The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1876-01-22
YAa Civil Service.

llllpoltdHt IiitCiSst III ~
government. is the Civil Service.
Embracing as it docs in its broadest
scope every department OF the lcgis-
lativc and executive functions, it may
almost come under the head of the
science of government itself. a
more strict construction, however, of
the words Civil Service, disposes OF
it as rather a strong branch of the
governmental tree than as the tree
itself. 1t is simply the service IN the
several departments of the executive
and administrative offices from that
of Judge of the Supreme Court to
the wayside Postmaster upon the
western frontier. 1t is the arm of
governmental authority; the means
by which the laws arc administered,
and the details of the governmental
science carried out. What import
ant functions arc these: how init
matcly interviewer arc they with the
lfc, stability and prosperity of the
Union of the States; in what high
sense arc those who occupy the sew
cral offices in the Civil Service the
servants of the people, and how inn
portant a matter it is that only those
who arc honest and competent be
chosen to act in these capacities. 1t
is true, that the degree OF civilization,
enlightenment and advancement of a
nation may, to great extent, be de-
tcrmincd by the character OF its pub
lic servants. They arc in the trucst
sense The opponents Of the people at
large. History warrants this as the
general conclusion. Through the
means of discrimination and fraud,
artful and designing men sometimes,
yea, often thrust themselves into the
public service, which they would
have been prevented from doing,
had the people in time availed them
selves of their opportunity to intclli-
gently manifest their popular will.
The people themselves often do not
wake up to the responsibilities OF the
hour until the battle is lost to the
side Of order, harmony and good
government. The sins of the masses
in this respect are rather those OF
omission than commission, and the
exponent of this lethargic condition
oftnc masses is the venal official and
the corrupt legislator. Man still as
ever in the past is striking at the
outspreading arms of his evil genius,
over looking in his ignorance the
root and germ of that evil which be-
sets him. He raises his voice in dc
ANNEXATION against his official expo
mont al4 forgets to lay the blame at
In. feet IT the voters, who, by their
iea5reucc and neglect, have made it
-o.s.ble for an enemy to creep IN
and usurp that high station which
can only be consistently and virtu-
ously occupied by the disintercsted
lover of order and good government.
1t the cry ofthe ages, that ignorance
now, as ever Of old, is and ever will
be the banc of freedom. 1t is plain,
therefore, upon what the salvation of
a free government depends 1t is
equally apparent upon what true
efficacious Civil Service reform also
depends. Approximate as near as
possible to a universal system OF cd
uca,ion, a system which shall lay the
foundation deep and abiding in hui
man nature upon which the temple
of liberty must be reared. The ris-
ING generations must by some means
he more thoroughly imbued witt.
that love of freedom, that love of
truth, that love of humanity, that
carly learns to take hold of, invest.
gate and understand the vital princi.
Piles Of republicanism and the spirit
ofits institutions. Liberal education
will 60 far towards accomplishing