New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-04-28

confirms the truth of the conclusions at which Mr.
Mill arrived. Competition is q necessary element In
examinations for the public service.
b. That those whO hare served in the nations armies
hare any special claim 10 positions in the natioRs GIRL
serrice. They have just great claim as other
classes of citizens and greater. The object to be
steadily kept in view is the admttance OF no man
into the service who has not fairly the place by
proving himself the most capable of all competing
candidates. II an ex-soldier have done this. then
give him the place. But between more capable
citizen and less capable ex-sOder there can be no
choice. The citizen must have the position. mat
the nation should provide for those who have fought
in its defense is altogether proper. but u mas no
right to do this by foisng incapables upon its pup
lie service. Let such be pensioned. 1t is lar
cheaper in the end.
6. That just so many positions in the serriee ana no
more should be filled by individuals from enc State or
from one section of the country. This is the most aD
surd of falacies great nation should secure, 1or
the execution of its administrative business the
best men, let them from what quarter OF the
land they may. If more of these best men conic
from the East than from the West, how are you 10
induce the candidates from the West to qualify
themselves more thoroughly, if you continue to give
them just such number of Offices whether they oe
qualified or mott Geographical locality ought 10
have no influence in the matter. The young men vi
the whole country should be admitted to precisely
the same competition. II fewer from one state Sue
ceed and more from another it will simply en-
courage the former to prepare themselves Win
greater thoroughness for the next trial.
T. That anu patchuOrk attempt TO reform this or Hd
drpartment can be Of any drd The general principles
adopted should be applied to every branch Oh .ne
National service, commencing at the lower graues'
and gradually by means of proper promotlon erect
ing the publication of the whole service so long
as any department is at the mercy OF the party
leaders we shall still suffer from the existing evils.
les control will afford them foothold by means OF
which they can prolong the struggle against a
better system. The entire aristocracy of selfish
ofice-mongers, the entire army OF Ignorant once
seekers, should be made to understand that their
time is past.
g. That ann reform can be successful which does not in
terdic the members of the cril serce from engaging IN
portsan acts 1t Is absolutely essential that the e-
plovfs of the Government should fully comprehend
that they are in the service of the Government anu
not in that of party-that their wages are PAID by
the whole people and not by any partisan traction
of the people. Participation in party caucusses' the
contribution of funds in aid OF any partisan OBJECT
the acceptance of an Office in any partisan conVeh-
ton OF a place upon any party committee, the
effort to obtain promotion through the influence OF
any party leader, the editOrship or ownership OF
partisan iournal-all these should be considered as
sufficient causes for instant dismissal The rules for
the military and civil services should be alike In
this respect
The crude notions which have here been briefly
considered are by no means the only aoat upon
this subject; there various other opinions which
are frequently expressed but which certainly seem
equally erroneous. Among them Is the all-prevalling
idea that there Is something political in Govern
ment position. The actual truth is that only the
very highest places those filled by members OF the
Cabinet and by Foreign Ministers. are at all poiltca,
in their character Members of the Cabinet do ana
in directing and deciding the policy of the Admins,
tratiOn, but below them hardly single appointed
official can be named who properly has anything TO
do with what NAV be led the high affairs of state
The whole multitude of employees, from heads OF
bureaus and collectors down to the lowest grade OF
clerks are simply administrative functlon2res, ana
are no more authorized to interfere with the policy
of government than a clerk in a mercantile estaG-
Hshinent is authorized to interfere oliciously with
the direction of his employers affairs They have
no interest beyond that of the ordinary citizen. Ill
the matter and the very fact that they are the SER
wants of the Government should impel them to Keep
rigdly alOOf alike from politics and par lsdnShlp
WILLARD FISKE.
Ithaca, ". J., April g. 1877.