The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1876-07-19

"s o"" anc Oemocrauc PIaff0rm
The Republican press, so lsudstory of
Mr.. Hayes letter OF acceptance, especially
of that part referring TO civil service re-
form and congressional dictation of ap-
pointmen,s, pays compliment to the DEM
ocrstic platform which Mr.. Hayes seems
to have followed in preparing his letter.
Here is what the Democratic platform
says:
CIVIL Service REFORM,
Reform is necessary in the civil service.
Experience proves that The tfficient econonn.
zeal conduct OF the governmental business ia
not possible If its civil service be subject to
change at every eection; be a prize fought
ior at the ballol-bl be a brief reward Of
party zeal instead OF posts OF honor assigned
for proved competency and held for fidelity
In the public employ. That the dispensing OF
patronage should neither be a tax upon the
time of ell our pubic men nor the instrument
Of their ambition. Here again professions,
falsifed in the per ormance, attest that the
party In power can work out no practical r
salutary reform. Reform is necessary even
mote In the higher grades of public service
president, vice PRESIDENT, judges, senators,
representatives, c. bioet officers. These and
all Others In az. noIity are the peoples
wants. Inelr Offices are not private
perquisiie. The, are public trust
When the annals of the pubic, The disgrace
ana ce insure oil vice President, late speaker
OF the mouse oil RepreSentatiV es, marketing
his rulings as presiding of'eer, three sena-.
| tors pIohttng secretly by their votes as law
makers; nye cha rmen of the leading COM
| Inlttees OF the late House OF Representatives
exposea In bbery; late secretzry of the
| treasury forcing balance in the public ac-
counts; a late attorney general misap 3ropri-
| atiDg public funds; a Sc ere airy of the navy
eDrlc ed or enriching friends by perc- tsg es
| levied OF the profits Of contractors with his
Ia hos af1a
srred In dis honorable speculation; the pr S.
ldenJs private secretary barely e. Gaping con-
vlctlon upon trial Tor guilty completely in
Iranos up n the revenue; Sec
| rotary of war impeachsd for high crimes
aud COMES ed m isdemeanors. The demon
stratlon is complete that the first step in reform
| must be tie peoples choice OF honest men
| from another pa ty, iest tie disess- OF one
lltlcsl organic 3tion iniest The body pol tic.
ana lest by MAXI no cnange ofmen or party
we can get no change of measures and no re-
form. All tn abuses, wrongs and i'm S, the
product oI 10 years asce daDcy of The aepuo-
lican pa rty, C cate necessity for reform, con-
/ Iessed Oy hepu Dlfcans themselves, but their
refoImeis are voted down in convention and
| displaced from the Cabinet. The parfy's m IS
, OF honest voiers is power ess 10 resist the
20 To- ofncehoiders, its leaders and guides.
Reform can only be had by peace nj civic
We demand a change OF system, a change Of
administration, a cb snge of parties, that we
may Lave a change OF measures and or men.
Now listen to Mr. Hayes op this subject,
and it is not d fficult TO tell whence be
draws its inspiration:
AT first the president, either directly, or
thrOu b the nesdS of the depa tments made
the appoiDtm MIS- but gradually the sp-
point1ng power, In many cases, passed in TO the
conIroi OF mem bers OF On gress. The Offices in
these cases has be. On e not mercy rewards
| tor psriy purposes $, but rewards for services to
parry leaders. THIS system destroys the indie
penoeDce of the separate departments
Ol the government. II lends dire tly 10 ex.
trav gance and Off clsl iucapacity. 1t IL q
temp alton To dish nesty. IL hind. rs and i'm
countab III v by VII en- alone faithful and et-
| d lent public rvice Can be sec lret. IL oo-
siructs tne prompt remUva and sure punish.
ment OF the uu worthy IN every way. 1t de-
| the government 1t is felt, l am confident,
| by large majority OF tue members
OF Congress 10 b. an into cradle bu oen
and an Sarrsntahle hinderance
| to the proper disch fge of tn 1r leg innate du-
| ties. IL ought Ia b. sbolsh The reform
should be thorough, IA sical and c0mplete.
We should retura 10 The principles and prec-
| lice of The ounders # The government, sup
| plying by legislation when ne-oed that which
was formerly estab Ished custom. Tney
Dei her expected nor sired from the pub ic
officer al y partisan service. They meat that
pubic OFF cells shOuiu give heir whole service
10 the government aud % the ieopie. Ibey
meant that he q nicer should be Secure In his
tenure as long AS his personal charac er re-
NAMED unit - nished ~ nd the performances OF
has duties are satisfac oiy.
Mr.. Hay depicts with sccurscy the very
evils that have grown upunder the Repub--
iicsn party, though re does OF point out
the examples as the d mocratIc platform
does, but which he evidently had in his
mind.