The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-04-22
SPLRIT or THE PRESS.
EDITORIAL OPINIONS or THR LEADING JOURNALS
UPON CURRENT roPICs--coMPlLRD EVERY
DAY FOR THR RvBNINo TRLBeRAPH.
CIVIL SERVICE THE ONLY REMEDY.

tbe speotace recently presented in Washing
ton has been peculiarly disgraceiul. 10 ma
that CITY crowded with men who are eager
applicants for Offices to which they have not
the smallest adaptation, to near OF tne VICE
President 40 badgered by these unblushlng
rioca' hunters that he is obliged to abandon
bis ofioiaI position and take refuge in the
nonntrv. and that even the iron constitution
~ the President sinks under this ince55snt
and shameless importantly for office, and
Congress is glad to adjourn to escape It's
certainly altogether one OF the most unplea-
SAINT pictures we have had in a long time of
the tendency of our method OF hlllng Puoho
offices.
Along with this spectacle, which is oalcu-
lated to bring disgrace everywhere ON repub-
lcan institutions, come the thousand COM
plants and proofs from all sides Of the utter
decentralization of our civil service. Our most
trustworthy officials estimate that the public
losses from the Incompetence and dishonesty
of the public servants amount now every year
TO the enormous sum Of one hundred millions
of dollars. In other words, of every four dol
lars paid by the poorest citizen in taxes, one
is stolen by rogues or lost by ineompetents.
Every man, woman, and child suffers from this
degradation of the public service. II is paid
for in the hard earnings Of the poor, by the
salaries of the professional Glasses and the
wealth of the rich. All lose from it. Worst
sven than this, it corrupts character and
disturbs honest industry. The buying
and selling of offices is depraving
every department Of Government, and
of corruption. We see the effects in Albany,
in every State capital, and at Washington.
Names that ought to be most honored are not
free from its stains. The public is losing the
sense of manly independence and heightened
honor, under the influence of this scramble
for Office and bargaining with public positions.
sko
of industry and honest production for this
waiting for chances this drawing of
prizes. The system has become curse and
disgrace to the country. That great politi-
cal philosopher and economist, J. stuart Mill,
rightly characterized il recently, in public
letter, as "the one great blot and disgrace on
American institutions"
What is worst, too, in the whole matter, the
evil will continually increase. There never
was such an undigni6ed scramble for place as
This year; there was never more jobbery and
corruption, and never more difficulty and
seeming impossibility in filling the right place
with the right man. Four years hence the
spectacle at Washington will be only more
degrading, the scramble more disgraceful, the
jobs and bargains more corrupt and the in
efficiency of the public servants more glsring
simply because the number of offices will
become each year greater, the prizes richer,
and the public sense of honor more dulled
nnder the present system. This is evidently
the inevitable drift OF things in this country.
There is but one practical remedy for this
state of things, and that is the entire change
of the mode Of appointment to places Of public
trust.
This can be secured only by the adoption
of the system begun so favorably in Great
Britain-of appointment by examination, and
not by favor or from party service; or, in
other words, the passage of MIR. Jenckes'
bill. Yet we cannot say that the prospects OF
this most salutary measure are very hopeful.
What Mr.. Mill calls "the greatest perverters
of free institutions professional politi-
cisns-control both houses Of Congress and
all the machinery of elections. Two hundred
and twenty men could not, with the utmost
care, be picked out from the population of the
whole Union who are, by interest, habit, and
tradition, so opposed to the principles of this
bill as the members of the present House Of
Representatives. The Senate, too, has its own
grounds of opposition. The President, in
deed, is on the side of the bill, and vast and
growing constituency Of intelligent men and
the opinion of the civilized world. But all
these allies are as yet weak against the pro.
fessional politicians.
Moreover, there are among the masses Ger.
tain unfounded prejudices against the mea
sure. 1t is stigmatizsd as "English," l." though
it might more properly be called "Chinese;
appointment by examination being custom
OF the Celestial Empire as old as the Norman
conquest. 1t has given the English an homes
custom house, post Office which is un
equalled in the world for accuracy anC
rapidity, and a most intelligent Indian ad
ministration. We have received too man,
good things from the little island to object
we at length obtain an honest civil servic
from the same source.
Mr.. Jenckes' bill, it is said will establisl
SAN aristocracy of othoials.' But this ha
been measure in England which was most q
all pet OF the Liberal party, and was at frs
opposed by the aristocracy. 1t does away wit
fayoritism and appointment by blood or b
- personal or party influence. 1t comes dow
to the true democracy OF intelligence and char
aoter. To establish "a profession of Office
holders-a trained body OF men of charaote
and fitness for their places, with the 1spr,t
corps of a regular profession, is what is mos
of all needed in this country. The sooner W
have such an ''aristocracy," the better fo
MS all
1t is urged, too, that it is a mere measur
of 'pedantry," making book learning tb
great test for public service. This is a mil
take. In the British competitive exam
nations, an expert in every depar
Inent is present at the examin
tion of the applicants in his own brancl
both made tests, and, ON a broad SCALE it
found that intellectual training is, to certa
extent, pledge OF character. But the adva
5age Of the examination in ordinary scho
branches is, that the public secures at lea
. respectable education in its servants, al
This, with character, health, and the test
knowicdge of the practical branch aimed g
makes q better basis for eventual selecti
than the fact that the anplieant is q friend