Year: 1876

~ REFoRM AND RETREHCMHENT.
q Itseems strange that the Republican
lE1arty never thought until this year Of ut
tezirs The cry Of reform. And even,
slhen ii comes in imitation Of the Demo-
cratic spirit, when they see that it is the
demand Of the country, and that in their
unpfssentable condition the Republican
party must do something to recommend
itself II comes with very bad grace
from party that has sanctioned fraud in
the highest positions Of the government,
and accumulated civil service list that
threatens the most disastrous consequences
10 the prosperity Of the government. If
there was possibility Of reform with the
present administration, this is where it
should begin. But instead Of attempting
TO accomplish reform BY aiding the House
70 secure retrenchment, the President and
the Republican Senate are resisting it with
all the force Of their power.


It is the object Of the Democratic House
to correct abuses that were made by the
Republican party while they were in pow
er in the House. The Republicans created
Offices, and increased salaries, but never
lowered them. ,Favorilism to party sup.
porters was the principal object, and in
this way a large share Of the Republican
vote has been kept up. The different de-
4 partments Of the government have been
stuffed with sinecures until they are load
led down with lot Of clerks, whose only
labor seems to be to read the newspapers
and work for the party during elections.
And yet we see the word reform" plenti-
fully injected into Republican platforms,
and commanding stress in Republican ora
tory.


The hypocrisy Of the cry from such a
source is too potent, when we consider
this, and that figures show that since Grant
became President more that fifty thousand
officers have been added to the civil list.
This is large number of voters to roll UP,
and that, too, by an administration that
now joins in the cry Of reform. Is it any
wonder, in the face of these facts, that the
Republican party has retained power
Any parry, without the first merit to re-
commend it, could keep the balance Of
power in its hands if they have such
sources as these to draw support from.
And then, too, when retrenchment is
4 sought by the majority of members in the
House, it is resisted and fought down by a
1 majority in the Senate. Must not this
tell when the people come TO cast their
votes at the next presidential election
How can a party expect to maintain
power that SO outrageously violates the
confidence of the people? If they expect
! the people to pass by such treatment a.
this without rebuke they are very mucl
mistaken.


The New York Sun gives some yer,
4ftasling facts in this connection. 1t says


'In 1851 the oficeholders at Washing
ion numbered ] ,538, and in 1878 they ros


o6,023. These are supposed to work 81


hours per day, but it is we'll known that q


least twenty-five per cent. Of the Who'll
force do not devotetwo hours daily to duty
\ They take their ease, read newspapers, an
4 smoke cigars in the departments, or Dc
\ vote themselves to partisan service out
\ side. Women who receive the lowest rat
4 " pay are alone held 10 strict account, ant
I even many Of them are exceptions to tn
y rule. These oficebolders are allowe'
Il leave Of absence for he month in ever
4 year, and in additionto that are requires
Y u 30 home at all important elections with
out loss Of pay and at the expense Of a fun
assessed by the Postmaster at Washington
\ y \ fixed percentage on the entire force
ss that il may be said they do not averag
/ over ten and a half months Of ostensibl
ssryice, though they are actually paid 70
txelye. There is no corresponding clas
Ia my department Of private life which
1 favored Is these clerks are"


this Is evidence Of the desire Of tn


ican party to bring about reform


hut little prospect sfthsir sverae