The Russellville Democrat., 1876-08-17
NO. 29.

rilication; necessary to its ccono-
 my. and its elliciency; necessary
 in order that the ordinary eih- pIoyment, of tic public busihesa
 may not be a prize fight at tho ballot box, q 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
 in the higher grades of public
 service. The President, Vice i President, Judges, Senators, Rep.
 rcscntatiyee and Cabinet officers,
 these and others in authority, arc
 q public trust. These evils infest
 one official service of the Federal
 government. One is the preva-
 lent and demoralizing notion that the public service exists not for the business and benefit of the whole people, but for the interest
 oi office holders, who are in truth but the servants of the people. Under the influence of this reriti,
 cious error public cmploymcnts
 have been multiplied; numbers of
 those gathered into the ranks of
 office holders have been steadily increased beyond any possible re
 quirelnents of public business;
 while inefliciency, pcculation and
 fraud and malversation of the
 public funds from the high places
 Of power to the lowest have over
 spread the whole service like a
 leprosy. The other evil is thc
 organization of the official class
 into body of p; litical mercena-
 rles, governing caucusscs, dicta-
 ting nominations of their own par U and attempting to carry the elections of the people by undue influence and immense corruption and funds systematically collect ed from the salaries or fees of office holders. The official class in other countries, sometimes by its own weight, and sometimes in alliance with the army, has been able to rule the unorganized mas ses even under universal suffrage. Here it has already grown into gigantic power capable of stifling the inspirations of . sound public opinion, and of resisting an easy change of administration until misgovernment becomes intolera- ble and thepublic spirit has been stung to the pitch of strong revolution.
 THE MODE oF REFORM. ;
 The first step in reform is the elevation of the standard by which the appointing power SC lccts agents to execute official trusts. Next in importance is Il conscientious fidelity in tie exer- else of authority to hold to ac7 count and displacc, untrustworthy and incapable subordinates. The public interest in an honest and skilful performance of official trust must not be sacrificed to the use of incumbents. After thcso immediate steps, winch will ih- sure the exhibition of better cx- amples, we may wisely go on to the abolition of unnecessary of, fees, and finally to the patient and careful organization of bet. ter civil service system under tests, wherever practicable, of proved competency and fidelity. While much may be accomplish cd by these methods, it might encourage the delusiye eXpcctn- tion, if l withheld here the cX- pression of my conviction, that no reform of the civll service in this country is complete and per until it's Chief Magistrate is constitionally disqualified for re election, experience having rc peatedly exposed the futility of self imposed restrictions by can 'lidates or incumbents. Through -his solemnity only can he he eff actually delivered from his great est temptation to misuse the DOW and patronage with which the sNecutlvc is necessarily charged. Educated in the belief that it vas the first duty of citizen of he Republic to take his fair alot- nent of care and trouble in pub. ic affairs, l have for forty years IS private citizen fulfilled that iuty. Though occupied in ar ua- lsual degree during all that perl 'd with coIicerns of the Govern nent, l have never acquired the lahit of official life. When q year. md q halfago l entered upon my present trust it was in order to 'onsumatc reforms to which had lad already devoted several the test years of my life. Knowing IS l do, therefore, from fresh ex- 'cricncc how great the, difference s b.t@cen gliding through an of icial routine and working out eiorm of systems and policies, it impossible for me to contcm- late what needs to be done in he Federal Administration with ut all anxious scnac of tho diff ulues of the undertaking. If ummoned by Che sntlragbs of my ountryihen to attempt this work
 shall endeavor with Gods hclp