The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-08-14

REMOVAL lueIc were Only pOllIl
reasons, and none arising out of any o
! Cial shortcoming, Is that surprisiI
when the Chief Of the Government, afl
having declared himself in his MESA
in favor OfCvil service reform, cOntinu,
ly and persistently removes officers who
official conduct was unimpeachable, me.
ly for the purpose OI putting political tOt
in their places, II he, as l have shOV
to you in one instance, carries the ira
in COnsCienCcs, so far that the wOr
laughs at it, like master like man, v
ought TO be surprised at nothing.
No gentleman, these are moi iriil
which show that from the highest pOl
ton where u model should be eXhibitC
for imitation that Influence prOCeet
which undCtermines all fair 'otiiCi
feeling Of honor. Had WashingtC
instead Of furnishing so fine ii
example Ol noble dsntrrcst as give
on his part, The example Of co
rupt nepolism, he could by this cXhib
ton for all future time have poisoned III
character of our public service That
our days this poison deSCcnds in sue
streams from the highest place, Is certain
ly q misfortune, but 1t Is greater mil
fortune that party spirit covers such act
which undermine official honor in III
whole Republic, sender the mantle Ol rt
speclahiliiy.
! know well that the CCnsurC and ahus
will rain down upon me for what ! hav
said here, hut ask those who blame NJ
whether what ! have said is not true
word for word and what can they an
swcr? | am for civil service reform II
dead earnest.
Tho rcvCrsion Of tho decision of TN
Supreme Court concerning the lCgal.ten
der act gave the speaker serious Thoughts
rs 10 what was to become Of the authority
of our courts If the practice obtains o
packing the highest tribunal of Justice.
Speaking Of the civil service reform
the speaker said The civil service re
form, as ! understand it, has two objects
First, To give the country more efficient
and honest officers, and thus induce n
more regular and economical administra.
tion, and secondly, 10 abolish that source
Of decentralization and corruption which
we call government patronage. believe
If We attain the second end there will he
no difficulty about the first. The fnun.
tain Of the great abuses, and the worst,
consists in this that public interests are
considered and treated as the nero spOils
Dfthe victorious party. Look al the repre-.
3cntatives and lAw.givers Of the people.
They think patronage Is necessary for
hem to maintain their influence at home.
They descend 10 the rate OfoiElCe brokers,
who stand before tho President not rs in.
dependent representatives Of the sovereign
1eople, hut as mere petitioners; for the
President may grant or withhold his
avors, and II he desires he may sell those
avors as the price Of acQuicscence in his
'chcmcs against their conscience. Not
'eldOm men Of worth and self. respect
lNv0 been deferred from active partiCipa-
ion in political life, and yielded their
places to the hungry adventures, and
renee decentralization and that bunting
If the finer feelings OF honor which per.
'ades our political life. The people be.
lin TO sec the danger which springs from
'ur senseless and demoralizing systems,
nd in pursuance OfN law drafted by your
rave Senator Trumbull, commission
INs been appointed to prepare measures
Or the abolition of these abuses. Certain.
y without such q commission many of
hom might have been abolished by the
rudent md well disposed executive, but
o far the bread and butter business Is in
lll bloom. Let lis rejoice that at least
he first step has been taken. The Civil
ervlGe Commission looks at the problem
rom the correct point OF view. II has
ommenced making war upon the fnun.
iin Of corruption, tho patronage, and
Onsidered whether competitive Cxamina.
Ons Of candidates for office arc practiCa.
lG in conformity with the Constitution.
he latter question has been submitted to
lc Attorney General for his opinion, and
he answers in the negative, then II Is
OF impossible that the Commission will
III back upon the plan which l had the
Onor to propose in my Civil Service Re.
'rm bill with relation to the Presidential
Dpointments, that class examination
Q instituted, ind that from those who are
,und fit the President may make his
election, but thnt then the power of re-.
Ioval should be- limited to cases of crime,
or violation of the rules ofthc
,rvice. This, in conjunction with an ap.
roprlAte extension ofoflicial terms, would |
op the worst abuses Of patronage and |
radually destroy the whole system.
Much wonld be won for the civil scr.
Ice reform by the limitation of the
residential term 10 one term. YOu make |
President ineligible for second term
I'd the market where Conscicnces are
ought and sold will at last be limited
} that extent. Washington recognized |
Ie high responsibility Of his duty and
i've to his subordinatcs that measure Of
IS own notions Of honor by his own ex-
nple. However much he deserved n
ward for that which he had done for his
,untry-and nobody ever did or deserY-
more before him or aflcr him-he
lowed that he looked upon his office as
! Oblging opportunity to render still
eater services, and moi as q mere nilCh
w, TO feed him and bis kin, and he
'uld ask Of every Government officer
ider him the same notion of honor and
tty.
| am Tor the elevation Of the moral tone in
If political life from my whole soul, and
, who Is In earnest must not recoil from
lrsuing the evil in all its ramifications,
hatevGr 1t may cost him. II Is my con.
ction that the American people, rthey
sire 10 restore purity To our public lie,
llst direct their attention to the head IA
I'll aa the members Of the body polite.
he blind party spirit demands that we
ould 60 with and for tho will Of the
liority regularly expressed, through
lex and thin, and he who refuses to do
Is Is branded by the blind party spirit,
nply as traitor. The thieves Of Tam.
any in New York, are the very ideal Of
well deciplined party organization in
highest state Of perfection, and Its
hts are Just those which a partisan dis.
Dlinn an splflal on f1arfart and reliable