New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-04-28
GILL NkEIICI REIOKN.


which has Just held its annual meeting in this
city. is without doubt composed largely of ear
nest and sincere men animated by the best Of
motives. II has done, and is doing very use
Gnl service in the line Of administrative Pc
form. which is its specially. II II i open 10
the objection Of narrOwnc>S OF view and c"i-
tain pharis"ciSm of profession which naturally
cngcndcr spirit of intolerance ard find cN-
preston in caiping criticism. II can -" -aiI
that in this particular it only palt1k"N The
nature of all similar associations and move
mcnts 1t follows by no means that bccIu."
its motives are un>c>h and pure Us notions
are always wise or its conduct btyond tn" reach
Of criticism. II has 10 monopoly oi the ilnr-
ton of criticism. though ihlt i - cal"t
mi sion. Though il may have n iaig" char
ter AZ the wind to blow on whom Il IN '-. II
must be remembered that i, is not IN exclusive
grant: il must expect 10 be blown upon - well.
Because these gentlemen mcIH well j. ~ ica-
son why all their premise, should be accepted
rs true their processes Is logical or their con
illusions rs final. Nor does II follow because
they are conSpicuOuSIy and sometimes n,i>iIy
honest and upright and devoted solely 10 IL"
public welfare that those who disagree with
unpatroic and Sef->ceking. il j, the weak
ness of all ardent RcfomcrS. what rycr be the
direction in which they cypcn1 their energies 10
lose sight of ever! argument and every con
,dcraion that does moi lie in the direct line 81
their own vision and to arrogaic - themselves
all the virtues while impuing 10 opponents the
moancSt motive,
10 the average man hi, sort Of assumption
i not only offensive but it seems ridiculous.
II is accordingly more often treated with Iid
Guile than met with serious arguments. In"
result is that the Hefolmcrs. who a, a class ~"
usually very sensitive 10 that sort Of thing, be
come angrrcd. rctoIt with bitterness and 81
lcngth come 10 be mere Sc0ldS: cynical gram
blcrs against the Wickcdnc>S that ilorr>hcs all
around them. with no recognition or appIocia-
ton of anything gook anywhere. This has
been the tendency of the very earnest and sin
ccrc men who compose the National Civil ser
vice Reform League. They do not take into
account how much easier it j., 10 find fault than
to do better: how much easier to tear down
than TO build up how much easier for persons
without responsibility or power or knowledge
Of complicated conditions TO point ont an easy
ard immediate solution of questions Of admin
iStratiOn than for the persons who have the
responsibility, power and knowledge 10 solve
them incgcnlIy and satisfactorily. The Re
formers way is always direct. easy and simple
II usually looks plausible and always seems de-
SiIabc. II takes no account Of obstacles or
Tie complications of the environment. This
saves mental processes and the weighing OF
arguments, but il unfortunately happens that
hort processes in tangled affairs are more ap,
to make mischief than do good.
The gentlemen who have inst held their
annual session had apparent reason for en-
courag cement. They, or most Of them, supported
Mr. Cleveland in the late election and had the
satisfaction of seeing him elected. They sup
ported him eight years ago and had the same
satisfaction then. II continued until the Prcsi-
dent found it necessary in order to insure hi,
denomination to abandon the principles Of the
Reform and use the patronage in the old Dem
ocratc way. Many Of the RcformerS became
disguised at his tcrgivc.sation, not recognizing
the necessity of his situation. and voted against
his reelection. lie was defeated. They hoped
that President Harrison would adopt all THEN
notions and make all his appointments To suit
them. regardless Of every other consideration
Like Cleveland he pleased them at first bat
disappointed them later. 50 they yibratcd back
20 Cleveland in 1892. This was their first
annual meeting since his election. They APP
pearcd to be in their usual comfortable mood
at the beginning of an Administration, though
not by any means so enthusiastic as they were
before election. Some things have gone wrong
in the Postofice Department. and there were
rumblings Of discomfort relative 10 ether dc
partments. On the whole. however. they wcro
hopeful We shall expect the discomfort 10 in.
crease rs party necessity compelS the President
20 fall into the old ways and ,urn his back on
the. Reformers. And in 1896, in the natural
order OF things, they will swing back to the
support of the Republican candidate and be
cordially welcomed, Of course. Vibration is the
law of the organization discomfort its natural
condition.
Meantime, we repeat, we have great respect
for the aims of the association and for the ear
nestness and sincerity of its members. They