The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1876-08-10

with the administration of the Executive
Office, / should deem it duty so to exercise
the powers with which it has been, or may
be invested by Congress, as the best and
soonest to conduct the country to that be-
ne6cent result.
The Convention Justly affirms til at reform
is necessary in the civil service; necessary
to its publication; necessary to its economy
and its efficiency; necessary in order that
the ordinary employment of public business
may not be prize fought for at the ballot
box, 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 reform is
necessary, even more in higher grades of the
public service. President, Vice-President
Judges, Senators, Representatives, Cabinet
oficers-these and all others in authority,
are not private perquisite, they are a
public trust. Two evils infest the official
service of the Federal Government. One is
the prevalent and demoralizing notion
that the public service exists, not for
the business and benefit of the whole people,
but for the interest of the oficeholders,.
who are in truth but the servants of the
people. Under the influence Of this per-
nicious error public employments have been
multiplied; the number of those gathered
into the ranks of ofice-holders have been
steadily increased beyond any possible re-
quirement OF the public business, while
ineficiency, peculation, fraud, and malyer-
sation of the public funds, from high places
of power to the lowest, have overspread the
whole service like leprosy. The other
evil is the organization of an official class
into body of political mercenaries, govern
ing caucuses and debating the nominations
Of their own party, and attempting to carr
the elections Of the people by undue infu-
ences and by immense corruption funds
aries of the fees of the Office
holders. The official class in other coun-
tries, sometimes by its own weight and some
times in alliance with the army, has been
able to rule 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 be-
comes intolerable, and public spirit has been
stung to the pitch of a strong revolution.
The first step in this reform is the eleva-
tion of the standard by which the appoint
ing power selects his agents to execute
official trusts. Next in importance is con-
scientious fidelity in the exercise of author
ity, to hold to account and displace un-
trustworthy or incapable subordinates.
The public interest in an honest skillfuI
performance of official trust must not be
sacrificed to the usufruct of the incum-
bents. After these immediate steps, which
will insure the exhibition of better ex-
ample, we may easily go on to the abolish
ing of unnecessary offices, and finally to
the patient, careful organization OF q
better civil service system, under tests,
wherever practicable, of proved competency
and fidelity. While much may be accom-
plished by these methods, it might encour-
age delusiye expectations, if 1 withheld my
conviction that no reform of the civil service
in this country viii be complete and per-
manent until its Chief Magistrate is constitu-
tionally disqualified for reelection, expe-
rience having repeatedly exposed the futil-
ity of self-imposed restrictions by candidates
or incumbents. Through this solemnity
only can he be effectually delivered from
his greatest temptation to misuse power and
patronage, with which an executive is
necessarily charged. Educated in the belief
that it is the first duty of citizen Of the
republic 70 take -lhisfei<- allotment of care
and trouble in public affairs. i have for forty
years, as a private citizen, fulfilled that uuty.
Though occupied in an unusual degree dur.
ing all that period with the concerns of gov
ernmeDt, have never acquired the habit OF
official life. When year and half ago ]
entered upon my present trusts, it was in
order to consummate the reforms to which
had already devoted several of the best
years of my life. Knowing, as do, there
fore, from fresh experience, how great q
difference there is between gliding through
an official routine, and working out reform
OF systems and policies, it is impossible for
me to contemplate what need to be done in
the Federal administration, without an
anxious sense OF the difficulties of the un.
dertaking.
If summoned by the suffrages of my
countrymen to attempt this work, shall
endeayor, with Gods help, to be the efficient
instrument of their will.
(Signedl SAMUEL ]. TuDEN.
TO John b. McClernand, Chairman; Gen
w. B. Franklin. Hon. j. ]. Abbott, Hon. 81
j. Barnharst, Hon. II. G. Redfeld, Hon. F
I Ivnn and nthers Committee ETC.