Weekly Trinity journal., 1876-09-02
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.

members Of the Republican party have
brought a question before the people
which, from its manifest justice at once
enlists the support Of all men who are
not completely party blind. 1t may be
said to be the reverse of the old Demo
cratic adage, enunciated we believe by
Secretary Marcy, that "to the victors be-
long the spoils." Civil Service Reform,
when it becomes part Of the law Of the
Republic, will aim to secure the best tai
ent for every government position, and
discarding political distinctions, reward
merit, worth and efficiency, in whatever
branch of the government it may !.
found.
To those who care to see the affairs of
the country honestly and economically
administered, this idea at once COM
memds itself. 1t takes away the tempta-
ton from those holding subordinate po-
sitions in government employ of siding
with the party from which they obtained
their appointments, and thereby restores
to them that feeling of independence
which every citizen should possess. They
could feel that their positions were de-
pendent upon their own qualifications
not upon party success. As it has been
since the principle was enunciated by
Mr.. Marcy, change in the politics ofthe
Administration has swept from place
every officer holder whose position was
coveted by one Of the successful party,
and incompetency and dishonesty fire.
quently took the place of merit, when
the case should be reversed But party
favorites must be rewarded at all hazards
aud the public service suffered in conse-
quence. SO long as the Democratic ex-
ample is followed we may expect sweep
ing changes in the public service, nor
can anything else be reasonably looked
for. 1t does not even follow that good
officers will be retained when their own
party is successful-they may be displac-
ed to make room for some ones who has
done something for his party" which the
other could not do. And this it is that
party pets are rewarded at the public
expense.
4 Both parties stand committed by their
platforms to Reform in the conduct Of the
/ Civil Service, and the only question to
be considered by citizens who place this
question above all others, is which party
is most reliable. A candid observer can
make but one reply The very cleo
/ tion Of Mr. Tilden depends upon the vio-
lation Of this Democratic plank. There
is not Post Office, Land Office, Custom
House position, or any other description
Of government patronage worth having,
but is already the objective point in Til
den's election to the eyes of some hungry
"retorm" Democrat. In the event of
that gentleman's election we may look
/ for a clean sweep and a reign OF incom-
/ potency such as was never before witness
/ ed. Take the acton of the late House
Of Representatives where the reform"
party have unbrdled sway, and we see
81 Union soldiers, many Of them crippled
in the service Of their country, turned
out OF place TO make room for that many
Democrats, nearly all Of whom were ex-
/ Contederates, and some OF whom were
SO VIGOROUSLY incompetent that they
were shipped by their own party. Now
this does not accord with these high
sounding pretentlons Of reform with
which The Democratic platform fairly
biistles.
1t is only through the success Of Hayes
and the Republican party that Civil
Service Reform can be accomplished
Mr. Hayes speaks on the subject in
manner not to be misunderstood, and
that there may be no inducement on the
part Of the Executive To change his views
when it may seem to conflict with Ms
own political interests, he enunciates "a
further principle which, though not in
corporated in the platform Of either par
ty, is finding advocates among many who
believe that the desire to secure the hon
or Of recollection induces n President to
sometimes bestow patronage where it will
do the most good for his political inter
ests. without that regard for the high
character of the public service which
should characterize the Presidential Of
flee. Mr.. Hayes meets this question in
advance, by declaring himself opposed
to more than one term for the Chief Mag
istrate of the Nation. While we think
/ that no man should be at liberty to de-
cline the Office Of President for either "A
first or second term, it asked by the
leading minds Of the party to whom he
will owe his elevation, it will, we think,
be admitted that Mr.. Hayes views on
these two questions as embodied in his
letter OF acceptance, gives ample promise
that during the four years Of his term the
principle Of Civil Service Reform will be
given Il fair trial. We append hereto
Mr. Hayes view on this great question
THE fifth resolution adopted by the
I Convention is Of paramount interest -
More than forty years ago system of
making appointments to office grew up,
based upon the maxim: "To the victors
belong the spoils." The old rule, the
true rule, that honesty, capacity and f.
deity constitute the only real qualifca-
tions for Office, and that there was no
other claim, gave place to the idea that
party services were to be chiefly consid-
cred. All parties in practice have adopt
ed this system. 1t has been essentially
modified since its first introduction. 1t
has not, however, been improved. At
first the President, either directly or
through the heads OF departments, made
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