The Potter journal and news item. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1872-1874, 1873-01-03

in the subordinate offices with friends
of the administrations, but not to re-
move faithful officers on account of
political difference of opinion. Soon
after the Democratic party, as organ
lied under General Jackson, came
into power, the demoralizing doctrine
that "to the victor belongs the spOils"
was proclaimed, and a clean sweep
was soon made of all office-hOlders
that did not give i'll their adhesion
to the powers that be. The perni-
cious system then adopted and rig
idly enforced, has borne just such
fruit as thoughtful men predicted.
Following the inevitable law which
governs evil practices, the results
will be worse and worse until there
shall be a radical reform.
President Lincoln saw this, and
set his face towards reform; but the
exigencies of the war soon required
his whole attention and this work
had to be postponed.
President Grant came into power
under more favorable circumstances,
and is determined to bring back to
practical operation the better system
Of the fathers.
In his second annual message Pres
ident Grant urged upon the attention
of Congress the necessity of chang
ing the present method Of appoint
ments in the following emphatic Ian
guage:
Always favOring practical reforms,
| respectfully call your attention to one
abuse of long standing which | would
like to see remedied by this Congress.
1t is a reform III the civil service of the
country. | would have it go 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 appoint
mentS. There is no duty which so
much embarraSSeS the executive and
heads Of departments as that of ap-
pOintmentS; nor is there any such ardu-
OuS and thankleSS labor imposed on
Senators and Representatives as that
of finding places for constituents. Tie
present system does not secure the best
men, and often not even fit men, for
public places. The elevation and puri-
ficatiOn of the civil service of the Gov
ernment will be hailed with approval
by the whole people of the United
: States.n
The position of President Grant
met with such general approval from
the people, that all parties in the
late campaign gave it hearty sup
port. The Republican National Con
) vention made it an important part
: of the Platform, and is the 9TH plank
: therein as follows:
ANY system of the civil service under
which the subordinate positions of the
Government are considered rewards fOI
= mere party zeal is fatally demOraliZing,
and we therefore favor a reform of the
; system by laws which shall abolish the
evils of patronage and make honesty
efficiency, and fidelity the essential
qualifications for public positions, with
, out practically creating a life tenure OF
! office"
e In view of this action of the Ma
tional Republican Convention, and
S of the universal acquiescence in it
a pending the election, we do not see
f how any Republican member of eth
), er branch Of Congress can honorably
q oppose CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
k Why is it not as injurious to the
party to oppose this leading planl
:, Of the Platform, as it was during tn,
. . campaign to oppose the election 0
h the candidate? If treason to tn,
E party is to be punished by exclusion
e from craftsmanship of committees, BY
e what right shall Senators Logan ant
Carpenter retain theirs? We heart
lily endorse the action of the Senat
caucus on this subject-so far as
IS went. Clearly the friends of the Ad
| 90 Lo;,,C. ~