New-York tribune., 1891-12-19
ONE TEST or MERIT.
so, why =.

President Harrison's recent appointments have
elected general and hearty praise, even from
political foes. Carping and snaring at some OF
them was to be expected, human nature being
what it is. But ID is gratifying to see that law
yers throughout the country regard the important
judicial appointments just made as admirable
and in each section the Judge appointed from
that section is recognized as singulary well quail
flied for the bench, even by those who have least
sympathy with his political opinions. The tone
of public comment is fairly illustrated by a re-
mark of "The Evening Post" which awards to
the President "hearty commendation for the ex-
ceenoe of his judicial appointments" and says:
"No President in recent times has been called
upon to name so many judges in an equal period,
and no President has maintained higher level
in his selections"
1t was not to be expected, perhaps, that COM
mendation should be quite 50 outspoken and free
in regard TO selections for other places which
have more Of political character. Yet these
also have earned and received from dispassionate
observers very general and hearty approval,
Mr.. Elkins who has just been appointed Secre-
tary of War, had been so prominent in close
and excited Presidential contest that it would
be strange indeed if he had not made many
enemies in fact certain section OF the people
undoubtedly came to believe that he usually
wore hor.s and hoofs. But his executive ability
has been shown in many fields, to the gratibca-
ton sof those who have intrTsted their interests
to his care, and his public addresses prove thai
he is thinker as well as strong man OF btsl-
ness. So of many other appointments which
could be mentioned they indicate conscientious
care on the part of the President to find for the
public service men who are highly qualified and
thoroughly deserving of trust.
Looking back upon President HarTisons ap-
pointments as whole, the candid critic will find
much to commend He has not in every case
escaped mistake, and when 1t is considered tnat
he was obliged 10 choose many thousand men
without any personal knowledge of them and
solely upon the recommendation of others, 1T must
be admitted that wholly faultleSs selections in
all cases were not to be expected. But 1T APP
pears to be the judgment of the people that the
Presidents selections have been unusually and
remarkably good, and that they have resulted in
public service as faithful as efficient and as
honorable as the country has seen under any
previous Administration. Indeed, in some de-
partments the service is conspcuously better
managed anu DeIler COHuucucu tndh ~ e'oi n"'
been before as even the most prejudiced oppo-
nents of the President are ready to admit
This is not the only test OF executive merit,
as the selection of subordinates is not the only
Executive function. But It is, on the whole, the
most difficult for the President, and also the
most difficult for the people rightly to apprecl-
ate, because each individual may have personal
knowledge of scarcely one or two out OF many
thousand public officials, and not many voters
have opportunity to compare the efficiency of the
public service in all its branches under different
administrations. But those who have had such
opportunity in the largest measure, whether they
arc political supporters or opponents of the Pres
dent are with comparatively few exceptions
disposed to award him high praise for the gen.
eral excellence of his selections, and for the
efficiency of the service which those selections
have seemed