Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-09-10
civil Service Reform as illustrated
Dy the Campaign in Massachusetts.

n 'ne case. 1t depends upon whose OK
= gored Nothing clears ones vision in II
discovery of injustice go much as the exp
rlence of that injustice. The argumentu
\ dd hom'nem frequently has force which 4
other argument possesses.
Ihe canvass for the nomination for Cover
or of Massachusetts illustrates these proros
lions. In general way some of the Reput
lican newspapers of that State have advocate
reform in the civil service. They have not
however, in a marked manner urged that tn
civil service of the government should be di
vorced from politics. Indeed very few evel
of those somewhat conspicuous in urgip!
some reform in the methods of appointment
to Office have insisted upon anything more
than an improvement in the methods of Sc
Letting members of the party in power to FL
the subordinate Offices; and while the army
Of ofice-holders was only employed to make
war upon political adversaries, it's employ
ment was seldom criticised. 1t has become
evident, however, in the past few weeks, thai
he federal Office holders in Massachusetts
have considered that they owed something
tore than allegiance to party: for they have
worked either voluntarily or by instructions
almost unitedly for Gen. Butler in his can
vass for delegates to the convention to be
| held in that State to-day. This condition OF
things has called out an article from the
Boston Advertiser, newspaper which op-
poses Gen. Blu tier ard iavors Gov. Washburn,
When party becomes an organization of
ofhce-holders, and is held together by the
profits Of It's administration OF public affairs,
1t is near its end. To that condition the
Repu blican party is tending, and the self
comp lacent gentlemen who hold it's places of
honor may thank themselves for the ruin
they are diligently inviting and doing moth
ing to prevent. We mean the gentlemen of
the Presidents Cabinet, the members of the
Senate and House Of Representatives,, and
the army of thrifty Custom house, Revenue
and Post Office off ;ials, who think they serve
the country by keeping themselves warm
We do not covet the reputation of alarmists,
but we think it would be as stupid as useless
TO blink facts OF which the people are alrea y
cognzant, and to correct which they are
ready, in their perplexIty, to take the most
wild and desperate steps.
What does it mean that ring of national
Office holders is this year daring to do what
was never before undertaken in such shame
essness and confidence in this State? How
does it happen that the recipients of salaries
rom the National Government almost with
out exception are devoting themselves to the
l.n. r.
something to which the people OF Masssachu-
sets are quite unaccdstomed, and something
which three years ago any politician ac-
quainted with the spirit and traditions of
our population would have declared would
cot be borne. VINO are these men: The
creatures of a patron and dependent upon
his favor. They were never elected to their
Offices by the people, they are under no I'M
mediate obligation to the people, but by some
strange and monstrous delusIon they seem
to imagine that the people are under obiga-
ton to them, that they are the constituted
oficial advisers of the great body of citizens
IN their roiitical duties. We venture to say
he spectacle of the Collector, Postmaster
md Marshal leagued together and exerting
all the patronage OF their Offices and using
the tine which belongs to the public service
to force upon party a candidate obnoxious
TO the majority was never before seen in the
Bay State. 1t is invasion OF the indie
pendence of the people of the State, heinous
md intolertble. No one objects to their
having and INDUCING individual preferences
aud exercising their legitimate influence in
legitimate ways; but when they use their
ofices to aid factions, and from the seats
which they occnpy by the favor OF the few,
md not by the confidence of the many, AFRO
gate authority to dictate who shall execute
the peoples will in local concerns, they
rashly venture where they are not invited,
and where their presence will not be tolera-
ted.
What crime has Massachusetts, committed
against the Union that she should have a
Collector Casey and Marshal Packard set
,ver her to see that certain wing of the
Administration party trlumphs? Already
our caucuses are crowded with Democrats to
defeat the expression OF our will; are we to
have Gatlng-guns on guard at the doors of
the convention hall? dow does it happen,
gentlemen office holders. that of the servants
OF the people of the United States holding
their places by your grace, the only ones
who think it unbecomIng for an officer ut
the National Government to interfere in
State politics are those who do not favor the
pretenslons of your master? Farmers and
mechanics of Massachusetts,, here is a ring
which is as much more dangerous than any
that Can be formed at the House as their
tenure of Office is more removed from your
discretion, ring the like of which in base
cess of metal and greed of power has never
af cted Massachusetts politics. Not content
with the immense advantage of the Federal
patronage, it aims to grasp also the State
patronage, SO that Mass ichusetts may be to
Gen. Butler what Pennsy lvania is to Simeon
Cameron, his captive bound hand and foot,
his possession and his tootstool.
We are experiencing in this State what
other States have experienced where the at
tempt has been made to control State politics
10 Washington. The people have endured
1t long because of their patriotic desire not
to embarrass the settlement of issues having
vital relations to the nations welfare, but
they will not endure it forever. The national
authority, through its hundreds of thousands
of officials, is a tremendous power, but it is
not omnipotent. The Bay State from end to
end is thoroughly in sympathy with the fun
damental principles OF the Republican policy;
it appreciates and is thoroughly in sympathy
with the great aiding measures OF the Ad
minis ration, and will not willingly break
| from its personal allegiance, but it will not
submit to the management of it's local affairs
by national officials. Nothing is more peri
lous to the liberty of the citizen. nothing
more certain to undermine the structure OF
our institutions. The State will not hesitate
to cry hands off - to the Administration
that insists on interference, no matter what
its laurels or it's prestige. Of the republic
can party it will say: " The past is secure ; !"
but when the party begins living for itself
alone, making its chief care to provide It's
Buckinghams with snecures, the people of
this State will abandon it with no excessive
regret, and seek new instrumentalities for
the expression of their purpose in public
affairs. The party is yet capable of noble
uses, but those who should be proud to lead
it in honorable ways appear blind to their
| duty and intent only on the blazonry of their