Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1876-08-19

on security they consider safe, and
their funds lie almost without in
terest. Men of enterprise who
have creditor securities to pledge,
will not borrow. Consumption
has fallen below the natural linz
its of a reasonable G onomy.
The public mind viii no longer
accept shams, 1t has suffered
enough from illusions. An insin-
cere policy increases distrust. An
unstable policy decreases uncer-
tainty, The people need to know
that the government is moving
the direction of ultimate safety
and prosperity, and that it Is do
ing so through prudent, safe and
conservative methods, which will
be sure to infiict no new sacrifice
on the business of the country
Then the inspiration of new hope
and well founded confidence will
hasten the restoring processes Of
nature, and prosperity will begin
to return.
The st. Louis Convention
concludes its expression in
iu regard to the currency by a
declaration Of its convictions in
to the practical results of the sys-
tenn of preparation it demands.
1t says: 1--WE believe such q sys-
tenn, we'll devised, and, above all,
intrusted to competent hands for
execution, creating at no time an
artificial scarcity Of currency; and
at no time alarming the public
mind into a withdrawal of the
vaster machinery of credit, by
which 95 per cent. of all business
transactions are performed-a sys-
tenn open, public and inspiring
general confidence would, from
the day of its adoption bring heal
ing on its wings to all our harrass-
ed industries, set in motion the
wheels of commerce, manufacture
and the mechanic arts, restore en-
ployment to labor, and renew in
all its natural branches the pros
perity ofthe people,"
The Government of the United
States, in my opinion can advance
for a resumption of specie pay
ments on its legal tender notes by
gradual and safe processes tending
to relieve the present business dis
tress. If charged by the people
with the administration of the ex-
ecutive Office, / should deem 1t a
duty so to exercise the powers
with which it has been or may be
invested by Congress as best and
soonest to conduct the country to
that beneficial result.
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
Two evils infest the official SER
vice of the Federal Government.
One Is the prevalent and demon
alizing notion that the public SER
vice exists not for the business and
benefit of the whole people, but
for the intsrest of the office-hold-
ers, who are in truth nut the SER
wants of the people. Under the
influence of this pernicious error
public employments have been
multiplied; the nombers of those
gathered into the ranks Of the Of
fice-holders have been steadily in
creased beyond any possible re-
quirement of the public business
while inefficiency. peculution,
frauds, and malversation of the
frauds, from the highest places of
power to the lowest. have ever
spread the whole service like a
leprosy.
The other evil is the organiza-
ton of the official class into a body
Of political mercenaries, govern
ing the caucuses and debating the
nominations of their own party,
and attempting to carry the cleo
tons of the people by undue infiu-
ence, and by immense corruption
funds systematically collected from
the salaries or fees Of Office holders
The official class in other countries
sometimes by its own weight and
sometimes by alliance with the
army, has been able to rule the UNI
organized masses even under uni
versal suffrage. Here it has al
ready grown into a gigantic pow
err capable of sitting the inspira-
ton of a sound public opinion, and
of resisting an easy change of adj
ministration, until misgOvernment
becomes intolerable and public
spirit has been stung to the pitch
Of civic revolution. The first
step in reform is the elevation of
the standard by which the APP
pointing power selects agents to
execute official trusts. Next in
Importance is a conscientious fdel-
ity to hold to account and displace
untrustworthy or incapable subor-
| diuatea. The public interest in