Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1871-10-26
Civil Seryic, Reform.


Civil Seryfc, Reform.
There never was so popular cause
rs that of civil service reform, mean
ing that appointments to and contin
uance in the administrative offices
shall be governed by integrity, capa-
city, and efficiency, and shall cease to
be regarded as the spoils of partisan
strife. Evcryl ody speaks well of it
Both parties reso've in favor OF it.
Congress has authorized the Presi-
dent to appoint q commission to de-
wise a practicable plan, and the New
York Republican State Convention
has put into its platform resolution
of thanks to Congress for passing
such a resolution, and to the Presi-
dent for appointing the members of
this commission. 1t is cause which
has no opponents; a cause in which
professions in its favor are accepted
as proof OF zeal for pure government,
and in which opposition, If there
were any, would be accepted as proof
of desire to corrupt the govern
ment. 1t is true that Attorney-Gen-
eral Ackcrman has written very
long and probably able opinion to
the effect that Examining Boards can
not COMPEL the President to appoint
their competitive graduates after they
have passed the ordeal; but as the
President, like everybody else, is
anxious for civil service reform, and
no compulsion is necessary, this is q
matter of no practical consequence.
No civil service reformer thought of
| taking away the Presidents appoint
ing power. but all thought only of
co. operating with him in his and the
universal desire for civil service re
form.
When all are willing ard anxious 10
assist the cause, the work Of civil
service reform cannot but lie easy.
This unanimity is the happy feature
of the situation; for the principal re-
ouirement is self denial. The univer-
sal zeal for this reform is proof that
the universal self denial required TO
carry it out will not be wanting. The
President will deny to himself the
generous disposition to give places
| to his personal friends to reward his
cupporters in the election and in 4
denomination, and TO grant to Con-
gressmen general appointment of
the offices to pay their own adher-
ents. The Representatives will deny
to themselves the practice of dispens-
ing all the government appointments
in their districts, and placing their
quota of followers in the depart
ments at the capitol. to pay for their
nominations and elections, and to
create an organization to forestali the
wishes of the constituencies. The
Senators will deny to themselves the
general voice they have in the ap
pointments in their States, and the
special and absolute dispensation they
have of the offices in The districts re-
presented by members of the other
party, which enables them to make it
a good thing to be a member of the
Legislature when a Senatorial cleo
ton is pending. Party organizers,
committeeman and workers will DENY
to themselves the expectation of n
place at the public crib IS q recon-
pense for their patriotism.
Self-constltuted committees at the
capitol will deny to themselves the
Office of making levy upon the de
partmcnt clerks to support the gen
eral and State party organizations.
Political parties will deny to them
selves all the SPOTS which make the
sinews of war, and will have the
greater zeal from the conviction that
it is solely for integrity, efficiency,
and economy in the government.
The people in general will abandon
the pleasing idea that the great end
of patriotiGrl in the elections is each
ones turn at the public trough. When
new administrations come in, they
will reject all the persuasivcs TO q
revolution in the offices, in order to
give places to the hungry horde, and
will find q higher joy in commencing
meritorious service, and continuing
and promoting those whose service
has grown more valuable by expert
ence Office seeking, which many
have supposed to be the vice of elect
i've governments, aud the great Amer
ican pursuit, will disappear, and in
its place there will be Il common rec
opnition of superior qualifications,
aud of the paramount merits of eX-
perience. These are some of the
practices of self-d1nial that must go
hand in hand with civil service re
form; and 10 one can doubt that this
virtue will bN adequate 10 the de-
mand, for there Is not dissenting
voice in the cry for ci.il service re-
iorm.-CiRcianGtj Gazette.