, 1874-12-15

Tho part Of the Presidents message de-
voted to Ciyi1-Servico Reform has not rs yet
received tho attention it deserves. Tho
prominent position given III the inessag' 10
the financial problem and tho Congressional
debate on that tlscne have so for almost
,nonopolized editorial and news columns
since the message was published. It must
not DO forgotten, however, TINT Civil-Servico
Reform is still one Of tho unsettled questions
before the country. Tho idol Of tho De-
lnocracy, ANDREW JACKSON, first put tie
Democratic dogma which another Dcmocrat,
WILLIAM L. NANCY, is said to hnvo framed,
"To tho victors belong tho spoils," into
practice. When tho Republican party camo
into power, AIr. LINCOLN found that avery largo
proportion Of the National of1lce-holdors wero
faithless to tho milton. The Republican be-
came the Union party. It was meet that
only Union men should hold Office
under Union TINT was struggling for life.
So tho old Democratic evil took root again
under the now rule. 4 nation that fights
cannot reform, ut the san1o time. When tho
War ended with tho rctircmont Of ANDY
JOHNSON, Civil-Sorvico Reform, ignored by
the Democracy during its quarter Of cen
tury OF corrupt power from JACKSON to
BUCHANAN, was mado prominent by tho Re-
publican party as soon rs its exertious had
brought peace to tho country. The credit Of
this was chiefly duo to President GRANT.
Acute observers, at homo and abroad, had
declared that tho greatest peril Of our Gov
ornment, next to slavery, was the prevalence
of the degrading doctrine that Congressman
haa the right to buy their elections by par
ceiling out the Government ofIicos in thoir
districts among the wire.pullcrs aud caucus-
managers who, by packing conventions, &C.
cured them their nominations. The President
realized this before tho people did. His first
| efforts to carry out tho reform, therefore,
lacked popular support. Nevertheless, he
! perseverod with tho ntubbornuess that has
given him his victories, and ut last, with the
| help Of the able men associated with him in
| the movement, he convinced the people Of
tho necessity Of the reform. Congress, how
over, has not yet bReu convinced. The mem-
bers in that body who owed their elections to
| their respective camp-followers aad could not
! buy recollection without tho use Of corrnp-
tion-fund in the shape of Federal Post
| Offices, Attorneyships, 11arshalships, Col
lcotorships, Inspcctorships, Gaugerships,
etc., oto., have bitterly opposed the
reform tho President wns trying to carry
out. A gang of nominal Republicans son
the lnalse," headed by Dur1rn, and baokcd,
we regret to say, by a scnatorf from this stato,
havo snecrea ut tho very idca Of Ciyil-service
Reform have airel thoir shallow wits at its
expense; haye induced Cougross,' which, like
all Legislative bodies, loses no chance to OK
tend its powers aud patronage, to partially
usurp tho Executive powor, 80 far as Offices
aro concerned; hive defcated the appropria-
ton Of a few thousand dollnrs for the support
Of the mousure which the people and the
President doniiand, while voting subsidies and
lant-grants Of millions to ginnt 1nonopoliet
like tho Pacific Mail and wildcat railroatla
and haye left no stone unturnod tc
keep officia1 patronage in their own hands
They laye partly succeeded in starving thu
reform almost to death. Tho President coult
not carry tho reform alone. Ills opponents
had tue power, at tho last election, to prom
iso offices in ray for caucus-debts. They dtt
SO, aud they disgnsted tho people, How ii
they like tho popular rosponaet DuT1Ea In!
discovered TINT the Essex District Is no longe
ruled by oustom-hollges. Other mon Of Iii
stump have found out tho Ganao thing. AZ
fairs hnve now reached q crisia. Tho prest
dent oannot eloanae thoso Augoan stable