The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1872-01-05
CIR 5lallarietta Aottrtlal.
g ~
marietta, Georgia, January sth, 1879
REFORM or THE CIVIL SERVICE
W. are indebted d Mr. Dawson

simply as contradistiuguishcd from
the Military and Naval Service of
the United States, the appointing
power in which rests mainly in the
heads of Departments. 1t further
shows that from the administration
of Washington to that of Van Buren,
fitness for Office was paramount in
all questions Of appointment, but
that since the latter period with Off
ces vastly increased the influence Of
party has established the rule that
"to the victors belong the spells"
The consequence of this change may
be partially seen in the following cx-
tracts, while they exhibit 10 the
thoughtful reader evidences of the
radical change going on in our syS-
tenn of government:
"The evil results OF the practice
may be seen, first, in its perversion
Of the nature of the election itself =
In a free country an election is in
tended to be, and Of right should be,
the choice of differing policies Of ad-
ministration by the people at the
polls. 1t is properly the judgment
of the popular intelligence upon the
case which has been submitted to it
during the canvass by the ablest and
most eloquent advocates. But the
evil system under which the coun-
try suffers tends to change the cleo
ton from a choice of policies into
contest for personal advantage. 1t
is becoming a desperate conflict to
obtain all the offices, with all their
lawful salaries and all their unlawful
chances. The consequences are I'M
ayoidable. The moral tone Of the
country is debascd. The national
character deteriorates. No country
or government can safely tolerate
such a surely-increasing demoraliza-
ton.
The inAusnce of this system upon
those who hold office may be infer
red. Officers appointed chiefly as
reward for personal and party SER
vice and not upon proof of fitness,
who know that there is no certain
promotion .or merit, and that they
hold their places only until others
with more influential friends can
thrust them out, can have neither
pride nor hope in the fuliilmont of
their duties. They are deprived Of
the usual incentives 20 diligence and
efficiency Of men in similar but pri-
yato positions. Taught by the sys
TEN to regard the Office as d prize,
aud warned by the same s. stem that
.heir tenure is neither character nor
fitness, they are sorely tempted to
make the most of it in the shortest
time, both to repay the trouble and
expense of procuring it and to pro-
vide against early removal. Mean
while, as a part of the vast scheme
of patronage, an officer who is APP
pointed solely in Difference to polit-
icel pressure, is Judged not by the
manner in which he does his duty,
but by the zeal with which he serves
the influence that secured his place
He is poorly paid, but tax is lev
led upon his salary for the expenses
Of the party, and, althoughit is call
ed voluntary contribution, he is
made to understand that there are
scores of applicants who would glad
~ take his place with every incum-
brance, aud he therefore pays from
fear of possible removal. Thus it
-has become tho practice of every
party in power to seek to retain
power by levying upon the money
paid to the public agents for the
public service.
There are honorable men who en-
ter the service with the sincerest
purpose of doing their duty. But
the evil condition of tho system
forces them often to profess what
they do not believe, and in manner
which is repugnant to them. They
do not have that pride in the civil
service of the country which so dis
tinguishes the military and naval
services. For how can position so
often procured without proved quail
tication, and so often lost without
fault, appeal 10 the desire or the
ambition OF worthy men There
arc modest and honest and able citi-
zens enough who would gladly serve
the country for moderate and per-
manent salary, and who are the very
servants the country needs; but
they decline to enter upon compe-
tition no. of excellence but of inhu-
ence; a competition in which actual
qualification does not determine the
result. The conditions of the ser
vice are such that they cannot avoid
the feeling that their minds are of
ten regarded as mortgaged, their
opinions as hired. Fer is this sur
prising, when it is remembered that
bill was introduced into Congress
year ago forbidding the minor off
GERS in the civil service the usual
political liberty Of all American cit
liens, to serve as delegates in politi-