National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-03-25
moIylL-ssRyloE RnFoRM.n
letter rrom ThurIow Weed or the Case
or General N. NJ. Curtia.

To tho Editor Of the New York Tribune
SIR: The editor OF Hdrpcrs Weekly George VIII
lam Curiis) dsclaims personal hostility toward
General N. NJ. Curtis in his abortivc at
tempt to indiet that gentleman. needed
no such assurance. Mr.. Curtis aud his associates
arc working for what they regard ~ an important
Reform" They have cxhumed n law the exist
ence Of which. like many others. was unknown.
In selecting General Curtis as their victim, should
his trial result Nv n conviction, they will awaken
a storm Of popular indignation for which they
are unpreparcd. General Curtis character as a
citizen and his services a. q soldier will insure his
vndication; but why has he been singled out in
preference 10 other and older Offenders, IT, indeed,
devotion to the Republican party constitutes an
indictable ofiense2 Custom-house and post-ofiice
contributions received and expended by General
Arthur first carried Indiana in october and next
New York In November. 1880 for the Republicans
electing their candidates
FOR PRESIDENT AND IcE.PREsIDENT.
President Arthur, therefore. not only received
and expended mon contributed by Federal
office -holders, but was personally Interested in
the results It produced. deny, however, that
General Arthur or General Curtis did wrong on
the contrary, maintain that their action was not
only proper, but prniseworthy Under such n
state Of facts am more than surprised 10 find tho
Secretary Of the Treasury and the United States
District Attorney superscrviceaby active In q
proceeding against 'feneTul NnFtM. ana
what is still harder to bear is the assumption by
by the civilscrvice reform Secretary that the pro-
ceeding has the approval OF President Arthur. 1t
would be pleasant 10 learn that this Is ON unau
thorized assumption.
OFFICE. SEEKING HAS BECOME
an intolerable evil IL is attributable largely TO
our defective system Of education The error
commences at home where parents neglect to
impress upon their sons lessons Of industry,
economy, and self dependence. Nor are the Sous
of the middle classes apprenucod as formerly
that they may at maturity become useful me-
chanics. The next defect Ia found in our schools.
The various mechanical trades should be taught
not only In our public and district schools, but in
our charitable and roformatory institutions If
Messrs. Curtis, White, Rogers, Eaton, and other
"reiormers" will unite their efforts in the man.
ner indicated they will not only promote civil
service reforms" but diminish " evils of intem-
perance.
"cIvIL. SERVICE REFORM"
under President Hayes began with the removals
of Naval officer Cornell and Collector Arthur, and
ended in the election of the former MS Governor of
the State and the latter as Vice. President OF the
labors by instituting competitive examinations in
the New York custom house and post Office, be-
yond which the reform is not likely to extend. II
there was anything useful or practical in such
appointments. The fact that after six years Of
persistent effort the "reformers" have not ex.
tended their line Of operations beyond the cities of
New York and Washington is a virtual confession
of Its impractcability. The only positive and
practical effect OF this kind of machine work is TO
double, treble and quadruplc the army Of office.
seekers. IL Is invitation TO the idle, thrflless,
schcming classes, who cannot or Will not earn
their Lying, to try their luck II Ciyil-Service
reform lottery. II is political saiety-valve OF
which the collector, naval officer, surveyor, and
postmaster gladly avail themselves. 4. W.
NEW YORK, March 49, 1882.