New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1872-01-04

We have not doubt that President GRANT
has been Influenced BY the highest considers.
lions OF duty and patriotisu in adopting. and so
promptly carrying into effect, the so called
civil Service Reform" scheme devised and
submitted to him by the Board of Commission
ers, appointed some months ago for that pur
pose. His Recommendation Of o reform in the
civil service of the country in his first annual
message, aud his still more emphatic enforcement
OF his opinion upon the in his last leave no
room for doubt or cavil on that point; and no one
unconscious of his own corrupt and dshones'
motives for whatever professions OF regard for
the public good he may make, will question his
entire good faith. 1t may be that he has been
induced to act with more decision and prompt
ness than he would otherwise have considered
necessary by the hypocritical outcry dema-
gogues have made in regard TO the question.
But that he sincerely believed the proposed
change In the manner Of making appointments
in the civil service would promote the public
welfare, the people will never be induced to
doubt by the clsmor OF his hypoeritical and
corrupt assailants.
Firmly as we are convinced OF the purity OF
the Presidents motives however, and that he
believes decided reform 10 to be wrought 10 the
civil service by the plan he has adopted, We
are satisfied great mistake has been made, and
that time and experience would prove it, The
system of competitive examination is wrong in
theory, and will prove failure in practice. 1,
is violation of every sound business principle
No intelligent business man engages his clerks,
agents, or managers, on any such plan. la the
selection of teachers for public schools, Of pro-
fessors and preceptors in colleges, and govern
esses and private tutors for our children, the
system is a very appropriate one, aud an ex.
animation as to the literary requirements of
candidates for such positions even necessary.
But applied to an applicant for elerkship,
whose duty is solely to copy papers, keep
books, count fractional currency, number and
check money orders, lie away public docu
ments, and other mere clerical duties, it is an
| absurdity. Good clerks, postmasters, heads
of bureaus, collectors of ports, and othe,
Government agents will never DO obtained in
this way. The facts stated by Col HIcGINsoN
in his article on the subject, which we publish
| to day, as the result of his observation as to
the working Of the system in the army, and
| that the experiment Of competitive examination
has been tried in China for thousand years
with utter failure, having produced the weakest
and most corrupt set of officials the world ever
saw justified US in this opinion.
But the worst feature Of the change is that
| tha mail If IL
| taken out of tho hands Of the President, where
the Constitution places it, or is voluntarily
surrendered by him, and confded 20 an IRE.
sponsib!e board" commission" or " com
mittee.' not known to the Constitution, and
who are absolutely independent of the people.
The President has Invested himself of patron.
age which was entrusted to him by the trainers
OF the Government for wise purposes, and
which he is required by the Constitution TO use
for the public good. In reality he has no
authority to relieve himself Of this duty.
While in his hands the people knew who was
responsible for its exercise. But now, what
guarantee have they that the unconstitutional
body to whom this power is committed will use
it for the public good? What reason, indeed,
have they to doubt that this new source OF
power will not prove far more corrupt than any
President, duly elected, ever has and what
remedy have they for the grossest and most
outrageous abuse Of this power2
I The President has surrendered III 10 sileu0c
public clamor, and cannot be taken to account
if this " competitive" system should ill all
the Departments with traitors and thieves. A
portion of the press and sorehead dema-
gogues have demanded the change, and
thus the only responsibility known to the Con-
stitution is utterly destroyed. Rebels and
Copperheads are to stand an equal chance
with loyal men and Republicans. Every va
cant post Office at the South will hereafter be
filled by traitors and colored men, who have
been kept in ignorance from the beginning.
will stand no more chance Of obtaining an ap-
pointment under this competitive system than
they would for such an honor in the hale yon
days OF slavery. II the civil service is ever to
be improved, however, even at the cost of such
q wrong as excluding our people from Office, We
might submit to it. But, when no counter
balancing good is to be gained, aud all safe
guards broken down by removing the appoint
ing power from the President to body who
can set the people aud public sentiment at
defiance with impunity, the change is not 80
easy to bear.