Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1876-09-08

| eral States, and which the Democratic par
| ty has cherished from their foundation
and resolved to maintain without parti-
| zanry or preference for any class, sect or
creed, and without contributing from the
Treasury to any-the false issue by which
| they seek to light anew the dying embers
of sectional hatred between kindred peo-
pie, once unnaturally estranged, but now
reunited in one indivisible Republic and a
| common destiny.
REFORM IN THE CIVIL SERVICE.
Reform is necessary in the civil service.
Experience proves that the efficient, eco
| nomical conduct of the governmental al bust
ness Is not possible if its civil service be
subject TO change at every election-be a
prize fought for at the ballot-box-be a
brief reward ofparty zeal, instead of posts
of honor, assigned for proved competency
and held for fidelity in the public employ
ment. That the dispensing of patronage
should neither be a tax upon the time OF
all our public men, nor the instrument OF
their ambition. Here again professions
falsified in the performance, attest that the
party in power can work out DO practical or
salutary reform.
REFORM AIMING THE HIGHEST PUBLIC
SERVANTS.
Reform is necessary even more in the
higher grades of public service-President,
Vice President, Judges, Senators, Repre-
sentatives, Cabinet officers. These Off
GERS, and others in authority, are the peo-
pies servants. Their offices are not pri-
vate perquisite; they are a public trust.
When the annals Ofthis Republic show the
disgrace and censure of Vice President;
a late Speaker of the House of Representa-
tives marketing his rulings as presiding
officer; their friends profiting secretly by
their votes as lawmakers five chairmen
of the leading committees of the late House
of Representatives exposed in jobbery;
late Secretary of the Treasury forcing bal
ances in the public accounts; a late At
torney General miSapprOpriating public
funds; Secretary Ofthe Navy enriched or
enriching his friends by percentages levied
Otfthe profits of contractors with his De
partment; an ambassador to England CEN
sured for diShOnOrable speculation; the
Presidents private secretary barely escap-
ing conviction upon trial for guilty compl-
city i'll frauds upon the revenue; II Secre-
tary of War impeached for high crimes and
confessed misdemeanOrs the demOpstra-
ton is SO complete that the first step i'll
reform must be by the people, or honest
men from another party. The disease of
one political organization infeStS the body
polite and thereby making no change of
men or party, We can get no change of
and no reforms.
RADICALS AND RADICALISM MUST BE
DRIVEN FROM POWER.
All these abuses, wrongs and crimes
the product of the sixteen years
of the Republican party
create a necessity for reform, con-
fessed by Republicans themselves. But
their reformers are voted down in con-
vention and displaced from the Cabinet.
The mass of honest voters is pOwerless to
10 oil n1, nd fiji -Inl
its leaders and guides.
Reform can only be had by a peaceful,
civic revolution. We demand a change of
system; a change of administration;
change ofparties that we may have a change
of men.