Civil-service Reform And Despair

The Bepublican struggle for the possession of the House of Bepresentatives in the next Congress has already partaken of the desperation of despair, if tautology will emphasize the statement. The administration has tossed aside almost all pretense at civil-service reform, and the Republicaa managers clutch at the straw-like hope of this one victory, tho only one for which they can hope, with the reckless buC determined longing that is jnst this sideof hopelessness. The Bepublican party has issued a wail - and an assessment. It is for the old flag - and some contributions. The Bepablican Congressional Oommittee present their plea, and their tax. Eugene Hale ia Ohairmanof the Executive Committee. George C. Gorham is Secretary. William B. Allison, Stephen W. Dorsey, B. K. Bruce, Charles Foster and Mr. Hiscock are atnong the members of the committee. The mad address which Eugene Hale sent to the country about " Mexicaniziition" and "revolution" will bo remembered. The appeal of Postmaster General Key to the people of the South, to make this an issue, and its motive, are not forgotten. The attempt of the entire Bepublican press of the country to oréate a false issue is fresh in the recollection of all. But the Executive Committee of this Bepublican Congressional Committee have levied a tax upon all the Government employés, in the face of that civil-service order, to which it is ostentatiously announced tho ftdministratiOD will still adhere, Mixen with the demand for nioney is the wail of despair. The terms in which the assesaments upon Government employés is couohed are the emphatic thing : " This committee, charged with laboring for the success of the Republican cause in the coming campaign for the election of members of Congress, cali with conJidcnce upon yon, as a Republican, for such a contribution in money asyou may feel willing to make, hoping that. it may not be less than %-." Why is this pbrase, " as a Kepublican ? " Is it an intimation that the assessed individual, if a Kepublican, is expected to make the contribution, and if not a Republican is expected to make way for a Republican who will contribute ? A noticeable thing in this letter of assessment is the fact that the blanks for the number of dollars below whicL the committee hope the contribution will not fall are filled out with scrupulous care. It is announced to each employé of the Government that the committee hope his voluntary gift will not fall below a named number of dollars. We have before us one of these assessment letters addressed to a servant of the Government who receives a poor pittance of $300 a year for bis services. The starving salaries, even, do not escape taxation. It was necessary to advise the employés of the Government that they could not hide behind any civil-service rule to avoid paying the assessment. And so the amercing epistle reads : "The committee deern it proper to inform those who happen to be in Federal employ that there will be no objection in any official quarter to such voluntary (?) contribution." This is not thé action of President Hayes ; it is the action of the Republican managers. The vicious system of political assessments has never, in our history, been carried further than this. Jt has never been more bald and bold. The assessment bas never been more bluntly made. Nor has it ever been made so hjpocritically in the eyes of the country. The Republican committee do not fail to make known the reason for this, under the circumstances, extraordinary procedure. It is found in these words: "The importance of the pending struggle cannot easily be exaggerated. That the Senate is to be Democratie af ter the the 4th of March, 1879, is very nearly a certainty. In view of this the election of a Democratie House of Representatives would precipítate upon the country agitations which would inevitably add to present distresses." The letter points out the possibility that the House may elect the next President, and all this is a flag of distress. Lest it be asrerted that it is only "voluatary contributions " that are solicited, we quote the peremptory concluding words of the invitation: Please make prompt and favorable response to thie letter, and remit at once by draft or postal money order, to Sidney F. Austin, Eaq., treaaurer, etc., Germán American National Bank, Washington, D. C. By order of tha committee. Geo. C. Gorham, Secretary. This is Eugene Hale's civil-service reform. Along with it comes the abandonment of the Republican hope of capturing the next House. - Cincinnati Enquirer.