The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1876-07-12

Iishment and support belong exclu-
sively to the several States, and
which the Democratic party has
cherished from their foundation and
resolved to maintain without partial
ity or preference for any class, sect
or creed, and without contributing
from the treasury to any, The
false issue by which they seek to
light anew the dying embers Of sec
tional hate between two kindred peo-
Piles once unnaturally estranged, but
now reunited in one indivisible Re
public and common destiny.
REFORM IN CIVIL SERVICE.
Reform is necessary in the civil
service. Experience proves that eff
fcient, economical conduct Of the
governmental business is not posi-
bic if its civil service be subjected to
change at every election, and be a
purse offered at the ballot-box as a
brief reward of party zeal, instead of
posts Of honor assigned for proved
competency and held for fidelity in
the public employ. That the dispen-
sing of patronage should neither be
a tax upon the time ofall our public
men, nor the instrument Of their
ambition. Here again professions,
falsified in the performance, attest
that the party in power can work
out no practical or salutary reform.
REFORM IN HIGH PLACES.
Reform is necessary even more in
the higher grades of public service.
President, ce-President, Judges,
Senators, Representatives, Cabinet
oficers-these and all others in au-
thority are the peoples servants
Their offices are not private perqui-
site; they are a public trust. When
the annals Of this Republic proclaim
the disgrace and censure of a Vice
President; late Speaker Of the
House of Representatives marketing
his ruling as "a presiding officer;
three Senators profting secretly by
their votes as law-m makers; five chair
men Of the leading committees of the
late House Of Representatives ex-
posed in jobbery; late Secretary OF
the Treasury forcing balances in the
fpublic accounts; a late Attorney
General misappropriating public
funds; d Secretary Of the Navy en-
riches or enriching friends by pei
centages levied of the profits of con.
tractors with his department; an
Ambassador to England concerned in
a dishonorable speculation; the Pres
ident's private Secretary barely es
Gaping conviction, upon trial, fol
guilty completely in frauds upon the
revenue; a Secretary Of War i'm.
peached for high crimes and confess
ed misdemeanors; the demonstration
is complete that the first step must
be the public choice of honest men
from another party lest the disease
of one political organization upset
the whole body polite, and thereby
making no change Of men or party
we can get no change Of measures
and no reform.
All these abuses, wrongs an
crimes, the product Of sixteen year:
of ascendancy of the Republican par
ty, create a necessity for reform coli
, fessed by the Republicans them
selves. But their reformers are vo
tied down in convention and displaced
from the Cabinet. The party's mas
of honest votes is powerless to resis
the eighty thousand office holders, it
!, leaders and guides. Reform can on
! ly be had by peaceful civic reyolu
, ton. We demand change of sys
/, TEN, a change Of administration,
change of parties, that we may hav
a change of men.