The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-01-07
Greaittg State Satrmal.
SATURDAY EVENING, JAN. Z, 1871.
SPIRIT OF THE MORNING. PRESS.

The Dispatch takes up the Hon. j. [
Cox's paper, published in the North Amer
can ReUie0, upon the reforms demanded i
the civil service, in which he recommend
the main features of Mr.. Jenckes' bill a
the best remedy for the many evils whicl
exist. The Dispatch thinks that this /
well enough, but has no idea that Congress
will abolish the present system, which
affords them too many opportunities fo
increasing their power through the infu
ence of their patronage. For ourselves
we cannot see how any improvement car
be made by these reform measures
under our system of government. We
cannot put political officers, such as
the clerks in the departments are, on
the same stable basis we have those of
the army and navy. So long as we have
an election every four years to change the
administration, so long must we expect to
see an entire change In the civil service.
1t is SO throughout the entire machinery
of our government, Federal, State, and
city. Here In Virginia, if there is a
change of parties, out go the old officers,
to give place to the friends of the new in
cumbents. If we elect Mayor of this
city, or Council, of opposite politics to
that which has held the reins of govern
ment, the police force is at once changed,
and old and wel-tried officers must give
place to new and incompetent men, who
perhaps never welded policeman's baton
in their lives before. We fear this thing
has been going on too long, and if it be
an abuse, that it has become too deeply
rooted to be suddenly eradicated. Time
and a growing public opinion may finally
work change, but at present we look
upon those radical measures with suspi-
cion. A change may be made, but changes
are not reforms. 1t is the old story, of
going on from bad to worse,--of patching
up an cid garment. You close up a rent
here, and another Immediately breaks out
there Better let it wear itself out, and
when the time comes substitute a new
article. This reform seems to be aimed
only at the clerks in Washington and those
iu the diplomatic service. 1t is very
small matter, and wholly unworthy of SO
much consideration from great minds. A
stern and memorable administration of the
several departments in this respect would
work all the reforms needed. Let them
be conducted and controlled as merchant
or great manufacturer would conduct his
business fer himself and control bis en-
ployees, and that will be all the reform
needed. There are other things which |
need reforming great deal more than the |
poor clerks at Washington. We should |
like to see every ministerial and judicial
position in the land held during good |
behaviour; but the clamor of party will |
not permit it and SO long as our present
system of frequent elections prevails, we
must submit. We can have no Jenckes
bills. The only wonder to US has been
that the officers of the army and navy
have not been displaced at each change Of
the administration. And we suppose tI.s
reason has been that they were SO far of
always that they could have no influence
in elections. We propose to stop tinker
ing the civil service unless we can pull
down and re-erect the structure from fouu-
dation to dome. The Dispatch, in the
course of its article, thus wildly paints the
evils of office-bunting:
The evil of Office hunting-the dispensation
OF office as the reward for party service-is the
fountain OF corruption that has irrigated the
whole country. Every neighborhood has had
its aspirants for place, and they have their
families and friends, and thus the whole people
have been reached and brought directly under
the influence of the Government patronage.
1t has not only filled the public offices with
worthless men, but it has filled the land with
lhriftless and sniftless beings, who, having fix
% their mines upon Government siAecure,
M oil III a. i = 1
obtaining that, have become burthen to their
friends and society.
Again, every in the country there are
men who have been removed from office after |
holding it just long enough to unlearn all pur-
'uits outside of the office, aud to cut loose en-
ireiy from business relations in the region
rom which they came to live upon the Federal
Treasury. They return to their old homes
lisquaiined for all independent enterprise, to
begin life anew. Rare indeed is it that thew
lave the energy and tact to succeed in spite of
he serious difficulties time has heaped up be-
ore them, and they often sink down in despair,
ABANDON themselves to dissipation, and die pre-
naturely, leaving dependent families behind,
o crown whose suferings want of education is
'doed to the want of necessaries of life.
1t is even so, and the mechanic, or clerk.
Or professional man, unless he have a
special call, who turns aside from his
legitimate business, to tread the winding
md uncertain ways of politics, is a
DOL. In nine cases out of ten, he will live
life of misery and disappointment,
md die broken-hearted pauper. Let
ZACH stick to his occupation, and try to
earn that the sum of all happiness is not
he possession of petty office.
The Enquirer calls Justify for remedy
0 save Virginia from utter ruin. 1t asks
he Legislature to cease its fiddling while
ne State is on fire, and to try to do some
hing for the relief of the people, now
roaming under the weight of their accu- '
INFLATED debts and financial disabilities.
lear what it says and take heed. oh We
legislators, whose wisdom in this day and
eneration is 80 unwise:
Everywhere, except among those who have :
over to give aid or relief, the distressed con.
itlon OF the Virginia people seems to be
nown and appreciated. Struggles about
idgeships, Scholarships and all the Jobs and
dvantages, that can be had out OF men in
over, may enlist the hearts of those who hold
le government of Virginia About all such
lings as that we can have interest and atten-
on. But to the people these things are trifies \
ght as air, compared with the action which =
ley need from those in power Who is Sena-
~ VINO is Judge, who is going to be Presi-
emit, and who Vice President. &C.. &c. are
aestions of very light interest to men who
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