Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-12-15
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
HeW Grants Ring proposes TO Throttle IL
Spsechss Of Carl Schurz, Casserly
and M0rten.

WASHINGTON, December Il Senator
Carl SchurZ said IN bis speech in the
senate yesterday that 1t would be imp0s-
sible in history to find four consecutive
months during which so many oefslca-
tions and embezzlements by public SER
wants have been brought to light as in the
last four months Most OF these losses
had baen discovered without careful
search OF investigstions-had been slmost
stumbled on, therefore It was fair 10 infer
that careful investigation would expose q
great many more that are now hidden.
Now, gentlemen, tell you whatever may
be said Of improvements that have
taken place, the people of the United
States are startled st the frequency
and enormity Of disclosures which are
made from day TO day. Do not give your
self up to any delusion on the subject.
The American psople sre on the POINT of
demanding an honest government, sDd
thew want to have all means used for that
object that srs compatible with the laws
of the country. They demand the over
throw of corruption regardless of the in
terest of any party or any person. IL
ssems to me we are standing az the
threshold of a moral revolution which
bids fair to 90 beyond the overthrow Of
the TsmmsDy ring, and in that revolu
ton the science how not TO do
It will be of very little Rvsil; neither will
cheap defamation against corruption 10
the abstract, or against tbs sinfulness Of
sin in general. and bssuty Of virtue avail
much. We hsve had enough of all that
The people will not much longer take
that worthless currency as legal tonder
If we wish to serve the country and COM
mand its confidence, we have to make it
clear to the country that we hate not par.
ty more than We hate corruption, and
that we love party more than We love
good government.
Mr.. Conk ing said: Tho question
before the senate Is whether q commit
tee about to be crested shall bs created In
the ordinary way, or shall be given pow
ers of an extraordinary chsrac.er. It Is
no credit to the Republican party, or TO
any memO Der Of it, to profess to bs will
ing to iBvsstigste its administration of
Rffsirs and to Durit7 whstsver IS found to
need purificsii0n; for l undertake to say
that never in American history wss there
party that had less to deter IL from rig
i'd investig ration and m0rs to temp it to 60
forward. The streBgth of the r ubiic3n
party resides largely in the fact that iE is
sb,e snd willing to purify and
to purge itself. he referred 20 the Hodge
case As evidence that the Republican paItv
means TO hold public servants TO strict
accountability.
Morton declared himself in favor OF
AutbOny's resolution, recansS IL was
broader than Trumbuli's and embraced
all matters relHtiDg to retrenchm' NJ. He
also spoke CT the extraordinary purity OF
the present Rdministraii- The joke OF
the sessOB] and its promptness in pun
ishiug derelic.ion [chesIsl Of duty in lis
officers, end cited The csse o. Hodge IS
sd illustration
Casssrly ssksd whether the senstor
from ns-8orton-oould mention
soy o her case Of prompt punishment of
Cef4ulters.
Morton ssid be did rot remember sny
other at the moment, but he would
venture ths assertion that wherever there
hsd been defzlcstiOn brought TO the
knowledge OF the administration, tho
defaulter had been punished.
CRsssrly-HOw about Che p 3nslOn agent,
Lsurencs, and Collector Bslly2
MOrton-Thsy ran away bsfore they
wers found out.
Cssserly--Is it an evidence of vigilance
for the government to let its rascsls get
away3 The Democrats Of New York did
not let Tweed get away.
Mr. Morton called attention TO the fact
that the men who had committed defslca-
tions generally were not of class that
could be Weeded out by sry system OF
civil service reform. They were intelli-
cent, accomplished men, who could
undergo sBy examination successfully.
Without reaching any conclusion, the
senate adjourned