The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1876-08-13
PRoPER TIME FOR REsUMP ZION.

o Iho FoVlVluS VI BUSINESS. i ne earlier
y time in which such result can be brougt
J, about is the best. Even when the prepal
. atoms shall have been matured, the exaC
{ date would have to be chosen with refer
: ence to the then existing state of trade an
credit operations in our own country, tn
conrse of foreign commerce, and the con
ditions of the exchanges with other nations
The specific measures and the actua
date are matters of detail having reference
to ever changing conditions. They belong t,
the domain Of practical administrativ.
J statesmanship. The captain of a steame
about starting from New York to Liverpool
does not assemble q council over his ocear
chart and fi1 an angle by which to lash the
rudder for the whole voyage. A human intel
lgence must be at the helm to discern the
shifting forces of the waters and the winds
A human hand must be on the helm to fee
the elements day by day, and guide to q
mastery over them.
Two evils infest the official service of the
Federal Government.
| One ia the prevailing and demoralizing
| notion that the public service exists not for
the business and benefit of the whole peo-
pie, but for the interest of the office holders,
who are, in truth, but the servants of the
people. Under the influence of this PERM
cious error public employments have been
multiplied the numbers of those gathered
into the ranks of officeholders have been
steadily increased beyond any possible
requirements of the public business, while
inetticiency, population, fraud, and NAL
versat!on of the public funds, from the
high places of power to the lowest, have
overspread the whole service like leprosy.
The other evil is the organization of the
official class into body of political mer-
cenaries, governing the caucuses and dicta-
ting the nominations of their own party,
aud attempting to carry the elections of the
people by undue influence, and by immense
corruption funds systematically collected
from the salaries or fees of ofnceholders.
The official class in other countries, some
times by it's own weight and sometimes in
alliance with the army, has been able to
rule the unorganiZed masses even under
universal suffrage. Here it has already
grown into gigantic power capable of
sitting the inspirations of sound public
opinion, and of resisting an easy change
of administration, until misgovernment
becomes intolerable and public spirit
has been stung to the pitch of civic revo-
luton.
The first step in reform is the elevation
OF the standard by which the appointing
power selects agents to execute official |
trusts. Next in Importance is a conscien- |
tlous fidelity in the exercise of the author
lty to hold to account and displace uutrust- |
worthy or incapable subordinates. The |
public interests in an honest, skillful per- |
jormance of official trust must not be sac
After these immediate steps, which will |
insure the exhibition of better examples, |
we may wisely go on to the abolition OF |
uaC ecessary ofacee, and finally, to the pa
tient, careful organization of better civil |
service system, under the tests, wherever
practicable, of proved competency and f.
deity.
While much may be accomplished by
these methods. it might encourage delusive
expectations If withheld here the express
sion OF my conviction that no reform of the
civil service in this country will be COM
pleta and permanent until it's Chief Magis-
trate Is constitutionally disqualified for re-
election experience having repeatedly ex-
posed the futility of self imposed restric-
ions by candidates or incUmbents. Through |
this solomnity only can be be effectually |
delivered from his greate5t temptation
with which the Executive is necessarily |
charged.
CONCLUSION.
Educated 10 the belief that it is the first |
duty of citizen of the Republic to take
his fair allotment of care and trouble in
public affairs, have, for forty years, as
private citizen, fulfilled that duty. Though
occupied in au unusual degree during all
that period with the concerns OF the gov
err ment, have never acquired the habit of
official life. When, year and half ago,
l entered upon my present trust, it was in
order to consummate reforms to which l
had already devoted several of the best
years of my life. Knowing as do, there
fore, from fresh experience, how great the
difference is between gliding through an
official routine and working out reform
of systems and policies, it is impossible for
me to contemplate what needs to be done
in the Federal administration without an
anxious sense of the difficulties of the un-
dertaking. If summoned by the sutfrages
of my countrymen to attempt this work, 1
shall endeavor with Gods help, to be the
eHicient instrument of their will.
SAMUEL j. TILDEN.
AN END TO THE GAS MoNopoLY.-The i'm