The Old Machine

The old party machine, with which ;he country was so familiar durirg the era of Grantism, has been furbished, oiled, and is now in active motion at Washington, driven by experienced ïands, and run in the well-marked ruts eft by the former engineers. If Robeson, and Belknap, and Taft, and Zach ühandler, and Don Hamilton Fish, and ieformer Jewell, and the rest of them were to drop in they would ikid overyhiug working after their own faehion, with much psalm-singing at the White ïouse thrown in as a sort of moral dessert. Carpet-bagger Kellogg shines afresh, like a newly-minted dollar of the daddies, and dictates his appointments to offico and his share of the other spoils, with a foreknowledge that every order is to be obeyed. The departments all acknowl edge his authority, and for the time. at least, he is master of the situation. His power is by no means confined to Louíhíana, but is seen and feit in other States, and with practical efleuts daily in the District of Columbia. Dorsey and Conover ftlso rejoice in theirinfluenee at the White House, and maintain the best porsonal terms witb. its occupant, and the latter is now a candidato for the House of Representïtives, backed by the fraudulent adminiatration. Imitating tho example of Grant, Hayes and his concern are absent from Washington more tkan half the time, wandering about for amusement, or seeking to make political capital. Last week Sohurz alone was on dnty, turning the crank of the machine with the zeal and fldelity of Delano and Ohandler. They all draw their pay punctually, and are rigid in docking the salary of every olerk who may exceed for a day the regular le ave of absence. The assessment of offlceholders goes on in the prescribed forms that were used during the days of Grant, when Postmaster Edmunds was Secretary of the Congressional Committee, atd blackmailing was a recognized feature in party management. Lists have been f urnished from every department of the natnes of all persons employed therein, mala and femate, and a circular fixing the exact sum required, graded by salary, is delivered by a hired collector, whose activity is stimulated by a commission on the sums he pays over to the committee. Mr. Schuiz hns formally declared that his subordinates may do wliat they please with their spare money, whieh simply means they are expected to answer the cali of the managers, and civil-service reform will be helped by liberal subscriptions to the campaign fund. John sherman bas made an example in his departnient, which is intended as a notice tothemanythousands employee in the treasury that they mu&t either pay the assessments or give up their places to others who will submit to the imposition. Mr. Hugh Waddoll was invited to take an office under the Sixtl Auditor as an expert accountant, pen man, and man of business. He is not a politiciaa in aoy sense, and the Auditor, McGrew, who has three sons in office gives him the very highest credit for ability, faithful service, the best habita constant attenlion, and aoceptable de portment. He refused to pay the arbitrary assessment, was reported for non-compliance, and in forty-eight hours after received notice of his dismissaJ signed bj John Sherman and his execu tioner, 0. B. Hawley. This same John Sherman proposes to reform the Custom House here in the same way. Public notice lias been given by the party organs in Indiana that E. W Thompson, now yachting at the publio expense after the manner of Secor Bobe son; A. G. Porter, Comptroller of the Treasury, and J. N. Tyner, First Assistant Postmaster General - as a politica legacy of the late Senator Morton - are to open the campaign in that State, anc to spread themselves over many counties by way of instructing the people in their duties at the coming election this fall, when a new Legislature is to be chosen, and a Senator depends upon the result. This programme is intended, of course, to illnstrate Hayes' order oi June 22, 1877, in these words: "No officer should be required or permittec to take part in the management of political organizations, caucuses, conventions or election campaigns. " Troops are alone wanting to make the machine perfect. All the other parts are in running order, with the Gorhams, Hales, GarflelJs, Logans, and the old Grant guard serving at the engine and keeping the fires banked ready for all amergencies, and prepared for a third term. Altogether it is a charming spectacle - these reformers struggling to purify the public service in Louisiana md Florida and Washington 1