by the chance of becoming
officers. General Washington was rewarded tor his
great military services by two Presidential terms
and General Jackson and General Grant were SINH
larv rewarded. Such are some OF the fruits Of the
spolls system. Abolish that system and enact the
Civil Service project into law aud political devo-
tion gail antry aud love of country Will become OBJ
sOlete
Other causes are at work undermining the Re-
publican party. The modes and processes by which
nominations are made have grown into intOierable
abuses. Machine politics no longer endurable.
There were always political organizations, aud when
honorable conclusions were reached, honorable men
were bound by them. But when State. Congress
siOnal, legislative county and AldermanIc tickets,
Ostcnsibly nominated formerly, by the spontane-
Gus acion of The party, are in fact designated By
individuals apparently without regard to the popu-
lar will further endurance ceases TO be a virtue.
There always have been bosses" was once
called boss" myself But As far as my experience
in this line goes candidates were not arbitrarily
thrust upon the party but named after car.ful
consultation with leading friends. 1t was my
uniform habit IN the selection of candidates. whether
for Controller Collector. Alderman. President. or
what not, first TO ascertain who would be most ac-
ceptable to the party Frequently man whom
personally did not prefer and IN that way the party
was kept united.
If anything could add to our political cOmplica-
tons at this time would be the absurdty Of organ
izing rich mans " Citizens Committee" that folly
being now aggravated after the more intelligent of
the committee have Withdrawn by the compacent-
ly ridiculous action of Simon Sterue in filing va
cancles up to the number of fifty The original
magnificent proportions of the Citizens Committee
seem now to be dwnded down and concentrated in
the support OF Allan Campbell. an iron-cad Dem
ocrat, Tor Mayor.
Moreover. the Republican party is being dishon-
ored every day by the Hubbell Committee at
Washington. 1t Is deep reproach that system Of
plumber of that kind should be going on at the very
moment when Republicans are disclaiming it, To
show the inconsistency of the Administration, Ii
allows the Eubbel Committee to 90 on with its ex-
actions while 1t continues to prosecute General n
NJ. Curtis for doing. two years ago last what Cen
eral Arthur did for twelve years.
There is too much reason to'believe that one Of
our best men has bsen sacrificed in Judge Folger
who but for The prevailing opinion that his nom-
nation was brought about By the interference CT
the Federal Government. would have been strong
candidate a. if elected, he would make an excel
lent Governor. II he shOuld be beaten, no one
would doubt that his defeat was attributable to the
influence referred to- against which there is strong
popular protest General Arthur has been so long
accustomed to party manipuadons that he could
MOI keep his hands off II there had been less time
devoted to Presidential junketilg and to the classl-
hcation Of the Presidents private papers" and
fewer Cabinet meetings on railroads; and ~ hotels,
the present outlook Of the Republican party would
have been much more satisfactory.
l see that tie Republican Committee is sending
forth great quantity Of documents whose pur-
pose is to make votes for the Republican ticket /
have seen few OF these, and am moved 20 say that
If the Committee wants document of incompara-
bic value, it should reprint and spread broadcast
the editorial from The TRIBUNE Of October p. en-
titled What Cleyeland's Election Would Mean"
Aeto- York, Nov 3, 1882. Tw.
MARRIED At POLICE HEADQCARTERS.