New-York tribune., 1877-08-18
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
XVIII
7 TJyrTP FPOM GAIL HAMILTON.


THE MODEL ENGLISH CIVIL. sEEVICE-PATROHAGE
AND Election BRIBERY REVEALED by lhh
NovErIsTs -- LORD BEACOHsFIELDs RECENT
AproINTMFNr-HARDsHuP or THE CIVIL SER
VICE CLERKS
To the Edttor Of Ths Trfb"ne.
SIR; Tho Civil Service Of England is held mp by
Rcormcrs "a the goal Of our ambition There Is the
land Of pure delight where saints immortal Teign'
There connective examination has free course to run
and be gloriied There peer and peasant are on the
same footing man has no prestige from connec-
ton or acquaintance with the great but ~ appointed
to Office only aftera stern certificate OF Illness mere
money is restrained to its legitimate uses. Inc
purity OF elections is secured by the most rgid laws
against bribery and the wiles Of politicians are uh-
known.
confess that look upon all these assertions WIN
entire distrust No law of nature is more uhiFefsai
than that uttered by the Hebrew sayant As IN water
face answereth 10 face. 50 the heart 0i man ~ ii'
Two nations OF common blood and similar ihstitu-
tions will inevitably be similar in character am
happy to believe that both England ana
America are continually striving for good
government. but should need the most
indisputable testimony to believe that England had
found any royal road 10 virtue. While in certain re-
spects English ways may be better than ours, and
certain others in which ours are better than the
English and certain others still in winch each ones
way is best for itself and they could not be inter
changed 10 advantage. 1 Judge that the integrity
and the ntelge of the educated class the polit-
ica class the governing class OF the two countries
do not materially differ. IquestiOn if the Govern
ment of England is more economically, more hon
esty, more defty more Justly, more democraticaiiy
administered than Ours whether its Civil Service
costs less accomplishes more, and Is on the whole
conducted with more purity and patriotism
All the reasons / shall bring forward to Justify
this question are circumstantal indirect, lny0l-
untary. and therefore more valuable than direct
testimony. which may be supposed to be biased by
desire or dread Of consequences.
And first | rive the novels. No one can read
square yard of English novels without seeing that
Government Service is the stock refuge of every dis
tressed hero towards whom the author has beneyo-
lent intentions. And this service is usually opened
to them, not through their own power and prowcss.
but through the Intervention OF some titled klhsnan
or some magnanimOus noble rival. Mrs. Olphanfs
disavowed Edward is allowed by the Lady Augusta
To marry her daughter as some consulate Is
secured 80 him but not a word OF any formidable
and lnprrious competitive examination. Mrs. Alex
audeIs lifted lover, whose most hopeful fitness Is
an effort at reform after his designations is dccently
tive examination, but by the splendid gentleman
who has "cut him out"-a flower of the nobility.
But thing of this sort has spread wide and deep
through society before 1t filters down into womens
novels as q general and natural resource.
And NOT in women's novels alone that we findt
Mr.. Anthony Trolope will be admitted by all to be
n GOOD authority as one could have on Pafliamen-
tary matters In his very clever story OF " DR..
Ihorne he says:
In these days Of snow-whitc purity the sin OF
hril 4, dgTnnable II is the oue sin which, m the
Uouse %, Commons there eau be no forgiveness. when
discovered should render the culpiit liable 10 poa
iaefb v,itiou hppe of pardon. II r. pollution 20
H. whole Honse hch can only be cleansed by ercal
s1ciiace such Is the lsngmee OF pa'r!olc
members with regard To bribery. Ihc Ia"S
aust bribery at elections now stringent hat an
unf' .rtunate candidate easily become guilty, even
though actultcd by the puest Intentions BHi
moi Inc less on that account does any gentle
man ambitious Of the honor of serving DDS
prelituinarv measure. TO provide rourd sum oi
money al his bankers. candidate mus pay Tor NO
rtfne no refreshmrnt, 40 band OF music n must ave
u-flt.r rbous 10 tac eils, nor ale To tae mon ii
Lrzza Dc uttered in hs favor, 10 j. AT his pel; II s pe
necessary Tor ann TO prove before committee i9at
va t.c spon aueuus result OF British feeling IN ms iiVor
a;l NOT tue purchased resu oi British pee lie cannO
sa..Iy ask anyone a. share ms hotcl dinner b!lDe5
Iig,. n self now in tue most imispaue >ivrt ubo nl,
be III ctc by The Olcr Of q ol sucif Dut u iic
l..s ,n tis account docs poor mau mud tnlt ~ j.
onif unable 20 overcome the difficulties of contested
election
od the story of Dr. Thorne tells rs how it is done.
In Green Pastures and Piccadiliy, Il novel now
appearing from week te week IN various periodicals.
Mr.. William Black repeats lie wondroua tale. Nj.
BaIfour is the rising, ambitious, clever young
parii,rnentarian of the better sort He has
lost ms seat in one borough ana Is desr-
Gus TO Sc .ure another and consults MF. 30
ltbo VINO is the Parliamentary ageut-em-
pIoyed by members our Reiormers w0uid say,
10 do their dirty work for them" The conyeIsa-
sf.i,- afft4 4-fs4I inn
fo, fine yorshppers Of British politics. Air. Blfonr
i advised 10 90 up and see Chorley. who carries In
olobnrv borough in his pocket. Old Harnden, the
present incumbent is very unpoDular-te has been
s,ading no ilOaeg Leiy-aud when De Is appealed TO-
vows he will not spend penny for bogus contest
Chorle i The great man of Engiebury. friend of
,be Dnkc's and must be cOnciilated 10y putting III
tie business III his way-or especially by buying up
some land which he has not to put 100 iihe i'"ihi
,n II stocn from the common and about when ne
isa little uneasy-and giving 1t 70 the village ior
public green, thereby conciatIng both. Oh course
the borough must not know anything about Il till
after election; for even the expressed intention oi
doing such thing would lee serious matter fol
Mr.. Balfour. Ch0rley indeed, Is rather startled by
BafOur's frankness IN speaking OF II to himself foI
" he was accustomed TO much recondite diplomacy
caucus meetings, private influence, and Deht-
ting gravity and was quite shocked by near
ing q spade called a spade. lie called 1t tne
high sense Of duty of q member OF Parliament! O.d
Harndcn-the man who would and would not spend
money according TO h!s likng-was honest and
straightforward but his brother-in-law, Macleary,
received $500 in hard cash for talking out bill
near the end Of the session. Mr BaliouIs only
rival was one Key, who had been sent out oi Eng
land time after time 30 the most unhealthy places,
but came back sm.ing every time, and threatening
to get into Parliament again # they did not glve
him better appointment, Is Ar VI illiam Black 80