Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1872-11-28
GRANTANDC CIVIL SERVICE.


and after full and labored investi-
CATION of the subject, series OF
rules were adopted, and these were
accepted by the President. although
Congress did not cordially sustain
the movement.
Again, the national convention OF
the Republican party,in it's platform,
favored reform, aud gave assurance
that if continued in power this re.
form, which seemed to be demanded
by the country, sAould be carried
out in practice. GRANT, upon ac-
cepting the nomination for second
term, accepted this pledge also, and
during the canvass it was distinctly
stated that under GRANTS second ad
sninistration an honest effort would
be made to work the civil service OF
the country out OF the rut into which
il has been driven. In other words.
it was promised that the offices would
be filed by competent persons, and
that these places would not be dis
tributed as rewards for political ser
vices merely. Our opponents pro
fessed not to believe these promises
They laughed at the whole business
They charged that the President. in
expressing himself in favor of reform
was not sincere, and that the pledge
of the party was intended to last
| through the canvass only They
thus measured the Republican corn
in their own half bushel. The
Greeley party claimed to be, above
all others in favor OF civil service re-
form but their insincerity on this
point was proved by Greeley's prom
ise that in distributing the patronage
he would treat all bis supporters
alike, making no distinction between
Liberal Republicans and Democrats
The meaning of this was that every
person in Office who supported Grant
would, in the event of Grecley's ell
ection, be turned out, and supporters
of Greeley turned in. This declara
ton was at once taken advantage oi
by Republicans to show the hollow
ness of the so-called reform party
and at the same time it was argued
that the Republican party was really
in favor Of reform. and that Grant
would be faithful to the promises
made in his behalf and indorsed by
himself
How far Republican leaders were
sincere in this matter we do moi
know. Many of them We know have
not much faith in the new policy
and Oh the part of the class called
Office seekers it was no doubl expec.
ted that patronage would be distribu.
ted pretty much after the cid fashion
Tue great mass of the people, how.
ever, whose votes elected Grant, ac-
cepted the promises made in gnod
faith and they expect those promi-
ses to be fulfilled. In
finding. then. that Grant is in earnest
on this subject, they are not disap-
pointed. On the contrary. they arc
not disappointed. On the contrary,
they are gratified. However much
office seekers and Office brokers may
be disappointed. discouraged, and
dissatisfied, the great mass of the
people indorse the President and
will sustain him in all his efforts to
fill the offices with good men. and TO
inaugurate system that will place
more value upon efficiency and un-
doubted qualifications than mere
partisan services.
The President, in sounding the
Keynote of this policy. struk the
chord in the right place. An effor,
had been made to create the impres
sion that Grant. il re elected. would
be controlled by Simon Cameron. II
happened that Cameoon was arono
the first to test the President on this
civil service question, and he was
the first to learn that Grant was in
earnest Now. we do not suppose
the President was anxious to refuse
Cameron favor. but he did refuse
not becauae Cameron asked it, bui
because to grant it would be to yio-
olate his pledge to the country. He
thus proved that on the Subject Of
civil service reform he is in earnest
and if the powerful delegation from
Philadelphia could not move hln
others will be likely to let him alone
Therefore we say the keynote wa:
struck in the right place, and from
this performance we may conclude
that removals will be made only fo
cause, and that applicants must hav,
other recommendation than a mer,
. Endorsement that they worked hare
and voted right.
The opposition press, we observe
are not pleased with this fresh evi
= degce of the Presidents honesty
f They generally sneer and make sou
I faces. This is in bad taste. The
, DrofeSsed to be in favor of this kin,