Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-10-24
ALEYA. GAZETTE & VIRGINIA ADVERTISER.


mucH loi tlie pulluCdtlou vi tileii puiitlCS ds d
re:orm-radical and thorough-of the civil SER
vice. We are glad, on the whole, that it is
not party project, for it leaves US at liberty to
discuss ii, and reudcrs it easy for pure and
true men of all parties to unite upon it. I'm
der the present rule Of practice, every repre-
sentative in Congress claims the privilege of
dividing and awarding the Federal patronage
of his district He relies upon this for secur-
ing his own election, and preserving intact his
influence among his constituents. lie sells
himself to the othce-seekers of his district to
win his place, and they sell themselves to him
for what he pledges to them In case OF his
election 1t is Notorious that if the President
utertere> with the assumed rights OF the con-
r,csSmuu in this matter, and makes an APP
poiutmeut independent Of him, he brings upon
himself the comfy of the latter-personal and
political. The President is made to feel that
he cannot afford to act independently, whatever,
his convictions may be and few, if any, who
have occupied the Presidential chair have
f.und themselves strong enough to disregard
the rule The eurlre civil service, from the
TOD downward to the lowest bottom, thus be-
mes u matter of bargain and sale. Personal
ii ness for service has been for many years
secondary consideration, 10 elections and ap-
pointments The man who can do the most
for his party aud his friends wins the day.
There is really very little chance for argu
ment in the matter. The advocates Of reform,
in any open meeting OF intelligent and fair
men, would carry nine 10 every ten of them by
a simple statement Of their position. Every
body knows that competitive examinations fur
all offices demanding definite techeicai know
ledge on the part of those appointed to
them, and permauence in office during
competent discharge OF duty, would secure
class of public servaNs vastly superior
in capacity and morality to that which DOW oc
cunies the Offices under the federal patronage.
1t can never be good class of men who are
willing to take an appointment day which they
NAV lose to. morrow, through no fault Of their
own Political "bummers," men who have
failed in business, drifting and unsteady men,
adventures, ritfrah, captains OF low crowds
all sorts of men who have nothing to lose, seek
for these places and get them. Tho machine
could not be made to run without some good
men, of course, who stay on and on through
many administrations; but the mass OF those
who come and 60 in public Office are men who
have no fitness for their place, aud are never
selected on account of any supposed fitness
for it.
The foreign appointments of the government
are almost uniformly made without reference to
good qualifications So, instead OF having
class OF courteous and accomplished gentlemen
in the foreign service we have multitude OF
Doors who are not only unable to speak the Ian
.uage of the people among whom they are ioca-
ted, but are ignorant OF that one language Whlch
is current at all the COURTS men who are 10 the
hands of their clever clerks, and play at ousl-
ness and diplomacy at arm ) length. 10 three
or four of the higher foreign governments we
are obliged to send good men, to save ourselves
from digsracc and difficulty, but places at the
inferior courts and the multitude of consular
offices are parceled out as rule to set OF
men whose sole recommendation Is either that
they have worked hard to get somebody elect.
ed to Office, or that they have powerful pollti,,
cal friends. The one native American consul
whom we met during long wandering over
Europe who was gentleman thoroughly con-
versant with his business, and who performed
il himself. we encountered the other day 10
Central Park, long since relieved OF his othce,
70 make room for a political favorlte. A
place in the home or foreign employ OF
1hc government ought to be so honorable
and reliable as to command the best men for
life, and to awaken among the best youth OF
the country industrious preparation: 1t is as
necessary that We be served we'll IN civil ash null
t,rv affairs. and that we secure men educated
to the service 1t is as legitimate to have
school, supported at the expense OF the govern
mcnt for the education OF men tor CIVIL ONCE
as il is to have school Tor education for tne
army and navy. We saw ln the late civil war
lust how little political qualifications were Worth
in military lie, and they are worth just as mueh
and no more in the civil department OF tne
government Either the diploma OF sucn
school or the certificate Of board OF examiners,
themselves bcyoud the reach of political coo-
siderations, should be required OF every man
who seeks au office under the federal govern
ment.
Without rcfolm in the civil service, we can,
not hone for auy Improvement IN the pollticai
morals of the country. The present system oi
elections and appointments stands squarely 10
the wav Of ali reform. So long as office is re-
gardcd as party property and spoil, our polltlcS
and our political men must remain Co'lup'
The whole system is vicious, root ana orancn'
aud the grand difficulty of reformation rests ~
the fact that the men whom we call upon 10
institute il are indie bted for their office manly 10
the system itself. They do not dare to INSTITUTE
Il reformation which would weake their power
to carry out their own selfish ends' and eHEIu.o H,
the promises they have made to others; nele
is therefore, not man IN Congress "ho w.
against civil service reform who will not pear
careful watching. g.-ScriJner's for Nore"'0e''
\ NOTORIOUS FAIR ONE.-Mrs. Laura fa'r
has achieved uotoriety that woman rarely a'-
taius by crime, and which no woman could ever
obtain bv virtue: Mrs. Fair and her family
provide the San francisco newspaper reporters
with constant work. Her trial over lot nu.,
watber mot S' or gaseI debt m and it The moth
er is so overcome cS, with grief at the event that
sLs ,aIo, IavJannm hut her life is scved much
to the s apparent regret Of Laura who upnrSads
the authors of her being for having n. mauv s,;'
botch of it, A woman ctn make sieae sssa 90.