The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1876-08-16
3 NO. /.

my opinion, can advance to a resnmP--
fion of specie payments on its legal
tender notes by gradual and safe pro
cesses, tending to relieve the present
business distress. If charged by tho
people with the administration OF the
executive office, should deem it du-
ty so to exercise the powers with
which it has been ar may be invested
by Congress as best and soonest to
conduct the country to that benihcent
result
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
The convention justly afirms that
reform is necessary iu the civil SER
vice; necessary to its publication; nc
cessary to its economy and its efficicn-
cy; necessary in order that the ordina-
ry employment of the public business
may not be prize fought for at the
ballot box, brief reward of party zeal
instead of posts of honor assigned for
proved competency and held for tideli-
ty in the public employ. The conven-
ton wisely added that reform is neces-
sary even more in the higher grades OF
the public service. President, Vice.
President, Judges, SENATOR'S, Represen-
tatives, Cabinet officers, these and all
others in authority are the peoples
servants; their officials are not a pri-
yate perquislte; they are public trust.
Two evils infest the official service of
the Federal Goverument--one is the
prevalent and demoralizing notion that
the public service exists not for tho
business and benefit of the whole pco-
pie. but for the interest of the Office
holders, who are in truth but the SER
wants of the people. Under the int1u-
ence of this pernicious error, public
employmentslhave been multiplied; the
numbers of those gathered into the
ranks of Office holders have been stead
lily increased beyond any possible re-
qnirement of the public business,
while inefliciency, peculation, fraud
and malversation of the public funds
from the high places Of power to tho
lowest have overspread the whole SER
vice like leprosy; the other evil is
the organization of the official class
into a body of political mercenaries
governing the causes and debating the
nominations of their own party and
attempting to carry the elections of
the people by undue influence, and by
immense corruption funds systemati-
cally collected from the salaries or
fees of office-holders.
The official class in other countries
sometimes by it's own weight, and
sometimes iu alliance with the army;
has been able to rule the unorganized
masses. Even under universal suf-
frage here it has already grown into d
gigantic power, capable Of sitting the
Inspirations of a sound public opinion
and of resisting an easy change of adj
ministration until misgovernment be-
comes intolerable, and public spirit has
been stung to the pitch of a civil revo-
luton. The first step in reform is tho
elevation of the standard by which the
appointing power selects agents to ex-
ecute official trusts. Next i'll impor-
lance is a conscientious fidelity in the
exercise of tho authority to hold to ac-
count and displace untrust worthy or
incapable subordinates. The public
interest in an honest and skillful per-
formance of official trust, mnst not be
sacrificed to the usufruct of the incum-
bents. After those immediate steps
which will insure the exhibition ofbet-
ter examples, we may wisely go on to
the abolition Of unnecessary Offices.
and finally, to the patient and careful
organization of a better civil service
system, under the tests wherever praG-
ticable of PRAYED competency and fidel-
ity. While much may be accomplish
ed by these methods, it might encour-
age delusive expectations if l withheld
here the expression Of my convictions
that no reform Of the civil service in
this country will be complete and per-
mancnt until its chief magistrate is
censtituticnally disqualified for re-
election.
Experience having repeatedly ex-
posed the futility of self-imposed re-
strictions by candidates orincumbents,
through this solcmnity only can he be-
effectually delivered from his greatest
temptation to misuse the power and
patronage with which the Executive il
necessarily charged.
CONCLUSION.
Educated in the belief that it is the
frst duty of a citizen of the Republic
to take his fair allotment of care and
trouble in public affairs, | have for
forty years as a private citizen fulfilled
that duty, though occupied in au unu-
sual degree during all the period will.
the concerns of government l Lave
never acquired the habit of official life.
When year and a half ago entered
upon my present trust it was in order
to consummate reforms to which Illad
already devoted several Of tho best
years of my life. Knowing, az l do
therefore, from fresh experience, how
great the difference between gliding
through an official routine and working
out reform ofsystems and policies. 1t
is impossible for me to contemplate
what needs to he done in the Federal
administration without an anxious
sense of the difficulty oftlle undertake
ing. If summoned by the suffragesof
my countrynlen to attempt this work,
shall endeavor, with Gods help, to by
the efficient instrument Of their will.
SAMUEL J. TILDEN.