Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1872-05-16

Thence the Statesman goes on to say
that the "relorm movement" is based on
three principles, to-wit General AM
nesty civil service reform, and against
Capitalization of power in the national
Government. And~urges Grant to put
himself Enthusiastically upon record in fa-
vor of these principles and she will steal
from Greeley the greater portion OF his
forces. Let Prcsiden. Grant do this
"and let the Philadel pbia Convention
"adopt a platform as fully committed to
THE prominent reforms named as is the
cincinnati platform, and the new move
"ment will cease, for it will then have no
object in life" Then the article goes on
to conclude with the advice to all Repub-
leans to refrain from committing Them
selves either for or against the Cincin-
natl candidates until after the Philadel.
phia Convention.
Throughout the article is manifested a
disposition to be fair but in calling upon
the President to put himself "unmistaka-
bly, on record" in favor Of General AM
nesty md civil service reform the writer
either forgets that the President Is al
ready so recorded by unmistakable words
and actions or is one Of those who cannot
be convinced Last week we published an
extract from the Presidents Message in
which he records himself in favor Of
general Amnesty; now we will give the
Presidents position, as recorded by him>
self, on the question of Civil Service Re-
form We copy from the Annual Mes
sage OF last December
Always favoring practical reforms, ! re-
spectfully call your attention to one abuse
of long standing, which | would like to see
remedied by this Congress. 1t is a reform
in the civil service of the country. lwould
have it 90 beyond the mere fixing OF the
tenure Of Office of clerks and employees,
who do not require "the advice and consent
of the Senate to make their appointments
complete. | would have it govern, not
the tenure, but the manner of making all APP
pointments. There is no duty which so
much embarrasses the Executive and Heads
Of Departments as that Of appointments;
nor is there any such ardous and thankless
labor imposed on Senators and Represent
atiyes rs that of finding places for con.
az Tho docs n On
cure the best men, and often not fit men,
for public place, The elevation and puriti.
cation of the civil service of the Govern.
mcut will be hailed with approval by the
whole people OF the United States.
1t has been the aim Of the Administra-
ton so enforce honesty and efficiency in
all public Offices. Every public servant
who has violated the trust placed in him
has been proceeded against with all the
rigor of the law. If bad men have Sc
cured places it has been the fault Of the
system established by law and custom for
making appointments, or the fault of those
who recommend FOR the Government posi-
tjous persons not sufficiently well known to
them personally or who give letters in
dOrsing the characters of Office seekers
without a proper sense of the grave respon.
siblty which such a course deyolvcs upon
them. A civil service reform which can
correct this abuse is much desired. In
mcrchantilc pursuit, the business man who
gives a letter of recommendation to a
friend, TO enable him to obtain credit from
u stranger, is regarded as morally response
bic for the integrity of his friend, and his
ability to meet his obligations. a reform
..1 4 -
pie against all indorsers of persons for pub.
lie place w0gld insure great caution in
making recommendations