Wilmington journal., 1876-08-04
tracts, and demand such modification bv
Congress within a constitutional limit
ton, as shall prevent the further importa-
ton or immigration of the Mongolian race.

ton, as shall prevent the further importa-
ton or immigration of the Mongolian race.
REFORM Is THE CAMPAIGN ISSUE.
Reform is necessary, ana can never be eff.
fected but by making it the controlling issue
of the election, lifting it above the two false
issues with which the Office-holding class
and the party in power seek to smother it.
| The false issue with which they vould
enkindle sectarian strife in respect 10 the
public schools, of which the establishment
and support belong exclusively to the sew
| eral States, and which the Democratic par
ty has cherished from their foundation,
and resolved to maintain without parti-
zanry or preference for any class, sect or
| creed, and without contributing from the
Treasury to any-the false issue by which
| they seek to light anew the dying embers
of sectional hatred between kindred peo-
pie, once unnaturally estranged, but now
reunited in one indivisible Republic and q
common destiny.
REFORM IN THE CIVIL SERVICE.
Reform is necessary in the civil service.
Experience proves that the efficient, eco
nomical conduct of the governmental bust
ness is not possible if its civil service be
subject to change at every electiOn-be
prize fought for at the baliOt-b0x-bo .
brief reward of party zeal, instead of posts
of honor, assigned for proved competency
and held for fidelity in the public employ
ment. That the dispensing of patronage
should neither be tax upon the time of
all our public men, nor the instrument of
their ambition. Here again professions
falsified in the performance, attest that the
party in power can work out no practical or
salutary referm.
REFoRM AMONG THE HIGHEsT PUBLIC
1sciolsn is necessary even more in the
Mgher grades Of public service-President,
Vice President, Judges, Senators, Repro
aentatfFes, Cabinet officers. These OH
aas, and othGrsfn authority, are the peo-
ple's servants. Their Offices are not pri-
vate perquisite; they are public trust.
When the annals ofthis Republic show the
a late Speaker of the House of Representa-
tives marketing his rulings as presiding
officer; their friends profting secretly by
their votes as lawmakers five chairmen
of the leading committees Of the late House
of Representatives exposed in jObbery; q
late Secretary OF the Treasury forcing bal
ances in the public accounts; a late At
torney General misappropriating public
funds; a Secretary of the Navy enriched or
his friends by percentages levied
oil the profits of contractors with his De-
partment; an ambassador to England CEN
sured for dishonorable speculation; the
Presidents private secretary barely escap-
ng conviction upon trial for guilty compli-
;ity in frauds upon the revenue; Secre-
,ary of War impeached for high crimes and
confessed misdemeanors the demopstra-
ion is so complete that the first step in
'eform must be by the people, or honest
nen from another party. The disease of
me political organization infests the body
,olitic and thereby making no change OF
nen Or party, we can get no change of
measures and no reforms.
RADICALS AND RADICALIsM MUST BIZ
DRIVEN FROM POWER.
ALI these abuses, wrongs and crimes
the product of the sixteen years
of the Republican party
create a necessity for reform, con-
essed by Republicans themselves. But
heir reforners are voted down in con-
yention and displaced from the Cabinet.
The mass of honest voters is powerless to
esist the eighty thousand office-holders-
Is leaders and guides.
Reform can only be had by a peaceful,
ivic revolution. We demand a change of
ystem; a change of administration;
hange ofparties that we may have achange
If men.