Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-03-17
MEMPHIS APPEAL
FRIDAY. MARCH Il, 1876.
GORDON's SPEECH.

GORDON-S SPEECH.
The speech recently made by Senator
6 1rdon, of Georgia, upon the necessity
for the enforcement Of civil-service re-
FORM In the revenue department especi-
ally, has attracted, as it deserved, a
great deal Of attention, and many OF the
Leading papers OF the north have been
alick not only to indorse the principles
ne laid down rs essential to an honest
administration Of official duties in all de-
paItments of the government, bat to adj
minister to Senators Morton and Sher-
man severe reprimand for the violent
and obtusely partisan opposition they
offered to SO earnest an effort in be.
half OF good government-Sn effort
singularly free from anything like par
iisau bias. The New York Tribune as
sumes that the remedy which Mr.. Cor
don proposes is to Tganize corps OF
revenue agents ''eKalted above the ext
"gencies OF party supremacy and re-
moved from the temptations to par
''ty support; such revenue officers to
"nold their positions, like the officers OF
"our army and navy, during life II need
"5e, or during good behavior, placed
Upon moderate salaries, and removable
''by the head Of the treasury only for
ineapscity and disreputsble conduct"
and says:
That is the true cure for corruption
in the revenue service, ard 1t indicates
rbe proper cours in all other branches
# the administration OF our govern
,nent. But IL is idle to think that the
party which has so recently thrown the
civil service reform bantling into the
Kennel will listen TO prop 1ssls Of so SEN
sibIe measure. We must get very
different class of men into public life
j. sfore such revolutionary projects for the
ratification OF politics and the suppress
zion Of stealing are even heard with pa
1iencs in congress.
Just what the Democratic party has
been insisting upon for years. We must
yet A different class of men into the
senste-a class Of men like those COM
posing the Demo cratic msj0riiy Of the
housewife will neither hamper nor i'm
pede investigation, and who will direct
the power of party to the safety and the
welfare of the country, and not TO the
pIundering OF the public treasury. Since
The advent Of Lamar in the house and
Gordon ia the senate, We believe it is
not too much to claim that the energies
If the Democracy have bsen more than
ever pressed in that direction, and that
IT is largely due to their efforts that the
expose upon which General Gordon
based his speech for reform is due. These
investigations, revealing the most as
founding instances Of corruption in all
departments of the Federal government,
the more closely they are followed en-
Icrce the necessity for this reform, and
should by this time have convinced
even such violent psrtisans and tools Of
the administration as Sherman and
Horton that civil-service reform is
primal need Of the times. But, as the
New York Herald states:
General Gcrdon's speech was really
marked by singular elevation OF tone
and forbearauce TO turn tie subject TO
party advantage Instead Of making the
] ecent frauds a topic of party crimina-
tion be Only attempted TO erect barriers
against their repetition. The remedies
DE proposed would, il adopted, require
The remuneration by the Democratic
psrty of the maxim that "t0 the YictoTs
belong the spOils." General GOrdon's
I r5pOsitions Were-hrst, to regulate the
Er7F Il n Fa--
lnenting tubs, and collect it monthly or
weekly IN advance; and, second, to
make the internal revenue officers ire
movable except for dishonesty or inca.
picity. Most certainly il should not
} ave been the occasion Of q furious par
/ san attack on Senator Gordon and Of |
dragging in such irrelevant topics as his |
former connection with the rebel army |
and the local politics Of George. |
What have these II do with the |
] Z, p -iety Of discOnuecting the revenue !
. eTvIce rom party politics? Why |
thCu'i General Gordon be irowbeaten |
and aspersed and his military record be |
FAXED Up against him for speech favor |
Jog in one trsuch Of administration the |
sme ciyil-seTvice reform which Presi- |
dent Grant was at one time understood |
favor, and the Republicans in coz
,,ress made s pFetease of supporting in |
All branches? The scOrn poured on Gen.
,ral GoTdon's PROPOSE OF a non partisan |
revenue service by MessTs. Morton and |
sshern Al demonstrates the byp0critical |
iosincerity Of the Republicans in con- |
YTcss when they professed TO support the /
! anne kind Of reform aud 70 favor its APP |
lllication to sll departments 81 the civil |
service. II Of any value st all it would |
nave the most sslutary effect in its Rp- |
iIiiCstioB to revenue Officers, as proposed |
10y General Gordon, for this is the /
depsr .uIent where II is most nCcts- /
: ary TO luzTd sgainst abuse.
What the Tribune and Herald here
ssy has also been said by other journals
nf equal standing, making it plain that
Senator Gordon mas struck key note |
Ter cur party. Clvil-service reform /
hould be incorporated in OR State ard |
platforms, and it should be |
pressed upon the attention OF the people, !
an the stump and in the newspapers,
until it Is ga accomplished fact For
we cannot hope for administrative with !
cut cIvIl-service reform. The minor Off |
clsl holding his offics by the tenure Of
honesty and falthful service is seldom |
corrupted, and never can be used as q
loOl by those above him. TIE example !
Of England, cited by Senator Gordon,
7 roves that aud sustsins him in every 4
point be made.
THE SUNDAY APPEAL.
We urge upon advertisers the i'm