The Van Buren press., 1876-08-15
GOV. TILDEN'S LETTER,
{Conclutle,l !

tress. II charged by the people with tn
administration OF the executive Office
should deem it a dnty so to exercise tn
powers with which it has been or may b
invested BY congress as the best an
soonest to conduct the country to tina
benefcent result
The convention justly atlirms that re
form is necessary in the civil service
necessary to its publication; necessar.
TO its economy and its efficiency; neces
sary in order that ordinary employment
OF public business may not be q prz
fought for at the hallot-box. a reward o
party zeal instead of posts of honor as
signed for proved competency and hele
for fidelity in the public employ. The
convention wisely added that reform is
necessary even more in higher grades o,
the public service. President, vice pres
dent. Judges, senator's, representatives.,
cabinet otficers-tliese aud all offers in
authority are not private pcrqusite
they are a public trust. Two evils intest
the official service of the federal govern
ment. One 10 the prevalent and
DEMoRsIIZiSG NOTION
That the public service exists, not for the
business and benefit of the whole people,
but for the interest of Office holders, who
are in truth the servants Of the people.
Under the influence of this pernicions er
ror, public employments have been mul.
,iplied. The numbers of those gathered
into the ranks of office holders have
been steadily increased beyond any pos
sible requirement of public business,
while inetiieieuey, pecuation, fraud and
malversation of public funds from high
places ofpower to the lowest, have over
spread the whole service like leprosy
The other evil is the organization of the
official class into a body Of political mer-
cenaries governing caucnses and dlcta
ting nominations of their own party, and
attempting TO carry elections of the peo.
pie by undue influence and by immense
corruption funds systematically collected
from the salaries or fees of Office hold
ers. The official class in other counties,
sometimes by its own weight and some.
timas 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 ca
pable OF sitting the inspirations of a
sonnd public opinion and Of resisting an
easy change of administration until
MisGovERNMENT
Becomes intolerable and public opinion
has been strung to pitch of strong
revolution.
THE FIRST SLEP In REFORM
Is the elevation of the standard by which
the appointing power selects agents to
execute official trusts Next in import
,nce is conscientious fidelity in the ex.
crcise OF authority to hold to account
and displace untrustworthy or incapable
subordinates. The public interest in an
honest, skilful performance of official
trusts must not be sacrificed to the use of
incumbents. After these immediate steps
which will insure an exhibition of better
examples, we may wisely go on to the
adjustment Of unnecessary offices, and
finally to the patient, careful organization
nf a better civil service system under
tests wherever practicable of proved
competency and fidelity. While much
may be accomplished by these methods.
it might encourage decisive expectations
t ] withheld here the expression of my
conviction that no reform of the civil
service in this country will be complete
and permanent until its chief magistrate
is constitutionally disqualified for re elec-
ton, experience havin, repeatedly expo
ied the futility Of selfimposed restric-
lions by candidates or incumbents.
Through this formality enly can he be ef.
iectually delivered from his greatest
temptation to misuse the power and pa
,ronage with which the executive is nee
cssarily charged. Educated in the belief
that il is the first duty of a citizen of the
republic to take his fair allotment of the
care and trouble in public affairs. have
for forty years, as private citizen, full
filled that duty. Though occupied in an
unusual degree in all that period with
concerns of the government, ] have new
cr acquired the habit of official life,
When, year and a half ago. l entered
upon my present trusts, it was to con-
summate reforms to which l had already
devoted several of the best years Of my
Knowing as do, therefore, from fresh
experience how great the difference is
between gliding through an official rou'
tine and working out a reform Of sys
tens and policies, it is impossible for me
to contemplate what needs to be done in
the federal administration without al
anxious sense of the difficulties of the
undertaking.
II summoned by the snffrages Of my
countrymen to attempt this work, shal
endeavor, with Gods help to be the eff
cient instrument of their will
n si5ned1 SAMUEL j. TILpEN,
To Gen John A. McClerhand, Chairman
Gen. w. c. Franklin, Hon. J. j. Alb.
hott,' Hon II. Spaunhorst, Hon. A j
p Cedfeld. Hon. +. 5. Lgols, and other:
Committye.
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