The star. (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1874-1875, 1875-01-27

they were fit to receive them, but be
| cause some politician wished to reward
them ''for value received;" that oul
Government has been badly served a.
home and disgraced abroad by its office
holders, and that the national patronage
has been regarded as the party spoil. II
Is felt among all classes to-day that this
is shameful wrong, which Should a.
once be righted, and that a reform in the
Civil Service is imperatively demanded
by every consideration of national econ.
| omy and national honor. No party Car
afford to igno, this sentiment, for it is
sure to make itself felt, and felt soon.
| The people, however, have little job
on hand of the same sort which is to be
done before the politicians will believe
they are in earnest, and before they can
urge this reform with any considerable
degree of consistency. Civil Service re.
White House, his ministers, or the legis.
lative bodies OF the nation. We have had
Presidents during the last twenty years
that no well-constituted commission
would regard as fitted by craftsmanship,
experience, education, social culture,
and high moral and intellectual qualities,
for the duties OF their unjust office. We
have had Presidential advisers SO emf
nently unfit for their offices that they
have been well-nigh hooted from their
places. We have had Congressman SO
base that they could not be received in
to polite society, gamblers and associates
of gamblers-men whose social record
was stencil, and whose habits were q
reproach to the nation. More than this,
there have been in Congress horde of
small politicians without the slightest
fitness for the grave duties of legislation
men who have proved themselves inca
pabie Of guiding the ship of state through
the periIs of the period. Congress has
given to the nation neither peace nor
prosperity. 1t has simply lacked the wis
dom or the principle to do it. For all
the embarrassments OF our industry, for
all the thriftlessness OF our trade and
commerce, for the continued commotions
that obtain among the reconstructed
States, it is responsible. There is no
good reason why this country should not
to-day be prosperous and happy, except
that the people of the country have sent
to Washington a set Of men who had not
the craftsmanship necessary tor the
emergencies they have met.
People wonder how 1t happened in the
late State elections, that every thing
went so differently from what was cal
culated upon. The revolution marked
no change of political principle. There
probably is not q hundred more demo-
Gratis in the country than there were six
months ago. The people have quietly
said to the politicians who have been
managing their affairs: 1--WE are dissat,,
istied with your work. You have had
the country in your hands for years, and
we are no nearer the settlement Of our
difficulties, apparently, than we were
ten wears ago. The South is not at peace,
our money is still of less value than
gold, our trade is at stand-still, our
agricultural products bring little, our
labor is unemployed, our manufactures
languish or are stopped altogether. We
want change"
That is just what it all means-noth!ng
more, nothing less. 1t means that they
want better men to manage their affairs,
and that they intend to find them i'll one
party or the other. 1t means that they
can no more be controlled Dy party
watchwords--that in the next Presiden-
tial election they will kick out of all par
ty traces, unless they can find better
men behind them. Mr.. Tilden was not
elected Governor of New York because
he was better man than Governor Dix,
or because Governor Dix had not been
good Governor, but because the voters
had word to speak which they wished
to have heard in Washington.
That word has doubtless been heard in
Washington, but it should be heard, and
needed, too, among the people them
selves. Let them insist in both parties
that a man shall next be nominated for
Presidency whose experience, acquisi-
tions and eminent qualifications as a
gentleman fit him for the place. Let
them insist that no man shall be placed
in either house of Congress who has not
"a pure record-that all stock -jobbers,
back-pay grabbers, Credit Mobiiier imam
ciers, gamblers, drunkards, ward poll
ticians and adventurers generally, shall
be lett behind. Let them insist that the
laws shall be made by men who have
brains and hearts large enough to drop
their self-seeking, and comprehensive
enough to embrace the interests OF the
country. We have not our wisest men
in Congress: let us put them there; and
when any party dares to place a man in
nomination Tor any national office who is
unfit for it, let us protest, by electing
his opponent without any companctiOn,
provided he is a better man.
We account the recent revolution OF
good omen; but let the party that has
protited by.i beware of giving it false
Interpretation. IT means simply better
men in the National Government and
the National Legislature. We trust that
the people Will follow up their very sig
niticant hint. 1t is in their power to re-
form the Government. They are, to all
intents and purposes, a "Civil Service
Commission"-a committee Of the whole,
with this matter in charge; and if they
declare their determination, in unmis-
takenable terms, we shall have in nomi-
nation at the next Presidential election
Nyo good men, either one OF whom will
be not only an honor to the nation as a
man, but wise public servant, to
whom the selection of cabinet may
safely be trusted. With such a Govern
ment and a Legislature OF like material,
Civil Service reform will have begun at
the right end, and will meet with no diff
Guilty IN accomplishing its beneficent
objects.-Dr. j. G. Holland, in Scribner
for February.
The Cost OF Q FavOrite Fur.
Sealskin is a very fashionable fur this
winter, taking precedence over every
other skin for ladies' wear, and for that
matter, for gentlemen's articles, coats,
caps, mufflers, gloves, etc. There may
be among our readers some who are ig-
norant Of the manner in which the soft