Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1872-07-30
Important Correspondence Between Carl
Schurz and Mr.. Greeley-The Latter De-
fines His Civil Service Reform Views.

lines bis civil Service Reform views.
ST. LOUIS, July 22.-The following corres-
pondence was read by Senator Schurz in his
speech tonight:
"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 pro-
blem of civil service reform presents itself to
your mind is one of great interest, and | would
suggest, if it be consistent with your views of
propriety, that you give me such explanations
as will put your intentions in this respect in a
clear light.
'Yours truly, @. SoHURz."
The following is Mr.. Greeley's reply
NEW YORK, July 5th, 1872.
'My Dear Sir,-Yours of the 26th ultimo
only reached me three days ago. l respond as
promptly as | may. The problem of civil SER
vice reform is rendered difficult by an alliance
of our Federal government. Those men,
bers of Congress who favor the Admins
tration habitually claim, and are accorded, a
virtual monopoly of the Federal offices in their
respective States or districts, debating appoint
ments and removals as interest or caprice may
suggest The President appoints at their bid
ding.
They legislate In subserVience to his will Of
ten in opposition to their own convictions. Un-
less all history is unmeaning, this confusion of
executive and legislative responsibilities and
functions could not fail to distemper and COR
rupt the body-politic. hold the eligibility of
our President to reelection the main source of
this corruption. A President should be above
the hope CT future favor or the fear Of alienat-
ing powerful and ambitious partisans He
should be the official chief, not Of a party,
but of the Republic. He should dread no
thing but the accusing voice of history and the
inexorable judgment Of God He should fully
realize and never forget that Congress, in its
own sphere, is paramount and in no wise
amenable to his supervision, and that the
heartiest good will to his Administration is per-
fecty compatible with the most pointed dissent
from his calculations. In the very gravest ques-
tions 10 finance political economy it is the first
step that costs. Let it be settled that Presi-
dent is not to be reelected while in office, and
civil service reform is no longer difficult. He
will need no organs, no subsidized defenders.
He will naturally select his chief counsellors
from among the ablest and wisest of his emf
nent fellow-citzens, regardless alike of the
shrieks OF locality and the suggestions Of selfish
policy. He will have no interest to conciliate,
no chief of powerful clan to attach to his per-
sonal fortune. He will be impelled to appoint,
as none will deny he should appoint, men
| OF ripe experience in business and eminent mer-
camille capacity to collect, keep, and disburse
| the revenue, instead OF deXter0us manipulatOrs
of primary meetings and skillfull traffickers in
delegates to nominating conventions. He will
thus transform the civil service of the country
from party machine into business establish
ment. No longer an aspirant to place, the
President will naturally aim to merit and Sc
cure the approval of the entire people, but
especially of the eminently wise and good As
to the machinery of boards of examinations, &c.,
whereby the details of civil service reform are
to be matured and perfected, defer to the
| judgment of Congress unperverted by the
adulterous commerce in legislation and appoint
ments which | have already exposed and repre-
hended. Up to this time our experience of the
doings Of boards in this direction has not been
encouraging, and this, [ am confident is not the
fault of the gentlemen who have tried to serve
the Republic as commissioners. Insofar as they
may have failed, the cause of their ill-success
may be extrinsc. Had they been accorded q
| fairer field, am sure they would have wrought
to better purpose. A thinker has observed that
the spirit in which we work is the chief matter,
and we can never achieve civil service reform
until the interests which demand it shall be more
potent in our public councils, than those which
resist even while seeming to favor it. That this
consummation is not distant, | fervently trust.
Meantime, thanking you for your earnest and
effective labors to this end, | remain,
Yours,
| HORACE GREETEY' -