, 1872-12-05
CIVIL, SERVICE REFORM.

CIVIL, SERVICE REFORM.
The Rockford Qll.) Gazette has expressed
itself in very oracular manner adversely to Cen
eral Grants expressed determination in reference
to Civil Service Reform. The tenor Of the article
may be inferred from the fact that it styles the
effort to purify the Civil Service Of the grosa |
abuses and corruptions which have crept into 1t, |
an q absurd and silly abortion, known as Civil
Service Reform, patented by G. ". Curtis, i'm
proved by Fonetik Medil, sired by soreheaa
Liberals, and damned by all practical, sensible
men," The gazette's invective, We submit,
proves nothing, settles nothing, and makes no
case against the reform of the Civil Service, the
necessity for which has been ad-
mitted by all patriotic and think
ing men; while the heat with which
it is uttered indicates that there is Post Ofhce
in Rockford, which the editor OF the Gdze'te
thinks he has the capacity to fill. There ls but
one statement in the whole article which af-
fords an opportunity for reply, and that is con-
tanned in the following words: "We take the
broad ground that, qualifications being equal,
the appointments in the gift Of the President
should be bestowed upon those who have rem
dered efficient service in the CANVASS, in prefer
ence to clerical nobodies who barely voted, ex-
| ercised no influence and spent no time or labor
in the campaign" This may be assumed to be
the opinion of the average politician in the
United States; in other words, OF every man
who adopts politics as business, With
| the hope Of official reward, either
for himself or for his friends With this class
of men, the only idea of service to the country
consists in the possession Of the spoils, not in
any solid good they can accomplish for the coun-
| try. Against such narrow, mercenary view,
ye take the broad ground that the public busl-
ness should be transacted as nearly as possible,
bv the same rules as private business, and the
Offices filled by men suitably trained for their
duties, and who can give some guarantee that
they will administer them faithfully, honestly
intelligently, and with the best interests OF the
country at heart, rather than by men whose
chief qualification is that they are in politics,
have spent certain sum OF money,
made certain number OF speeches, or helped
to secure the election Of some candidate.
The theory Of this Government is, that every
citizen shall take part in political duties, and
contribute his vote and his influence to the
election Of the best men, without reward. This
is the least he can do for the country which ia
doing 30 much for him. At present, however,
the best citizens will seldom take part in poit-
ical campaigns, because the field is occupied by
blackgua1ds, who have adopted politics as pro-
fession, and who make it the means Of Selling
upon the public Offices and enriching them
selves, honestly or fraudulently, as the
case may be. Respectable citizens,
as q general thing, will not associate With such
characters; and the sooner they are discouraged
; and driven out the sooner will q better class Of
; Offices with men Of position and character, and
| the better it will be for the country at large.
, The operations of the Civil Service Reform, if
faithfully enforced, will accomplish this. Even
in its present inefficient state, it las succeeded
at least in putting stigma upon two Of the most
, shameless politicians in the United States,-
{ Cameron and Hartranft, and given assurances
> to the people of Pennsylvania Of brighter day,
{ when they will be freed from the infamous ex-
actions and disgracefnl cor1nptions Of these two
! men, who have 80 long ruled them. As conven-
3 | tions and elections are now conducted
in this country, the respectable element
j OF the community has very. little voice
t in the selection OF candidates. There is a ring
r of bummers in every city, town, and village, who
o do the preliminary work, and select the cand1-
q dates to be voted for, and these bummers draw
+ their pay in patronage from the candidates
: whom they have elected. They are barnaclee
r living upon the people, political Tagrants, who
q have no visible means Of subsistence, ward-bum-
| mers, who hang about saloons, courts, and
City Halls State bummers who crowd the lob.
q bies Of Legislative halls, national bumu1ers, who
q throng the streets Of Washington and harass
Q the President. These are the men, the Gazette
9 claims who should have the appointments in the
gift of the President in view Of the services they
have rendered in the CANVASS, in preference tt
q men who have only the qualifications OF expo
+ 1ience and intelligence to offer.
}. The services Of every citizen in an election
n Blon1Q De pellolueu 8Ea1ultouslJ3 Us b eo1e10I
d duty, and they will be when the Government
O ceases to encourage political vagabondage. The
j. moment these professional of6ce-hunters are
n put down, good citizens will step in, and nomi
n nate and elect the best for the Offices There il
IT. no more reason why the Government should bt
h expected to reward these fellows for politica
h labor, than there is why it should make a direc
d appropriation from the National Treasury to pa.
them for their work. They have only performed
If the duty required Of every citizen, and which
al good citizens will not perform because vicious
Ia vlseryice system discourages them from doing
,r so, by rewarding these irresponsible brawler
# with the public Offices.
10 ------- ..
REDUCTION OF TAXATION.