The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-02-14
COM sCTECU'T EsEPUkfnuCANsA AND
CsVEE SERVICE REFORM.

The republicans Of Connecticut assem-
bled in convention at Hartford, Wednes-
day, and nominated as had been expected,
Henry b. Harrison of New Haven for goy
ernor, and John T. Wait of Norwich for
lieutenant governor. The convention was,
the Springfield Republican certainly, in
this case, an impartial judge-says "a
" body of which the Connecticut republic
" cans have a right to be proud" WAS har-
monous throughout, and presided over by
| Henry p. Haven Of New London, tue re-
| publican candidate for governor last year.
Its resolutions breathe the right spirit, one
OF which we have referred TO elsewhere,
and declare, among other theories, in sub
stance That good administration and
freedom from temptation TO official dis
| honesty can be ''best secured" by so or
| ganizing the civil service that competent
body OF civil officers may be secured "who
d" shall be uadi3tur5ed by the charges and
temptations Of actipe politics. This is
civil service reform, pure and simple. 1t
is that which every honest man desires. 1t
Is that which the last republican national
convention declared TO be cardinal doc
| trne Of political faith. 1t is attainable, if
we will all strive for IT, There was no
corruption in American politics until il was
| declared that ''to the victor bel ongs the
spos.' That declaration had the same eff
feet upon politics, which the statement of
the general of a heseging army, that the
besicgLd city, on capture, shall be delivered
up as free plumber 10 the rapine and lusts
of the captow, has on brutal soldiery. As
We read Of the terrible wrongs inflicted
by brutal aud drunken army on
helpless dcfcnceess, surrendered city.
and its inhabitants, the mind shrnks from,
and almost refuses TO believe, the sicllcning
details. Yet Nc know them 10 be true.
The mora! effects Of similar political doe
trne lave heen almost equally appalling.
Ciiice holders have forced money from their
snhordinaies, under threats Of removal, to
continue themselves in power Public
money has been uniustly and corruptly
used for a similar purpose Every appl.
ance, which human ingenuity could sug-
seat' has been brought to bear upon the
mind of the individual voter, hot for con-
science OF principle sake, but that this, that
or the other man might be postmaster, or n
clerk in the custom house. Why these
postnastcrs and other officers whose duties
are not, In any sense, political should be
removed on change Of administration or
why they should be appointed to reward
them for political services, has always
passed our comprehension. With the hon
est republicans of Connecticut, We believe
that such a course is fatal to good govern.
mcnl, and IN incentive to 'olllcial dishon.
esty." Give us the kind OF civil reform in
dictated, and there will be fewer cases of
Official dishonesty, government clerks viii!
cease to be assessed for campaign purposes,
and republican state conventions, as did
Massachusetts, will not he compelled to
protest against the interference of federal
office holders in local politics. Let it be
resisted-as it is and will be by petty Office
seekers-the demand for this reform is con-
stantly gaining volume and will yet sweep
all before it,