The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1877-07-11

3 INV. IL 10 ieoiiua ouu ciuo 'UA -
I continue sc.
;. PIETRo.
: OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, D. c., July G. 1871
THE BIRTHDAY OF AMERICAN INDE
PENDENcE-
The anniversary of the natal day
of American independence has pass
ed. Reviews of the one hundred
and one years Of the nations history
have been given by learned and pa
triotic orators, and the people have
been exhorted to press forward ia
the true line of progress, taking as 9
guide the admonitions of the fathers
to keep clear of the rocks upon which
other Republics have split, and to
maintain, in their integrity, the insti
tutions established by the founders
of the government. The past has
gone into history; the future is seal
ed to all except the Omniscient Eye;
but the past should teach how I'd
perform future duties even if errors and
their effects cannot be recalled. L.
is not the part of wisdom to shut out
from view "a policy" or a public meas
ure merely because it is beyond re-
call. If any such be correctly inclu-
ded in the long list Of administratis e
wrongs, let it be poiaied to, time and
again, that those who come after US
may be saved from like inilictien up
on truth.
MORE LIGHT ON THE CIVIL SERVICE
ORDER.
Gen. Barlow aud Horace White
have each given to the public their
views in relation to the order of the
President, having for its object a re-
form in the civil service. They con-
fine themselves mainly to a criticism
of the propriety of prohibiting those
holding office from participation in
the management of party caueuses.
elections, and election campaigns.
Gen. Barlow stoutly condemns the
order as calculated 10 degrade the
service by making the officer a cypher
in the body-politic, and taking from
him the right belonging TO every
American citizsn. He takes the
position that, if the proper persons
be appointed to Office, there will be
no danger Of their transcending the
limits of propriety 10 the exercise Of
their political privileges.
Horace White, on the contrary,
not only endorses the order but bold
" asserts that it does lot go far
enough. He contends that the per-
mission to contribute money Of their
own accord, will leave a loophole for
evading the spirit Of the order. Like
all who take sides with him on this
question, be points the to civil service
of England, and insinuaies that, 10
this country as in Great Britain, the
of1ice-holders should not be permitted
to vote. These extreme views an
swers themselves. They will have
no sympathy with a nation whose
birth-d day We have Just been celebra-
ting, and whose severance from Old
England raj caused by the exercise
of q tyranny which repudia,cd free
dom in the exercise of political
rights. But Mr.. White, in his praise
of the order, should, If lie could, have
pointed to the consistency Of the ap-
pointing power in the application Of
the rule. Examination would have
shown him that ninety-nine out of ev-
cry hundred Of the Offices conferred
since the 4th of last March, have
been rewards for political services.
To issue the order now is like clock
ing the stable after the horse has been
stolen" The truth is, the principal
advocates Of the proposed change
are the Democrats, who "haye every
thing to gain and nothing to lose"
by it.
Az ~
SPOKEN.
The. country now has the formal
speeches of Packard, at Des Moios,
and Of Chamberlain, at Woodstock,
in each Of which the Administration
is arraigned on the charge of defec-
ton TO Republican principles.
These ejscted governors Of Repub-
lican States evidently intended to ap-
peal to their Republican brethren Of
the North for an expression of opin-
ion relative to the action Of the Elk
e~cutive in the matter Of expulsion
OF course, they cannot look to q res
toration to power, but they wish to
secure a recorded verdict Of approval.
So far as there has been any
avowal on the subject, by conven-
tons or meetings Of Republicans 10
the North, it has been largely in
sympathy with the cx-GoverL ors,
Packard and Chamberlain.
Notwithstanding the promise was
given by the President, that, if in his
public action be should find bimscl!
to be wrong, he would retrace his
steps but it is claimed that in his
Southern policy be has gone so far
that he cannot retrieve himself, even
if be would be convinced that he had
made a mistake. 1t is evidently the
desire Of all but a small fraction of
the Republican party of the country
to maintain the organization Of the
party, and the future performance
of Republican principles. Free dis
cussion is o means of securing these
ends, and should prominent individ-
uals be relegatsd TO political obscure
ty, the life of the Organization must
be preserved.
CLAIMS OF Ex COY. DIX AS
REFoRMER.
Ex.Gov, John A. Dix, of New York,
in his recent letter to the President,
lays claims to being the author of the
civil service rule, los again promul
gated, relative to reductions Of force,
repudiating the influence of Members
OF Congress- 10 procuring appoint
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