Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1876-08-18

IL CudIsou ny Cno ptoplo Win Guo
administration of the executive office
I should deem it duty so to exer-
else the powers with which it has been
or may be invested by Congress as best
and soonest to conduct the country to
that benefcent result-civil service reform.
The convention justly aff1rms that reform
is necessary in the civil service. necessary
to it's publication, necessary to its economy
and its efficiency, necessary in order that
that the ordinary employment of the public
business may not be ga prize fought for
at the ballot box; brief reward of party
zeal instead of posts of honor assigned for
proved competency, and held for fidelity in
the public employ" The convention wisely
added that 'refcrm is necessary, even
more in the higher grade of public service
President, Vice President, Judges, Sena-
tors, Representatives, Cabinet officers.
These and all others in authority are the
peoples servants; their offices are not
private perquisite, they are public trust.''
Two evils infest the official service of the
Federal GOvernment-One is the prevalent
and demoralzing notion that the public
service exists not for the business and be-
neft of the whole people, but for the inter
est of the Off1ce-holders who are in truth
but the servants of the people. Under the
influence of this perniciOus error public
employments have been multiplied, the
numbers of these gathered into the ranks
of the Otfice-holders have been steadily in
creased beyond any possible requirement
OF the public business, while inefficiencv
peculatiOn, fraud and malversation of the
public funds from the high places of power
to the lowest, have oversrread the whole
service like a leprosy. The other evil is
the organization of the official class into a
body OF political mercenarieS, governing
the caucusSes and debating the nOmina-
tiOns of their own party and attempting
to carry the elections of people by undue
influence and by immense corruption funds
Systematically collected from the salaries
or fees of otfice.holders. The official class
in other countries, sometimes by it's own
weight and sometimes in alliance with the
army, has been able to rule the unOrganlzed
masses, even under universal suffrage.
Here it has already grown into a gigantic
power, capable of Sitting the aspirations
of sound public opinion, and of resisting
an easy change of administration until
mlsgovernment becomes intoleraEle and
public spirit has been stung to the pitch of
civic revolution. 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 conscientious fidelity in the exercise of
the authority to hold to account, and dis
diSp]ace untruStworty or incapable subor-
dlnateS.
The public interest in an honest sklllful
performance of official trust must not be
sacrificed to the uses of the incumbents.
After these immediate steps which will
insure the exhibition of better examples
we may wisely 90 on to the abolition of un-
necessary Offices, and finally to the patient,
careful organization Of d better civil SER
vice system under the tests, wherever prac-
ticable, of proved competency and fidelity.
While much may be accomplished by these
methods it might encourage delusiye ex-
pectations if | withheld here the express
sion of my conviction that no reform Of
the civil service in this country will be
complete and permanent until it's Chief
Magistrate is cOnstitutionally disqualified
for reelection, experience having repeat
eddy exposed the futility of self-imposed
restrictions by candidates or incumbents.
Through this solemnity only can he be eff
fectually delivered from his greatest
temptation to misuse the power and pa
tronage with which the Executive is ne
cessarily charged.
Educated in 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 a
private citizen, fulfilled that duty. Though
occupied in an unusual degree, during all
that period, with the concerns Of govern
ment, have never acquired the habit of
official life. When year and half ago
entered upon my present trust, it was in
order to consummate reforms to which I
had ALREADY devotad several Of tho hast