New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-03-19
PATRIOTIC SERTjCE HONOEED.

It is gratifying to tho sincere and genuine
| American citizen who cares much for the honor
and prosperity of his country to know from the
highest authorities that the public business IN
one great department has been managed under
several successive Administrations with the
most praisewOrthy nprightness and ability. Al
a dinner in Brooklyn on Thursday the new
Secretary of the Navy, Mr. Herbert. and the
Secretary who has just been relieved from his
arduous and successful lab0rS, were both hon
or,d guests. Secretary Herbert spoke in the
warmcst terms of the public services which had
been rendered by his political opponent. ex-
Secretary Tracy. and declared that he should
be proud if he could make for himself i'll the
same department as honorable record. In
Secretary Tracy spoke with pride OF the great
work carried forward by his predecessor, Mr..
Whitney, and begun by Mr. Whtneys prede-
cessor MIR. Chandler, and to both OF these
gentlemen Of different parties Secretary Her
bert also paid his tribute.
On all sides it is admitted that Mr. Herbert
was better qualified than any other man Oh
his party to take charge of this Department, as
he had known moro than any other OF It's
practical workings and its progress and had
aided with great zeal in obtaining from Con-
cress appropriations sufficient for the plans OF
the Department. As no other testimony could
be more convincing than his with mon of one
party. so the testimony of eX-Sccretary Tracy
will be mhcsitatingly accepted by the other
party. for no other man can be better quallfled
TO speak than he who, in the Judgment OF his
political opponents has made himself an i'm
pershable name in that Department. 1t may
be added that not long ago, when the new
battle. ship was launched, one of the warmest
kilograms of congratulation and commentator
received by Secretary Tracy was from his
predecessor ex-Secretary Whitney.
In this branch of the public service, then,
men of high character and eminent ability have
been splendidly advancing the interests of the
country under several different Adminlstra-
tons. Strong patriotic feeling incites the best
qualified men of both parties to bear witness
publicly to the services of their opponents, and
all true Americans will be gratified at the proof
thus given that the country has been faithfully
served But is such honorable service confined
to ore department? Or may not true Amerl-
cans believe that on any fitting OCCASION genu-
inc patriotic feeling would inspire the best
testimony regarding the character Of the pub
lie service in some other departments as well?
If shallow and unworthy criticism were silent,
if public opinion made it useless ana as
reputable to assail for purely partisan ends the
conduct Of department without full and clear
justification, would not proper and necessary
criticism have infinitely more weight? In
short. should not the efforts Of the best men
of all parties be steadily directed to the de-
veopment of healthy and genuine patriotism.
which will unhesitatingly approve and uphold
whatever is well done by public official OF
either party?
All know that the Outcres Of narrow par
tisan hostility have been unjust to Secretary
Tracy, and it is only few weeks since those
outcries were often made for a partisan pur-
pose but were passed without rebuke by citi-
zens who knew that they were unjust. Their
excuse was that such criticisms were without
weight, and were treated by intelligent men
with just contempt. Yet there are millions OF
voters who do not take in a Pickwickian sense
these assertions CT their favOrtc journals or
speakers, and to them such declarations as
those of ex-Secrctary Tracy and Secretary
Herbert will como as a startling revelation
Surely it would be better for the country if a
greater proportion of its citizens could be ac-
custOmcd to recognize merit IN their pubic
servants, instead Of constantly and cautiously
seeking to find faults in the action OF political
opponents. If instead OF an anxious effort to
fasten scandal upon public officer on every
rretext, good or bad there should grow up
sincere desire to do full justice to all faithful
public service by men of either political party,
the Indictment to honorable and devoted efforts
would be immeasurably increased, and the ser
vice would open attractions to men of the high
est worth and character, who now shrink from
the injustice of partisan criticism.