The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-03-15
COLLAPSE OF CIVIL SERVICE REFORM
LETTER FROM MIR. THURLow WEED.

LETTER FROM MIR. THURLOw WEED.
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD:-
In December, 1872, wrote letter, which you
kindly published, ioreshadowing the "rise. de-
cline and fal' or civil service reform. The letter
elected HERALD editorial courteously dissenting
from my views. In other city journals my letter
was sharply criticised. The public sentiment, so
far as 1t found expression, was against me-
Needed "reform" was plausbly suggested, and
with an occasional exception the people accepted
1t. Its iallacy, however, was apparent to those
who took practical and common sense views OF
popular questions. Will only ask your permis
sion to recall, through the columns OF the HERALD,
two extracts from my lettcr-namely, Its first and
concluding paragraphs:-
Civil service reform, as theory. Is suggestive
of relief all the evils connected with the APP.
pOlntments to ONCE in all Inc civil departments of
the government. 1t Is the great panacea for en-
lsting political abuses. Most Presidential elections
have promised Important reforms. Tue last in.
ventiOn OF politicians was civil service reform.
IL originated with Senators In Congress, who bv
their dilgent efforts IN procuring appointments
Tor relatives and friends. generally IN utter dsre-
gard OF fitness did mucn to render civil service
reform necessary and popular. The din raised
IN Uongrsss anG Hy me h9aa ana
people 80 generally that the republican party was
constrained to accept II as an issue In tue recent
Presidential canvass. But now that this theory
Is about to be tested. however plausible as
theory. it viii be iound utterly lmpiacticabs..
The rule LAID down by Mr.. Jefferson. regulating
civil service appointments, was, after all, the
honest, capable and faithful to he constitution ~
Neither time nor experience furnishes any better
test than this Nosys'em OF policy which practi-
cay and arbitrarily excludes ntne.tcnt tbs or iOur-
nfths Of American electors from lair. open and
equal competition Tor the civil service OF the gov
eminent can be put into practice. Nor. II 1t were
possible to do so, would 1t work we'll, for wnen es
tablished at least two sharpers for one honest
man would pass the examinations. The best and
DeODle render
country ~, first, to elect capable and enlightened
iulers and then require such rulers to MI the
civil service with honest men. 1t Is not cOnsti-
tutIons or laws or systems or policies or pro-
grammcs on which the safety OF the government
eral security and Individual prosperity rest upon
tho men chosen and selected to obey and execute
These views. following so closely upon the heels
OF q PRESIDENTIAL canvass In which both parties
advocated civil service reform, though crudely
and prematurely expressed, however received
now, VIII not walt long for general approval.
What was prophetic becomes historical. The
President has announced the abandonment of
the civil service reform TO his Cabinet, that in.
structions in accordance with this determination
may be transmitted to civil service boards, &C.,
&c. Thus ends a very plausible and, for the time
being a very popular experiment
made an earnest but inefrectual effort TO
arrest the progress through Congress of like
plausible and popular, but most perntcous at
tempt TO constrain 'social equality" between two
radically and unchangeably distinct and different
races. Most OF the republican journals admit
that the civil Rights bill, introduced Dy the late
Senator Sumner. contained this obnoxious
feature, but that 1t had be&o stricken out, and
the bill as 1t passed the Houso or Representatives
was free from such objections This Is partly true
and partly erroneous. " hotel, restaurant
and theatre provisions In the vii, TO which / OBJ
jectcd before it passed either house, relate dis
tinctly to the social as well the civil rights OF
the parties interested. And this will everywhere
he the judicial construction and the practical
effect OF the provisions referred to.
Mr.. sumner was monomaniac on the subjects
to which his Civil Rights bill referred. If his ex.
IRENE views and measures on all questions con.
nectcd with slavery before, during and after the
rebellion had not been met and modified
by his calmer colleagues, the Union would
have been imperilled II not lost. SO Tar
did the ultra teachings or senators sumner,
wade Chandler, &C.. alarm the Northern people IN
1862 that the Union party lost the State OF New
York and was almost beaten IN several other
States Nothing then saved Maine but the good
sense of her Republican state Committee in muz
zing radical speakers.
But while It Is true that the wors. features OF
Mr.. summers Civil Rights bill were stricken out
enough remains to occasion widespread popular
annoyance and mi chief. And in all the collisions
complications and litigations resulting from IT.
those whom the law was designed TO benefit viii,
be the sufferers. The civil Rights law will bring
nothing but disappointment and vexation to the
colored men. After q few aboruve attempts to
enforce it things VIII settle down in the old way,
leaving questions OF social equality to regulate
themselves. The best that can be hoped Tor Is
tuat the law Will become q dead letter. Mean
tine what Is most to be regretted Is that tue re.
publican party Will be neld responsible Tor what.
ever OF obloquy impractical legislation bias or may
provoke. 4. W.
FRUITS OF IMMORTALITY.