New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1873-01-09

selfish ends, the qualification Of unholy
individual aud party ambition.
Horace Greeley was great man. lie was
earnest and lnborious. Educated in the
school of "a valuable and variel experience, his
learning was manifold, rich, and useful: nor
did be die till he had made his countrymen
and mankind his debtors. Especially are
those who were formerly the enslaved and
downtrodden Of our own land under lasting
gratitude to him for fearless, persistent, and
wise advocacy Of their freedom and enfran-
chisement. SO great, so earnest, and the
[ possessor Of such excellent lessons of expert
ence, We wonder how such man could con-
sent 20 lead movement aiming at nothing
exalted, which promised nothing Of special
value to the State. 1t was no fitting close Ia
: such n mans public life, that he was nOmi-
mated to the Presidency by the coalition
which was brought into being by the Cincin-
natl and Baltimore Conventions. 1t would
have been far better, il without nomination
to office OF any kind, but strong in the con-
+ seriousness Of past and present Tectitude, he
had been permitted to lay aside the weapons
! Of his warfare and to 60 down to death the
champion and yindcat0r, as before, of free
! principles, impartial suffrage, universal am
nesty, the largest good Of the people and the
! Government, without distinction of section or
! complexion.
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
/ The speaker referred, in connection with
the subject, to the doctrines enunciated in
the executive order Of President Grant, dated
April 10, 1872, and in the platform Of the
national Republican party, adopted at the
Philadelphia Convention, and then said
The Republican party entered the late
canvass, committed, By the distinct utteranCe
OF Gen. Grant and its own formal announce
ment, to that civil service whose tenure de-
pends upon honesty and efficiency, rather
than party zeal and political activity. In the
election Of the candidates Of this party. the
people have expressed, in favor of this policy.
a Judgment which is plain AMI positive. The
duty OF the party is not now difficult: aid its .
action. with regard to this matter, will show /
1t worthy, or otherwise Of popular confidence /
That We have reached that point in our
national life, where thorough and dspas- /
sionatc and state5manlike consideration Of .
this subject Is imperative, cannot be wisely .
questioned. Our national territory has been
SO expanded, our interests have become SO
manifold and varied. on state and national
relations so intricate and complicated, the ,
business to be done in the public Offices has
So enormously increased, that to secure the
highest degree OF prOnlpttudc, economy, in
tegrity, and efficiency in the civil service,
must be recognized as one Of the pressing ne
cesSities Of the country.
APPOINTMENTS 10 OFFICE.
1t is proper that those who are responsible
for the conduct of the Government should
control appointments to office and that APP
pointments should he made, in general from
the membership Of the party in power In
deed this position cannot be successfully con-
troyerted. For party is not only to bring
to the country principles; it must furnish ali
the agencies necessary to a wise and eco
nomical administration of the Government.
The selection and appointment of its agents.
however, should not depend merely upon
party membership and party zeal. Qualilica.
llohs OF mind and heart, knowledge and skill,
integrity and fidelity as well as patriotism
are the first things to be found in one seeking
employment in Government service, And
in connection with these should be found that
condition OF body and mind which makes one
capable OF industry and endurance. For one
may not slight obligations as The servant Of 4
the State, any sooner than as the servant of !
a tellow-citizen. As the servant of the Gov
ernment, one ought to meet every duty be- {
longing to his position, and to such faithful I
and thorough performance of his contract the
party which has placed him in mower PLEDGES 2
its guaranty. Is he capable Is he faith !
full? These are the first and material cues !
tons. For without capability and fidelity in
the officer, the real interests of the Govern
ment cannot be subserved. In SO far as 4
party does not employ from its own member
ship, officers possessing Suni, qualifications il
comes snort of its promise and d,Ity and
must lose the confidence of the paoplc.
1t is to be remembered that this is e0me-
thing above party, moro obligatory than party
service, more sacred and valuable than party ,
success. Party IS but 4 means an instrlI-
Through it, Governmental ends,
reforms in the State, the liberty and rights OF
the people, the welfare Of the country are
achieved. And instead of employing agents
to serve the party, which is Itself no other
thing than an agent, agents are to be EN-
ployed at any expense, and from any class Of
the people, when needed, to serve the c0un-
try and secure the public good
NO LIFE TENURE Or OFFICE.
The tenure Of civil service, which l under {
stand the people to have accepted in the late (
election, is not for life, nor do 1 advocate a
llfe-term. | ain opposed to official aiistoc-
racy Rotation in office, if Office be accepted
in d-'harge Of patriotic duty, rather than as
a means Of gain, and TO crafty base party
'hds, Will prove just, wise, and advantageous
THE "vICToRs" AND THE 5poIIs."
If the 'spoi!s," in The saving ITO the vic.
tors belong the spoils, !" be meant the duties.
rewards, and honors connected with Official ;
7oiNAte, anu winch are to he met and ac-
copied IN the intelligent and earnest spirit
Oh genuine patriotism, IN the real goCd of the
country and the glory of the Government
nothing base, selfish and sordid can be inn.
plled; there would be nothing therein IN
condemn. But this saying is descrirtiye Of
that tenure OF civil service which depends
upon mere party zeal and political ACTIVITY
As bearing this meaning ana implying a cor
responding rule of party patronage, it is to
be disa!lowed and disclaimci a. false and
peGnici0us.
COMPETITIVE EXAMINATIONS.
The speaker indOrsed the tests provided
by the improved civil service regulations.
and claimed that the efficiency Of the civil
service had been greatly increased by the
adoption OF this system, and maintained that,
sin order that justice may be done to all con-
cerned, there ought to be, to test knowledge,
ability, and special qualifications for the per- .
Torrance Of the duties Of the Office sought, /
public competitive examination"
LESON OF ENFRANCHIsEMENT.
| The national judgment pronounced with /.
regard 10 freedom in the late Presidential
campaign is comprehensive and emphatic |
Hitherto there existed no little concern as TO