The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-07-25
CIVIL SERVICE REFoRaE

CIVIL TGlOTm.
CIVIL SERTICE REFORM.
Correspondence between Senator Schurz
and Horace Greeley.
The following Is the correspondence read by
Senator Schurz in bis speech at st. Louis on
Monday night:
ST. LOUIS, June 26, 1872.
Dear Sir-In your letter of acceptance you
promise thorough reform of the civil service
in general terms. The question how the
problem of civil service reform presents Itself
to your mind Ia one Of great Interest, and I
would suggest, If 1t be consistent with your
Views of proprlety, that You give me suct ex-
plantations as will put your Intentions in this
respect In a clear light.
Yours, truly, c. soHURz.
The following is Mr. Greeley's reply:
NEW YORK, July s, 1872
Mu Dear Sir-Yours OF the 26th ult. only
reached me three days ago. respond as
vice reform Is rendered difficult by an alliance
between the executive aud legislative
branches of our federal government. Those
members of Congress who favor the adminis-
tration habitually claim and are accorded a
virtual monopoly of the federal offices In their
respective States or .distflcts, dctaling ap.
pointments and removals as Interest or caprice
may suggest. The President appoints at their
bidding. They egislate In subservlence to his
lions. Unless all history is unmeaulng, this
concession of executive and legislative re-
spopsIbiiIIes and functions could not fail TO
distemper and corrupt the body polite.
I hold the eligibility Of our President to
reelection the main source of this cor
ruptIon. A President should be above the
hope OF future favor or the fear OF alternating
powerful and amoi bilious partisans. He should
be the official chief, not Of party, but OF the
Republic. b. should dread nothing but the
accusing voice of history and the iDexorsble
Judgment of God. He should fully realize and
never forget that Congress 10 It's own sphere
ia paramount, and nowise amenaCle to hls
supervision, and that the heartiest goodwill
to his administration Is perfectly compatible
with the most pointed dissent from his incul.
cations. In the very gravest questions In
finance or political economy 1t ls The first steI
that costs. Let It be settled that g President
civil Service reform is no longer difficult. H-
whine no e,l.ans, no subsidized defenders;
be will naturally select his chief coun.
sellors from among the ablest and wisest o
his eminent felloW-cltigprls, regardless alike o.
the shrieks OF locality and Tile suggestions ofa
selfish policy; he will have no interest ~ con
ciIiate, no chief Of powerful clan to attach Il
bis personal fortune; he will be impelled tc
appoint, as will none deny he should appoint
men of ripe experience Ia business and emil.
nent mercantils capacity to collect, keep ano
disburse the revenue, Instead Of deXterou:
manipulators Of primary meetings, and sKilfu
fraf1ckers In delegates 10 nouItuatfuB conven
tions. He will thus transform the civil service
OF the country from party machine inlo 9
business establishment. No longer an aapi
rant for place, the President will naturally
aim TO merit aud secure the approval of the
entire people, but especially of the eminently
wise and good.
AZ to the machinery of the boards Of exam
nation, &C.. whereby the details OF civil ser
v,cn reform are to be matured and perfected,
differ to lie Judgment of Congress unper
ytrted by the aIulterous commerce 10 leglsla
tlnn and appointments which I have already
exposed and reprehended. Up to this TINT
our experiences Of the dongs Of boards in this
direction has not been encouraging, and this
a,n confident Is not the fault OF tie gentlemen
who have tried 10 serve the public as com
misslonsrs. In 30 far az they may have failed
the cause OF their Ill SUCCESS must bn lDtrlnsic
Had they been accorded fairer Held, am
sure tney would have wrought TO better pur
pose. &
which we work Is The chief matter, and We
can never achieve civil a-rvice reform unit
the interests which demand It shall be NOR.
potent in our public counseIs than those Whicf
resist even while seeming to favor It, Tha
this consummatIon iS not distant 1erVentiy
trust. In The meantime, thanking you FOL
YOUR earnest and effective labors to this END,
remain yours. HORACE GREELEY.
nm