New-York tribune., 1877-10-19
THE SPEECHES.

introduced the Rev. Dr. Henry W. Bellows DR.. Bellows
said:
Civil Service reform is fairly before the country,
and already received earnest study from few VINO
have made sincere efforts TO naugUrate IT, genera AZ
methods aud an in the platform OF all parties
What the Civil Service in lis nature or design slhe
ton from the military naval legislative aud udeai une
tons OF the Government II Is composed oi tn9 & pers I
appertaning to customs postal facilities and te
tho Government. Now, what is required from an
ideal point OF view, in the persons VINO MI execnuVe
easily held accountable and removable only for cause
Government is the greatest, most serious, ana %uey
influential form OF business We all recoenze te & IN
pOrtance OF sound principles IN tue selectlon VI we
SSent and eHeSr' Sd S the ai aoG There too
often wise and foolish partner but no Onedoub
the wisdom Of its business plans the sound methods
steadily pursues. without deviation or exception III te
selection, promotion. and oversight OF lis cnp0yes
Now the methods and rules recognized in private bus
ness as conditions of success, obviously even more
benefcent necessary and more binding wien tne
business directly the whole country Imagine
sponsbe faithful suitable, carefully selected men, is
not obvious what economy, dispatch eXemGary @ excel
mental HeHt dTS machinery SSr and i5t operations
Dr. Bellows spoke Of the Postal Department in
which, because its operations more directly and
constantly under public eye Of the largest number of
people, excellences aud defects were more imme
diaiey felt, and regularly commented on by the
public press, q satisfactory eXactness, compulsory
standard OF competency was more nearly obtained
There the public would stand nonsense Parties dld
not often keep nOtorOusly inefficient or inca
pabe officers IN place. TO nominate or support un
worthy OF incompetent Of their own stripe. The
speaker continued:
This is fact Of singular importance because it throws
strong light upOn the only method by which we may
hone 10 effect reforms other departments of the
many cases far inors seronslg feet the public interests
do ii in ways that not obvious and make no noise.
fully in other countries, Is pretty certain that III tnis
no satisfactory reform can be ci atiImeG cen lh tnc c
eept by the intelligent pressure OF pubic 11lin-
Tronoucce or our political progcuitors for u.s. an abso
lutte conhdence IN "a, people al aIge as Ile JuseS t
is only wise as glec rs pure es thc people are WISE
ing the Civil Service are, y Judgment none the less
honorable and useful for having fOrvarl0us reasons en-
Inoyeincns in this country has been arousing public
attention and callns out earnest discussion ,.. -,
Cy Service reform IN TINS county is I nG' ro t9g TO pe
s cic itiai f5r,ners Who have studied Inc Cvii
Service reform Of England in India at home. Tho
place TO begin with the people NJ large IN Gazing tier
attention to the working OF the Government machine
upon whose wheels they turn their tremendous ana IRE
sisble power Tlinout often Goh%.attlng % & IGw % ,v Z ih
81 is Of manning their interests ana wasting tuef
60 er5 u l'','itrs The American people have been
well educated in the pinciples of their Government 1t
ernmcnt
LIKE BUSINESS, LIKE GOVERNMENT
Dr. Bellows said that he had been cndeayolng TO show
that the Civil Service Of the country would lot be any
better the general business p0ctlccs tue
morality, and the general careulness IN depOsting re-
sponsi1ty. 1t was often assumed by Civil Service re-
formers the personnel of the Government depart
ments ana ;he methods and morals of the public Offices
were worse than found in the private business OF
the country lie did not believe in this. Like priest,
Mike people Ike business, like government; like com
nercal service like Civil Service. The speaker alluded
10 the experiences with corporations, with saw
ings banks with railroad companies. Business Of all
kinds had enterprise, snap, and DASH than
prudence. exact method, and rigid accountability. He
said
This IA due 20 the fact that un the close Of the war,
Opportunity WAS various that employees everywhere
had their choice OF pursuits and held one place only un
I'M better offered and therefore with diminished sense
Of oblgatou and weak KIND OF hdenty 10 present
employers. one OF the principal causes Of demolaiza-
tion country has been tie extent OF tie territory
and the facilities FOR change OF ae WIN corresponds
ing Independence Of local reputation. Is great sup
port Of fidelity feel that one must earn ones living
Nice There viii be 10 great Improvement in National
character until citizens I've nearer 70 the bone
anu Ji' ,,t nctl,ne SO fatal to honesty and virtue
as the habi;s Of easy living fastened by previous prosper
ity upon who suddenly left with cr prosper
ity gone but with Their established tastes 0 luxury ana
comfort eft, and with no honest means Of gratifying
Them am very confident that our Young people grow
Win expectations that not likely 10 be met and with
little preparation 70 encounter Temptation when hardship
cause the shrinking from the useful seventies Of labor
and enterprises fields that so large class of our
people grasp eagerly at Government emp!oyment
What, tncn, world tne eu enGq II,Ads OF IeIoIn ~
In fhe llft of the Government bestowed obtained |
What they desire o. course, IL this 20 have these cfccs
filled by those best suited their duties, aud cala
be of keeping the Government machine IN accurate
efficient and economical order and activity. We have
been 80 long rdceh by tue houou OF oauOn 10 once
-an absolutely f@tuous principle in ts application 10
the clerical and merely ministerial face Of the !
Governmcut machnc-that We have come 10 think the !
Offices OF the Government prizes n lottery, TO which
every citizen has ticket. aud mat IL matters little into
whose hands they fail Rotation in Offices requiring |
special training, experience ana illness, is folly that
every merchant corporation must know tie madness
or The Government business Is not school in which TO
educate blundcrers and nOn-cOmpeens. IL does not
change the case that territorial. local. and party claims
have for thirty Lad au unhlushus Influence aud
allowance deny that any claim other than that Of
super fitness exists, Ia any section Oi the country TO
any offce. ,,, -. - - -,
monuments the mercy Of any new Administration.
ir.t that candidates should be selected first aud fore
most for fitness and character secondly, that they
should be made, RS nuch as l0sDe a class OF persons
expecting to devote tner lives to the business ana
So narrowed 20 the smallest possible number-a
plan by which ohiceseckng would ceate TO be
the deusiye and Injurious disposition OF hun
dredfod more than can ever attain ONCE, ana
fertile Of political corruption. Thirdly, that
promotion for merit and eugth OF service should be the
rule and the exception, tbat faithulness might
expect It's rewards In tie natural course OF that whcl
ad beeu adopted as professions and lastly that long
and ftAfG should cnd IN retiraCJ on hafpay,
like the military and naval commissions or course, l
know that all this is opposed to the prevailing opinions
or prejudice OF the American people But his Is TIE
very thing are seeking TO reform
The speaker said that objections enough might be
made TO the method administering the diplomatic and
tered like the military and naval service for life, aud
subject 70 promotion for fitness and experience.
USES OF PARTY.
The speaker said that here touched the real and
obstinate objection 70 Civil service reform. The country
could not AFFORD to diminish the interest in politics, and
polit,cs depended on party organization He continued
freely admit the necessity Of parties and regard