The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1876-04-22
Democracy and the Civil Service.

Corruption at Washington is a prolific
theme for Democratic denunciation. Max
ing, however, all reasonable allowance for
partisan exaggeration, and the fact is still
too painfully true that the moral standard
of official accountability is very low one.
No truthful Republican denies it. Turn
ing, however, from the consideration of the
political disease which seems so contagious
at the nations center, to the remedy pro-
posed by the Democratic leaders, and what
have we promised the country? Or, in
other words, supposing the Democratic
party in possession of the National Gov
eminent to-day, how do they propose to
accomplish reformation of the Civil Ser
vice? Simply by turning Republicans out
of office, and putting Democrats in their
places. No Democrat dreams of any other
method, and the promised improvement in
the general character of any branch of the
service, is not based upon any other guar
antee, than the fact that the incoming man
is Democrat instead of a Republican.
But isn't it common sense to ask whether
the moral standard of the party seeking,
is any better than that of the party hold
ing the offices? Is the average of Demo
cratic human nature more honest, or does
it possess superior temptation resisting
power over average Republican humanity?
Or if, as between the two political parties,
the choice be one of two evils, how can the
Democratic party claim, by force of party
teaching, party history, or party practice,
to be the lesser of the two? Is it not di-
rectly responsible, not possibly, for the
present extent of, but for the opportunities
of official corruption and Generalization
by the close party application of doctrine
that has proved fatal to the purity of our
Civil Service? When VIM. L. Marcy in
terpreted into plain Anglo-Saxon, the party
idea of his chieftain, "that to the victor
sbelongs the spoils," he framed politi-
cal maxim, a party dogma, that readily
ripened into theory more necessary for the
life of Democracy as an organization, than
any lofty principle it professed. To ignore
that theory today, would be to wipe the
party out of existence. 1t is held together
only by the power of prospective public
patronage. The "spoils" system, aud
that alone, is the corner stone of the party
fabric. The idea of "party' is superior
to, and rules high over any other idea An
appeal to the Democratic notion of "party
allegiance" strikes close to the individual
honor. Treason to party is higher crime
than treason to country, and loyalty to
Democracy is an impulse above any mere
sentiment of nationality. To its members,
"party" is every thing, and however de-
based the Civil Service may become, We
never are to look for any improvement in
it, so long as the system fathered by An
drew Jackson exists, and which none of his
loyal posterity will willingly change. The
majority in Congress, and selfrighteous
Democratic leaders, may hope to prove
Democracy pure, by showing Republican,
ism corrupt. But the virtue thus estab-
lish is SO negative in character, as to pro
mise little resistance when put to the test.
Scarcely day passes that does not afford
some instance of the real idea of the Demo-
cratic leaders upon the subject of Civil
Service Reform, and which fully proves all
| their professions on the subject to be mere
idle defamation. Mr.. Dana's rejection by
! the Senate is a case in point. Gen. Butler,
whom all Democrats affect to despise, and
Mr.. Simon Cameron, who is held up as the
very personification of the artful politi-
clan, undertook his defeat. But the Dem
ocratic members Of the Senate readily
joined under this leadership, simply for the
purpose of defeating a man who would
confer honor upon the service for which he
was named. The mere idea of partisan
advantage, outweighed in their minds, the
interests Of the diplomatic service, and the
single aim of defeating good Republican
nomination, was sufficient reason to induce
them to join with men for whom they pro-
fess no respect. Until craftsmanship is lost
sight of, no permanent reform in the Civil
Service of the country can be looked for,
and that can never be expected of modern
Democracy.