Year: 1873

THE Presidents executive order, an
nouncing that persons holding Federal
positions who accept Office under the
authority of the States and Territories
will be considered to have resigned, is
another evidence of his sincere interest
in the Improvement of the civil service
The New York World calls it "sham. ("
But 1t Immediately proceeds to show that
1t is not. The Tenure Of Office act, as 1t
states, is still unrepealed, and under that
law the President can only conditionally
remove. But when he says that the ac-
ceptanoe of q State Office by Federal
officer will DO regarded as resignation
he announces that he will nominate q sue
sessor to the Senate, and the Senate must
assume the responsibility of retaining the
officer.


1t is not the Presidents fault that the
law Is not repealed. His opposition to II
Is well known. But as he cannot dis
pense with the laws even to secure bet
ter service, 1t is ridiculous to call his
resolution to do all that he legally can a
sham. 1t is so only upon the theory that
he has an understanding with the Senate
to resist his order of suspension, and to
continue the officer, which is as silly as
the theory of last year, that he had agreed
with certain Senators to propose a meth
cd of improvement which they should
defeat. The President suspended Consul
General Butler, and has nominated q sue
cessor. But If tine Senate should refuse to
confirm him, il would be only candor like
that of the World which would describe
his action as a sham. "Mr. Grant" says
the World-with spirit akin to that of
the old British Tories who called General
Washington "Mr. Washington"-'stil
has the handouts on, and the dirty poll
tlcians he now turns upon, after favoring
and assisting them so long, may defy
him."


This remark suggests one observation
The President is constantly held person
ally responsible, and often by those who
are not unfriendly to him, for every in
efficient and corrupt officer in the service,
and for all the conduct of ceholding
politicians. This is the sheerest injus-
tice. Nothing is more evident than that,
under the system which has so long pre-
vailed, and with the acquiescence of the
country, the President can know very
little of the character or of the qualif-
cations of the great multitude of Office
holders, while the office-holding politi-
clans are a disciplined and organized
body which, as the World says, may in a
sense defy the President. They natural
ly wish to sustain an Administration
under which they are in place, and whose
friends in the Senate have declined to re-
peal the Tenure ofOffice law. If they
are accused OF coercing a convention, or
of controlling Legislature, they are in
stantly declared 10 be the agents of the
President, and the fact that every one
who takes part is not removed is instantly
cited as evidence of the Presidents COM
plicity.


The President, however, has never de.
clared, nor do we suppose he thinks, that
those who hold office should abdicate
either proper interest or activity in
politics. Indeed, his executive order OF
last year, upon this very subject, shows
that he is not of that opinion. But his
present action is the plainest possible in,
timation, and, together with that to
which we have referred, is the completesl
declaration, that there Is animproper and
excessive interest and activity in politics
which he condemns and will not counte
nance. There is a very just and proper
impatience among selfrespecting citizens
with the presence and what may be call
ed the admonitory supervision, of nation
al office-holders in conventions and simi
lar assemblies, and nothing was more
agreeable at the Philadelphia Convention
that renominated the President than theil
conspicuous absence. The present execu
tive order is a suggestion to those gentle
men to continue TO be modest. There
must, indeed, be parties and organiza
ton, and consequent surrender of in
different and minor preferences. But
there must be reason in all of these
things. And the President is plainly oi
that opinion.-Hdrper's Weekly.