The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1882-11-12
SPIRIT OF THE HOUR.

The Boston Herdh (Ind.) thinks that
Tuesday S result "wil materially weaken the hopes
that Senator loar has entertained of reelection"
The Ercning Post says: During the
campaign which has had disastrous an ending for
the Republican party In this State every possible in
suit that could he offered Ia Reiormers ut every
sort was heapen upon them by tile faction In power.
The Interference of the Federal hdminlsti alton to
secure the nomination of Secretary FOlger was an
Insult aud one which, we pointed ont at the time,
would surely bo resented AT the polls The high.
handed performances of Jay liuhbcll aud his cuhOrt
of assessors at Washington. aud the precious cam
the election capped the climax. These aStuto leaders
now have the result before them. The majority
which they have accumulated for cleveland aud nm
Is so vast and unprecedented that 1t becomes udcrous
when we reflect upon the pains which they took to
produce 1t, beginning with tho appointment Of Luby
and BENTLEY at Albany last spring, and ending with
Hubbell's QuNotic assault on the Civll Service
formers three weeks ago"
The Connecticut Comuat says: "Defeat is the
only way To recall party that has been long in
power to It's purposes, its purity of methods and
its discipline. II is almost inevitable that any hu-
man organization should fall into routine which
tends through various stages to disorder. 1t Is -
great mistake to suppose that the most efficient dlCi-
pline of party depends only upon the perfection
of its moving machinery. Some day, while its or
Eani2ition IL sti!l apparently perfect the party IL
found I" he dem0ral2ed. And the notion that 1t Is
only necessary TO capture the party machinery IN
order To manage the party receives rude shock.
For example, the one hundred or two hundred thuus-
aud opinions Of MIR. Conkling and his methods lust
expressed IN New York. Party Organization uf course
there must he, and party machinery but tho ,isci-
pline To hc depended In the Republican army il
the individual conviction of each soldier In the istce
Of his cause and the ability and honesty Of his leader.
The mAchue may become perfect that 1t can
select all the leaders an number all the soldiers
It cannot always make the soldiers hight II is within
the memory of men now living IN this State what the
Republican party was IN It's first years and down
through tue war, what "a spirit animated 1t. who
managed its caucuSes, composed Its conventions, and
made Its nominations In deep soCitulc To put for
ward the best aud foremost citizens eXpOnpnts Of
the best sentiments of The state; When We return
the methods OF those days shall not have to COM
plain ut Reorganization or chronicle deleat.''
The New York Erening Post aptlv saws;
" There is one point On which the Republicans in
Congress can achieve decided advantage the
Democrats at tile approaching session. Never has
the popular feeling against the demUralzimg abuses
of the spoils system been definite, sincere, au strong
as Il is now Never has the demind for the abolition
OF t':at system, and FOR thorough reform Of
Tie Civil Service, been As loud aud general as II Is
to-day. In fact, much of the popular uprising
against the machlue-riddcn Republican party at the
election has owing this very sentiment
The candidates FOR Congress of both parties We'd with
one another In protesting their adherence tn the
OF that reform. The approval and support OF bills
pending before the present Congress made the
test of the sincerity of those professions Here is the
chance Of the Republicans at the session. where
they sti hold power. They can bring those bills
a vote, aud use their majority to pass them. The
sincere friends OF the reform among them will he glad
to avail themselves of that last chance. Even tho
machine politicians among them may understand
that now, with the prospect of the Democrats going
into power before them, thcy have In the abot ion OF
the spoils system nothing 10 lose for themselves
while they may make good point for their side In
public opinion On the other hand tho Democrats,
II forced Ia the issue, will have deal with the civil
Service reform question In tho face OF the probability
that the spOls OF the National Government may soon
fall into their hands Even Ia many of those who
have as candidates publicly proclaimed their fidelity
To that cause, civil Service reform may appear In
new light under such circumstances. Their sincerity
Will have To pass through Il severe ordeal and public
duty as well as party policy demands OF tho Repub-
cans In Congress that Democratic sincerity with
regard TO Clv Service reform he put at once TO
direct test. ~