Smyrna times., 1876-01-05

WHEN THE House OF REPRESENTATIVES,
convened in Washington, the first Monday
in December, it is stated that three thou
sand Democrats went there after three
hundred offices. All of these offices were
in the tenure of Republicans, at the time,
and had been for years, of course Many
of the occupants were MANNED ex-soldiers,
who had been appointed to the places they
filed mainly because of this fact. When
Congress assembled, however, all these
Republican clerks, door keepers, &C., of
the House were ousted and Democrats put
in their places. We do not mention this
In any fault-fnding sense as against that
party; the Republicans would very like
have done the same thing, under similar
circumstances. We do not think it right,
but it's one of the wrongs of politicians and
must be taken as a matter of course until a
remedy can be applied The feature that
has called forth criticism is this: that in
filling the places of these manned Repub-
Ieans, ex-rebel soldiers have been put in
their places to the exclusion of Northern
Democratic soldiers. The doorkeeper of
the House, Col. Fitzhugh, was Segeant.at-
arms of the Rebel Congress at Richmond.
and all the other minor officers, if they are
ex-soldiers, got their scars in fighting
against the Government-it may be in try
ing to take the very Capital that now hon
orsthem. None ofthe Northern appointees.
1t is said. were ever in the war. Remamber
the point criticised is, not that ex-rebel
soldiers received offices under the Govern
ment, but that they received them to the
exclusion Of Union soldiers, who are rs
!. e5od s85i Democrats tsSas= the successful appli-
cants, notwithstanding they fend29 tifeiiF .hfe1iiF
countryis flag. 1t is all true enough that
by-gones should be by-gones; that we are
now one people and share alike the
burdens and benefits of our common
country, and all that, but public sentiment
Is not yet prepared to see the late hostile
element preferred over the patriotic ele-
ment. 1t shows the magnanimity of our
Republic to treat its enemies so lenient- |
ly, but it is mean ostracism for the domi. |
nant party in the House at Washington to
let that showing 60 on at the expense of
the country's defenders. 1t will hardly
pay the party that has permitted it. Few
Will object to the whole country, without
reference to past events, sharing in the
offices, but few will agree to the monopolv
that seems to prevail in the popular House
of Congress.
Nhen the Democrats had no offices to
dispose of they were great sticklers for
civil service reform. When MANY Renr1b- /
Ilcans were earnestly advocating that inst
measure the whole Democratic party stood
right at their backs, pushing them up to
the work. A committee of distinguished
Republicans was appointed over year ago
70 investigate this civil service question.
prominent among that committee was
deo. VIM. Curtis, editor of HarDer;s Wceklv.
md ex- Mayor Medill, editor of the Chicago
Said committee, in a published
report, declared that one of the great evils
'f our government was "the perversion of
me service to personal and party ends"
mat committee said further:
1t IS becoming a desperate conflict to
'otaln all the offices, with all their lawful
,Sa.laries, and all their unlawful chances,
Inc consequences are unavoidable. The
moral tone OF the country is debascd. The
lational character deterioratcs. No coun.
~ or government can safely tolerate such
surely increasing deterioration. ''
Do we not all remember with pI.t Ioud
utcries of lofty patriotism and passionate
'iety the Democrats approved these decla.
atlons? They said that was good doc.
rine, but they insisted that the Republi.
ans were not honest in their desire to
AIRY out snch reform. They insisted.
iowever, that they were, and only asked
Or an opportunity to test the matter.
Ind now that they have a few offices at
heir disposal, we see how they show their
incerity.
SPEAKER KERR's HEALrH.-The rumors
a