New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1872-11-28

it is the intention that Woodworking Re-
publicans shall not obtain Office without the
least reglrd to their competency" General
Gram" it says, "believes that, first OF all,
all other things being equal, the men 'cho hare
stood BY the party should be appointed to office IN
preference to those scAo hare been opposed to IT,
That is the true doctrine. We believe,
with President Grant, that neither "hard-
working Republicans, nor even patriotic
soldiers, should obtain Office without the
least regard to their competency" But we
have contended from the start that the COM
petitive plan is not the way to ascertain
these qualifications-a conclusion, we are
gratified to learn from the Republican, the
President himself has reached after giving
the question q good deal Of attention. In
the first place we have always believed that
members Of Congress were the best judges
Of those whom they recommended for office,
and that they had the strongest possible
motives for procuring appointments only for
competent and honest men. But We have
advocated the adoption of a plan for testing
their fitness which all shrewd business men
pursue, and which some of the heads OF
bureaus, at least, acted upon before the
civil service rules were put in force. That
plan is an actual test of their fitness by a
temporary appointment. One months ex-
perience is worth all the competitive ex-
aminations that could be made in a life
time. We believe competent men can be
selected from the Republican party to fill,
satisfactorily to the people, all the civil
offices of the Government by this rule.
Though we like the spirit and approve
most of the sentiments Of the Republican,
article, we do not agree with its opinion that
the civil service of the Government has be-
come demoralized and inefficient under the
old system. The fidelity and competency of
the civil officers of the Government will
compare favorably with any class of men in
any walk of life. Indeed, there is far less
proportionate fraud and corruption in the
public service than in private life. The
severe ordeal through which Government
officials have passed during the last year
failed to reveal a single case Of rascality. and
the few that have excited so much clamor
among the Greeley Reformers were brought
to light and punished by the Administration.
Our prejudice was first excited against the
civil service reform by the character of its au-
thors, as we believe it dangerous rule to
accept advice from our enemies.
Itoriginated with Trumbull and was seized
upon by Schurz, Fenton, the Liberal
press, and the secret enemies of the Presi.
dent as one of the schemes they devised to
embarrass his administration and defeat his
denomination. Republicans in Congress be-
came alarmed by the outcry these dcma-
gogues made about the frauds and democrat
:izatiOns of the civil service, and authorized
the President to appoint commission to re-
wise the whole system. The President has
only acted upon this suggestion, in adopting
and carrying out the system devised by that
commission. Of that we have no word oil
complaint to make.
But the system is wrong in practice and
false in theory, and had its origin not onl,
with the personal as we'll as political enemies
of the President and the Republican party
but with really corrupt and unprincipled men
In urging the pretended "refom" upon
the country they were actuated solely
by malicious motivcs-their hatred of the
President and their treacherous desire t.
injure the Republican party. To be sure
Mr.. Jenckes, of Rhode Island, presented
a scheme in the House for improving the
civil service in anticipation of Trumbull'.
movement; but it fell still born, and its au
thor was badly defeated at the very mex
election, though representing a very decided
Republican district. The people have every
where, indeed, repudiated all the men WHIT
have been deafening the public ear with thei
miserable clamor about civil service reform
and will approve the opinion we have so Ion.
commended for, and which the Republican thu.
clearly, if not authoratively, sets forth:
'There is a large class of persons who ar,
entitled to Office on many grounds, such a.
service in the late war, fidelity to Republican
principles, and so forth; but, in addition Il
these qualifications, they must be up to Ger
tain standard of efficiency before in the fltur,
they can be appointed. When they are thu
qualified in an educational point, which is no
| to be decided or determined on the competi
tive plan, then they are in all cases to get thu
preference. If the Government has favor!
to give, they should, in the opinion of the
President, 60 to the person who has stood b,
the Government, provided he is fitted for the
position he may seek"
This doctrine is just, and polite, as well al
patriotic. The Government. as well as tn,
Republican party, can stand upon the princi
pie that those who stand by and support eacl
in their hour of trial are the men who cal
best be trusted in the hour of victory.
Rights OF Travellers by Rail-.