Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1883-05-30
Aat,raster fnte4ige1lrfr.
EVENING, NAY 80. 1893
. Sudden Change.

late local elections in Virginia to be in
the decadence of his power in that state,
Secretary of the Navy Chandler, who
recently wrote a very saucy letter to
Dezendorf, Mahone's Republican cppo-
nent in'Virginia, seems to have suffered
some change of heart. He now causes
it to be proclaimed that he proposes to
have Dezendorf's charges against Ma
homes political use of the Norfolk navy
yard thoroughly investigated, and
promises that if the wrongs alleged
against the civil service idea are found
to have been perpetrated, they will be
corrected. Mr.. Chandler declares that
he does not believe in violation of the
civil service law in either its letter or its
spirit to secure a political victory, though
he is in favor of coalition of Republi-
cans with other factions to defeat their
Democratic foe.
Secretary Chandler has we'll estab
lished reputation as partisan of part-
sans. He has demonstrated in his prac-
tice that he will stop at nothing to
secure his political ends. He was one of
the most active factors in securing the
electoral vote of Florida, cast for Tilden,
to be counted for Hayes. He is abso-
lutely without political conscience. 1t
is impossible that man with such ten
denotes and such antecedents would
respect the civil service law should that
law stand in the way of his political
purposes. That he now finds it expedi-
ent to declare his obedience to it indi-
Gates two things first. that President
Arthur inclines to sustain the law, and
second, that since Malone is about to
lose his hold of Virginia, it is not con-
sidered that it will any longer pay to
make ttat state an exception to the
general policy of the administration in
favor of sustaining the civil service ex-
pertinent.
President Arthur has in very re-
markable way shaken himself out of the
party ruts. He has given substanti;.l
evidence that he intends to do his duty
conscientlOusly and to appoint men to
Office because they are honest and capa-
BILE, and not simply because of their
party services. This is, we say, remark
able. 1t should not be; because it should
be assumed that a man who has been
elevated to the first place in the land
would himself be honest and capable, and
if so he certainly would have no differ
ent guide in selecting his subordinate
officers. Nevertheless, it is fact that
presidents are expected to use their
patronage primarily as a reward for part y
service. 1t has come to pass that the 20
litical rings which control the politics of
the different states, expect to control the
federal appointments in their states, and
thus perpetuate themselves in power
under pretense of perpetuating their
party's power. President Arthur, just
before he reached the presidency, was a
leader in one of the Republican factions
that sought to control New York, nomi.
nally for the party really for themselves.
He was Of the sect known as the Stal
warts, who had Roscoe Conkling for
.elr apostle. He was made collector
of the port in their interest. Naturally
a man with such antecedentS would he
relied upon to follow in the beaten path
of ring politicians and to use all this
great patronage suddenly placed in his
hands to promote the political fortunes
of his tribe. But Arthur ,as president, has
shown himself animated 10y higher i'm
pulse and sustained by a stouter indie
pendence than other presidents preceding
him, who came into the presidency from
a more elevated plane of political action
than that ::found in New York city.
Conkling and the Stalwarts are not able
to claim any especial share of the presi.
Dental sunshine. They conceive them
selves TO have got much less than their
deserts. They openly exhibit their dis,
gust and Conkling sulks in his tent. AT
the same time there is no especial favor
shown to the opposite camp. Arthur S
policy seems to be to go down into the
party, over the heads of its leaders, and
pick up men for office who will lend
respectability to his administration,
by rejecting honor upon their offices. 1t
is certainly an excellent policy, whether
it is inspired by the presidents desire to
do his duty > or by his desire to build up
party of his own out of the ruptured
Republican fragments. 1t happens
that the best policy for Arthur individu
ally is the best for the country and for
his party. 1t always is SO, in fact, but
the men in power who have the sagacity
to realize the fact and have the energy
and independence to act accordingly ARE
few indeed. Secretary Chandler never
was one of them. He has been one who
was no wiser than to think that the end
he sought was justified by any means. He
evidently at this writing is controlled by,
and does not himself control, the admin
istration. A better and stronger man
than he has entered the cabinet, in its
postmaster general. If there is any re.
habilitation of the Republican party pos
sible, it is likely to come through
Gresham, as Arthur's chief lieutenant
They may be able to give the party a
clean bill of health in time for the next
presidential race. A first step will be to
drop Malone overheard and Secretary
Chandler seems to have received late
presidential directions in this regard.
" L.