The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1876-09-07
ADMINISTRATIVE REFORM.
What Kind of Civil Service Reform Would
be Brought About by Democratic Vic


tory.
Extract from Carl schurz' Cincinnati Speech
The accession of the Democrats to power will
be signaljzed by the most furious rush for Of
fee ever Witnessed in the history Of this repub-
lie. For years and years hundreds OF thousands
have been lying in wait, eagerly watching for
the opportunity. You find them not only in
the North East and West, but still more in
the South. The Southern people have many
good qualities, but it is q notorious fact that
among them the number of men thinking them
selves peculiarly entitled to public place has
always been conspcuously numerous. Now
they have been on short fare for many years,
and long waiting has sharpened their appetite.
They will also be quick to remember that DEM
ocratic success could be brought about only by
a united Southern vote, and that above all 9TH
ers they have claims to reward. Our brave
Confederate friends have won renown
by many a gallant charge during the
war, but all their war-like feats will
be left in the shade by the tremendous mo-
mentum of the charge they will execute
upon the offices of the Government Tt will be
a rush of such eagerness, turbulence and
confusion that men of this generation will in
vain seek for parallel. And now amidst all
this. urged on by universal cry Of impa-
tience from all sections of the Democratic party
that every radical must be driven from place at
once. do you think it for moment possible
Cabinet will breast that storm and sit down
with cool elaboration, to gather evidence
about the character and qualifications OF every
applicant for the seventy or eighty thousand
places to be filed, 80 as to keep improper men
out of Office? Is it not absolutely certain that
the offices will be filed helter-skelter, as 80
often before, and that of the applicants those,
as rule, will be the most successful who are
the most intrusive and persistent in elbowing
their way to the front? Can it in the nature
of things De otherwise? And what will become
of the cause of reform
We have had specimen of that on a small
scale when the Democratic party took posses
sion Of the House of Representatives, and had
to dis ose of number of more or less desir-
able places. What happened? A score OF APP
plicants for every position a g clean sweep" !;
a new deal" neither honesty, nor indispens-
able experience, nor usefulness, nor character
was spared the offices for the Democrats
And what Democrats Do you remember the
Fitzhughs and Hambletons, and the general
ridcule and indignation that followed their
prompt exposure? Doyou remember the hasty
endeavors on the part of some new dignltarles
to make out of their opportunities what could be
made? Do you remember the expression OF
alarm and disgust coming even from the better
class of Democrats? Do you remember the
haste with which some of the newly-appointed
officers had to be dismissed again, that the
scandal might not become too great and dam
aging And such things happened when, in
view of the coming Presidential election, the
Democratic party was on it's GOOD behavior, ana
had every reason for an effort to make
favorable impression on the country.
What would happen if it should succeed IN
grasping the national power and then act with
out such restraint? What a glorious time it
will be for the Fitzhughs and the HambleSons
when places are thrown open to them by the
tens of thousands What wonders of reform
Al, 1io1o
the good officers now In the service, the rogues
polluing it will be driven out. But may the
Lord protect us against those which the gen.
eral rush for the spoils will bring in.
But it is not only in obedience to the univer-
sal clamor OF the party-there is still another
reason why under Democratic rule the spoils
system, with al its characteristic features, will
be continued. That party is seriously divided
in itself with regard to some of the most vital
and pressing problems of the day; for instance,
the financial question, especially since Gov.
Tilden, by the dark and equivocal utterances In
his letter of acceptance, gave so much new en-
enlargement to the soft-moRey wing Of the
party, and thus caused fresh and vigorous
effort and anvance along the whole soft-money
line. Why, even Tom Ewing is happy in his
belligerence, and Old Bill Allen begins to
smile, believing to have found in Tilden the
Moses to lead them out of the wilderness.
/ This you observe ali over the West and South.
By all sorts of decets the managers succeed in
holding the party together, in spite OF this
division Of sentiment, for the pending CAM
paign at least, In order to render success posi-
BILE. Bat suppose that success achieved, the
war of conflicting tendencies will break out
inside of the organization with new Virulence.
Then, the party, once in possession Of the
Government viii naturally strive to fortify
itself in that possession so as to remain IN
power. And what means will be there to hold
| together the warning elements? Then oracu-
lar utterances and equivocal promises as we
find in Gov. TIlden's letter of acceptance,
offering on paper all things to all men, will no
longer avail. Practical measures of unfit
cation, tangible bond of cohesion,
will be required. And what will, what can
they be? Gov. Tilden is now exhibited to us
| in the character of a refoIner, and have al
ready said that shall not deny to him in that
respect what credit he deserves. But it must
/ not be forgotten that Coy. Tiden. long before