New-York tribune., 1896-08-28
now ABOTT THE UEN'

II would of course be an ideal state of affairs
if IN the discussions of Presidential years the
public mind might he able 10 devote Itself entire
IL 10 a careful consideration Of the issues mt STAKE
and determine them on their merits without re-
gard 10 anything whatsoever in the nature "l
personalities But il is not often thht the
voter in arriving AT Il decision "a to what SIDE ne
will take in the contest. can afford wholly 10 -
more The men who stand for the measures pro-
posed for his adoption Accordingly il may he
profitable at This time 10 take look some llt'"
distance into the future and make an estimate oi
jhc character which the personnel oi the HoNerh-
ment Of the ntcd States would be likely 10 as
sume should the forces nav threatening the Ma
tlonal honor H. placed in control
1t Is 10 be taken for granted that. in ease of
Mr. Bryans election. his appointments 'o oihceS
would he bestowed upon those now working for
his success The known quality OF this support
is scarcely calculated 10 allay the apprehension
which the possibility Of his victory cNciieS. Ihe
highest Intelligence and best citizenship IN Ms
own party are arrayed against him III almost
every State In The lnion. Shcehan ana Sulzer'
Trall and Tammany-hs supporters III TINS STATE
who are most in evidence are fairly ndcailVe
of what is the calibre of his following through
out the country. What sort of n Cabinet 1t IS
pcrtincn, 10 inquire woild Mr.. Bryan he able 10
gather around him: To what KIND oi hahdS
would he lntrust III" portfolios OF the great eN-
ecutlvc departments: What manner of men
would conduct our diplomatic negotiations. man
age the vast and complicated business of the
Government and administer Justice: hat AS
Surance have we. what confidence can we gam
from survey of the Bryan cohorts. that our
representatives abroad would bc worthy of III"
dignity and greatness of The Republic: with
what feeling Of security can We contemplate lhe
choice OF Federal judges and public law officers
under an Administration elected upon u platform
designed 10 attract the ballots of the criminal
classes:
These considerations are enough 10 cause deep
anxiety. hut there Is another phase of the queS-
ton of equal SERIOUSNESS What is likely TO ne
The standard Of HE minor officials Of the Govern
ment: Mr. Bryan himself has already Indicated
how lightly he regards the distribution of patron
age by his undignfed remarks concerning post
offices made in the course of speech on his
tourney East No matter how good his intentions
NAV be- or how good he may think them TO be. re-
gardiug the efficiency of the public service, it is
hardly possible that he would be able to with
stand The pressure which would be brought 10
bear upon him for a broadcast scatteringof spoS.
\ conception of government which involves be-
lief that a government Of itself can make 10 cents
in ono metal equal 10 100 cents in another by
simply putting n stamp upon il is certain TO lead
those who entertain such notions TO a conviction
that the Government should not stop there in
helping them Ia pay their debts or 10 make liy-
ing The old cry Of "To the yicors belong the
Spoils" would br revived with energy and per
eiscnce and success all along the line 1t is safe
10 predict that in case the revolutionary policies
of the Chicago platform should win at the polls
one of the widest rcves in spoils in our history
would follow: the standard of the public service
would speedily be lowered and the cause of Civil
Service Reform. advanced to its present stage hy
so much patience and hard work and in the face
of the bitterest opposition on the part of just
such elements as are behind Mr.. Bryans candi-
dacy. would suffer terrific shock from which
it would take years 10 recover. Such n result
would naturally and logically follow an indorse-
mcnt Of the political principles embodied in the
Bryan programme: and If there be doubt that 1t
would he swift and sure il Is only necessary
to look TO the wcknown political methods of the
Atgclds and the Tillmans who are the leaders
in the movement.