New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-01-08
A cnRNERED pIRTH-

This is solemn period for the glorious and
hungry Democracy. They are sitting in body
over the news that Congress has passed the
Civil Service Reform bill, and are wailing in
chorus. Here they were, rs they thought, right
in sight of the public crib, with almost dead
certainty OF getting their heads into it in 1854,
when suddenly the door is slammed in their
faces and notification is posted that "no
politicians need apply Naturally they don't
like It. They were willing TO talk in large
way about reform" but they did not dream of
such thing ms being taken at their word.
They had no idea that the Democrats of Con-
grcss would be 80 unmindful of the true well
fare of the glorious old party as to cut of its
future supplies in this way. What is the use of
having party at all if there is to be nothing
to "dividen among the bOysf IL requires no
particular Imagination TO picture the disgust OF
a Democratic wheel-horse who has been hun
gcring and thirsting for twenty-five years,
when he contcmplates tho certainty of this
cruel bill becoming n law. There is great
danger that no may lose his interest in public
affairs and resolve to let the Republic shift
for itself In future without any aid from him.
Senator Pendleton ia primarily responsible
for all this unhappiness, and he Is undoubtedly
the most heartily cursed man in the whole
country to-day. In his own State his party as
SOCRATES have been cursing him for several
weeks ale may mean well, they snv, Z" but
abe can never become n popular Democrat by
such an impractical course rs this. lie is no
" true Democrat nc heart or he would know
that the only true Civil Service Reform
wanted by his party Is one which Will put
"the Republicans out and the Democrats in.
" What in thunder does he mean by fOOling
with great principle in this way ~ This is
an echo OF Democratic sentiment in all parts of
the country. The Pcndlcton bill was all well
enough so long as the Democracy had little
prospect of getting possession of the Govern
nent. 1t served good purpose in giving the
party something to point ut rs sample of
what 1t would do if it had chance, but making
it a law on the eve of a possible Democratic
victory is quite anO Their matter. No well regu-
lated Democrat in the country has doubt OF
the proper course Tor Mr.. Pcndleton to pursue
under these conditions. 1t was his duty either
to make the bill harmless or smother it.
We doubt if no could have done this even if
he had wished to. The bill passed beyond his
control when the Republicans of the Senate
aroused by the imperative commands OF the
people, took it up and urged its passage. by
that shire d policy they put Mr.. Pendlcton ana
his party in a corner Mr.. P6ndletOn could not
oppose or enfceble his own bill without con-
victiGg himself OF insincerity. His party as
sOcateS in Congress could not vote against 1t
without flying in the face of public opinion and
inviting party disaster. They cOuld do nothing
but make wry faces and vote for the bill. 1t is
difficult to see how the Democratic members
could have convinced themselves that it would
have been safe party policy to defeat it either
openly or by dilatory manguvers. III they had
defeated the bill they wonld have aroused Il pop
ular hostility which would have made the cleo
ton of a Democratic President in 1854 lmpos-
sible. That they knew. On the other hand,
by passing the bill they have cast gloom
over the ranks of their party and removed the
chief incentive to work for the election of a
Democratic President. 1t is an exceedingly in
teresting situation, and we beg to extend to the
perplexed and disguised Democracy our most
distinguished consideration.
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That bifurcated body nominally known az
the American Agricultural Assooi alton" does not
seem to have made yet much com of advantage
with an influential portion of the rural press. For