The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-12-14
DEMOCRATIC CIVIL SERVICE REFORM

1t is now nearly half century since the
doctrine that to the victors belong the
spoils became engrafted on our politics,and
since General jackson gave 1t a practical
Interpretation by removing every office
holder, of high or low degree, who had pre-
sumed to prefer another man to him for
president. Since that time, all parties, no
matter how much they may have denounced
the dogma when "out," have, when Sin"
made haste TO make practical application
of It, The democrats, wings and republic
cans have sinned alike. But the latter had
an excuse, or justification, for putting the
rule in force when they first obtained full
power, in 1861, in the necessity that exist
ed for having only loyal men in office, and
the conceded fact that the democratic party,
as an organization, was permeated, through
and through, with disloyalty and treason
but an examination of the removals and ap-
pointments to office during the administra-
ton of President Lincoln will disclose the
| fact that fewer changes were made solely
on account of politics-the question of 10y
atty or disloyalty aside-than under any
| former administration.
We have no excuses to make for the per-
sonnet of General Grants appointments to
office, or the political or other consdera-
| ton which have, or seem to have, gov
erned him in removals from and appoint
ments to office. Neither is 1t our purpose
to find any fault Herewith, save as may be
implied from the remark that the whole
system is the bane of our politics, is de-
moralizipg to the public service, and that
an honest, earnest civil service reform is
one of the urgent necessities of the hour.
This question of reforming the civil service
entered largely into the presidential canvass
of three years ago, both parties protesting
themselves in favor thereof, and the coun-
try took the republican party at its word
and reelected General Grant. How he
carried out the pledges on which he was
supported needs not to be stated suffice it
to say that, a year ago, the country con-
cluded it would put the professions of the
democracy to the test, and see if it was as
faithful in the observance, when seated in
power, as it was profuse and earnest In
promises when seeking power Accord
ingly, at the elections in the fall of 1874
the national house of representatives wal
placed under democratic control.
They had declared, in national conven
ton assembled, that this monstrous doc
trine, that to the victors belong the spoils
was ga scandal and reproach upon free in
situations, and breeds a decentralization
" dangerous to the perpetuity of free in
" situations )" that it "has become mer
instrument of partisan tyranny and per
! I" sonal ambition, and an object of selfsl
"greed" and, therefore, that a thorough
civil service reform was ''one of the mos
pressing necessities of the hour" an,
that " honesty, capacity, and fidelity con
"stitute the only valid claim to public EN-
: Enjoyment. Bound by these declarations
as we have said, the democracy obtaine
control of the national house of represent
atives. and since the first Monday of De
cember it has been receiving practical il
depreciation. Never since the organizatio
of the government, not even in the days @
Jackson, has there been such sweepn
|, change in the personnel of the offices in
branch of the government, as has been mad
by this democratic, reform house of repre-
sentatiyes-and all for opinions sake.
chaplain, even, is selected for no othe
reason-as Mr.. Barnum Of Connecticut
took pains to inform his democratic brett
rem IN nominating him-than because b
refused to pray for the president of tn
United States during the rebellion. Reat
ing clerks are discharged, because they al
republicans, and others appointed, not b.
cause they are good readers, but becaut
they are democrats. The veteran John "
Barclay, conceded to be the best parli,
mentarian in the country, is removed
make room for an inefficient, hungry den
ocrat. But why specify instances2 1t
. enough to say that there has been clea
;, sweep from the highest to the lowest, frol
!, the speaker to the most dimlnutive messel
. ger boy-and all for political reason
> Such were democratic promises, and sue
a is democratic fulfllment. 1t shows ho
much the promises are worth-will IL
| conntrv truat them AGAIN.