The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1876-08-17

conduct the country TO that benefcent result.
The convention Justly afirms that reform is
ssry u its! pSrincat ION; necessary ~Sssy : to
It's economy. and Its efficiency; ncccs.
sary IN order that the ordinary employment Of
the ballot.boN, a reward Of party zeal instead Of
posts Of honor assigned for proved competency,
anu hcli for fidelity 10 the public employ. The
sary, even more in the higher grades Of public
service. The President. Vice. President,
onHIa as SENATOR'S nsu : Representative and Cabinet
not a private perquisitc; they are a public trust
Two evils infcst our onic. al service OF the Fed.
eral government. One is the prevalent and de.
moraliZing notion that the public service exists
not Tor The business and benefit of the whole PEG.
pie, but for the interest of office holders, who
are IN truth but the servants of the people. I'm.
c%mploymcnts have been multiplied; numbers
Of those gathered into the ranks Of
ohlcc holders have been steadily increased he.
yond any possible requirement Of public bust.
ness, while inciicicncy, peculation. fraud and
mlalversation OF the public funds from the high
places Of power to the lowest have ovcrsprcad
the whole service like n leprOsy. The other evil
Is the organization Of the official class into u body
OF political mercenaries, governing cancuses,
debating nominations Of their own party and
attempting t. carry the elections Of the people by
undue influence and by immense corruption,
funds systematically collected from the salaries
or fees Of Office holders. The Official class in
49, ~ ''np N'iht NV ~ l6 oNh tlkNt
ana sometimes In alliance with the army, has
been able To rule the unorganized masses even
under universal suffrage. Here IL has already
crown into u gigantic power capable of sitting
the inspirations OF n sound public opinion, and
OF resisting an easy change Of administration
until mlsgovcrnment becomes intolcrable and
the public spirit has been stung to the pitch
OF n strong revolution.
THE ODE OF REFORM.
The ilrst step in reform IL the elevation o: the
standard ny which the appointing power selects
agents To execute official trusts. Next in impor.
lance IL n conscientious fidelity in the exercise of
authority; to hold 10 account and displace un.
trustworthy or incapable suborlinatcs. The pub.
lie intci est IN honest and skillful performance Of
onlcial tiilrt must not be sacrificed to the use Of
incumbenis. After these immediate steps, which
VIII insure the exhibition of better examples, we
mly wisely 70 on to the abolition OF unnecessary
offices. and finally In the patient and careful or
Of n better civil service system under
tests. wherever practicable, OF proved competency
ana fidelity While much may he accomplished
by these methods, II might encourage the delusive
expectation, II ! withheld here the expression OF
conviction, that no reform of the civil service
IN TINS country Is complete and permanent until
its Chief Magistrate IL constirutionally disquali.
llci for rejection, experience having repeat
exposed The utility Of self. imposed restric.
by candidates or incumbcnts. Through
this soiemnity only can he be oflcctually dcliv-
cred from his greatest temptation To misuse the
power and patronage with which the Executive
Is necessarily charged. Educated IN the belief
that ii wa the INST duty of n citizen of the Re.
To tage his fair allotment of care and
trouble in public affairs. ! have for forty years
rs a private citizen fulfilled that duty. Though
occupied in an Unusual degree during all that
period with concerns Of the Government | have
never acquired the habit OF official life. When a
year and a half ago ] entered upon my present
rust II WAS in order to consummatc
to which had al.
devoted several of the best years of my
life. Knowing az ! do. therefore, from fresh
tNperIcncc how great the difference Is between
through an official routine and working
mt reform OF systems and policies, IL is inpos.
IGle for me To contemplate what needs to be
lone in the Federal Administration without an
InNlOus sense of the difficulties of the undertak.
II 10y the SURFACES of my coun.
.rymen 10 attempt this work | shall endeavor,
it'll Gods help, 10 be the efficient instrument Of
heir will.
Signed AMuEL j. TIIDEN.
To Gen John a. McClernand, Chairman; Ten.
w d. Franklin, Hon. j. J. Abbott, Hon. u. |
j. spaunhorst, Hon. II. J. Redfeld, Hon. r.
5. Lyon aud others of the committee.