The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1876-07-19
len held to servile labor contracts.

be effected but by making 1T the con-
trolling issue of the election and lift
ing it above the two false issues with
which the Office holding classes and
the party in power seek to smother it.
Frst-The false issue with which
they would enkindle sectarian strife in
respect to the public schools, of which
the establishment and support belong
exclusively to the several States, and
which the Democratic party has cher
ished from their foundation, and is
resolved to maintain without partiali-
ty or preference for any class, sect
or creed, and without contributions
from the treasury to any.
Second-The false issue by which
they seek to light anew the dying en-
bers of sectional hate between kindred
peoples once unnaturally estranged,
but now reunited in the undivisible
Republic and a common destiny.
Reform is necessary in the civil SER
vice. Experience proves that efficient
economical conduct of the Govern
ment business is not possible if its civ
il service be subject to change at every
election, be prize fought for at the
ballot-box, be brief reward of party
zeal instead of posts Of honor assigned
for proved competency and held for
fidelity in the public employ; that the
dispensing Of patronage should Meth
err be a tax upon the time of our pub
lie men nor the instrument of their
ambition. Here, again. professions
falsifed in the performance attest that
the party in power can work out no
practical or salutary reform.
Reform is necessary, even more in
the higher grades of public service
President, Vice President, Judges,
Senators, Representatives, Cabinet
officers-these and all others in au-
thority are the peoples servants
Their offices are not private requi-
site. they are public trust.
When the annals of this Republic
show the disgrace and censure of a
Vice President; late Speaker Of the
House of Representatives marketing
his rulings as presiding officer three
Senators profting secretly by their
votes as lawmakers five chairmen Of
the leading committees of the late
House Representatives exposed in
jobbery; late Secretary of the Treas.
ury forcing balances in the public &C
counts; a late Attorney General mis-
appropriating public funds; a Secreta
ry of the Navy enriched or enriching
his friends by percentages levied of
the profits of contractors with his de,
partment an ambassador to Eng
land censured in a dishonorable specu
lation; the Presidents Private Secre
tary barely escaping conviction upon
trial for guilty completely in frauds up
on the revenue Secretary of Wal
impeached for high crimes and misde
meanors-the demonstration is com
plete that the first step in Reform
must be the peoples choice of homes
men from another party, lest the dis
ease of one political organization in
feet the body polite, and lest, by ma
king no change of men or parties, W,
get no change of measures and no rea
reform.
All these abuses, wrongs and crimes
the product of sixteen years ascend
ency of the Republican party, created
a necessity for reform, confessed BY
Republicans themselves; but their re
formers are voted down in Convention
and displaced from the Cabinet. The
party's mass of honest voters is pow
erless to resist the eight thousand Of
fice-holders, its leaders and guiders.
Reform can only be had by a peace
full civil revolution. We demand {
change of system, a change of admin
istration, a change of party, that w
may have a change of measures AM
men.