New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-08-05
WHOLE NUMBER 1894.


by Congress as best and soonest to conduct
the country to that benefcent result.
The convention Justly atfirms that reform
is necessary in tie civit service-necessary
to it's publication, necessary to its economy
and its efficiency, Ne ceesary in order that
the ordinary employment OF the public ousl
ness may not be "a prize fought tor at the
ballot box, a brief reward Of party zeal
instead of posts Of honor assigned for
proved competency, and held for fidelity in
the public employ. The convention wisely
added that reform is necessary even more
ia the higher grades of public service. The
President, Vice President, Judges, Senator's
Representatives, Cabinet officers; these
and all others in authority are the
peoples servants Their offices are not a
private perquisite. They are public
trust.
Two evils inFest the official service of the
Federal government. One Is the prevalent
and demoraliz:ng notion that the public
service exista, not for the business and
benefit Of the whole people, but for the in
terest OF the Office holders, who are, in
truth, but the servants of the people.
Under the il iiuence of this pernicious error
publ,e employ ments have been multiplied
The numbers of those gathered into the
ranks of office holders have been steadily
increased beyond any possible require
ment of the public business, while lneih
cheney, pecu,atioD, fraud and malyersa
ton of public tunds, from the high
places of power to the lowest, have
Overspread the whole service like leprosy
The other evil is the organization of the
official class into body Of political merce-
naries, governing the caucuses, and debating
the nominations of their own party. and at
tempting to carry elections of the people by
undue Influence and by immense corcup-
ton funds, systematically collected from
the salaries or fees of OthcehOlders.
The official class in other countries, some
times by its own weight and sometimes in
alliance with the army, has been able to
rule the unorganized masses. Even under
universal suffrage here it has already
grown into gigantic power, capable or
sitting the inspirations OF sound public
opinion and of resisting an easy change of
comes intolerable and public spirit has
been stung to the pitch of civic revolt
ton.
The first step in reform is the elevation
of the standard by which the appointing
power selects agents to execute official
trusts. Next in Importance is coz
scientious fidelity in the exercise
of the authority to hold to account
and displace untrustworthy or incap-
able subordinates. The public in-
terest in an honest, skillful performance
of official trust must not be sacrificed to the
usutruct of the incumbents. After these
immediate steps which will insure the exhi-
bition of better examples, we may wlsely 60
on to the abolition OF unnecessary offices,
and finally to the patient; careful organlza-
ton of better civil service system under
the tests, wherever practicable, OF proved
competency and fidelity.
While much may be accomplished by
these methods, it might encourage deiusive
expectations il l withheld here the expires
sion Of my convictions, that no reform OF
the civil service in this country
will be complete and permanent until
DISQUALIFIED for re election. Experience hav-
ing repeatedly exposed the futility of self
imposed restriction by candidates or incum
bents, through this solemnity can only can
he be effectually delivered from his greatest
temptation to misuse the power and patron
age with which the executive is necessarily
charged.
Educated in the belief that it is the first
duty of a citizen of the republic to take
his fair allotment of care and trouble IN
public affairs, l have for forty years as
private citizen fulfilled that duty. Though
occupied in ar unusual degree during all
the period with the concerns of govern
ment, have never acquired the habit Of
official life When, a year and q
half ago, entered upon my pres
ent trust, it was in order to con
summate reforms to which l had already
devoted several of the best years OF my
life. knowing, as l do, therefore, iron
fresh experience, how great the dif
ference between gliding through al
official routine and working out reform
of systems and policies, it is impossible
for me to contemplate what needs tt
be done in the Federal administration
without an anxious sense of the ditficultle
of the undertaking. If summoned by thu
suffrages of my countrymen to attempt thi
work, I ehall endeavor, with Gods help, tt
ba the efficient instrument of their will.
SAMUEL J. TILDEN.
To General John A. McClernand; chairman; Gen
aral W. B. Franklin, Hon. J. }. Abbott, Hon:
J. Spanuhorst Hon. II. J. Red6e'd, Hon. F.
LYON and others of the committee, ETC.