New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-09-21
THE UNITARlAN CONFERENCE.
ADDRESS BY GEORGE W. CURTIS.
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM DIsCUssED-NEw OFFICER


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APPOINTED.
SARATOGA, n. Y, Sept. 20.-The Unitarian
Conference was addressed this morning by George VIII
liam Curtis He spoke in part follows:
He began by saying he had come to redeem, very i'm
perfectly, promise to speak on morals and politics
He had not written essay-OulY some heads and
notes for texts. Times fare fruitful In texts when
parties are dissolved and organized on question OF
its creditors. source Of immoral politics Is the sys
OF Civil Services an ey which explains much OF the
moral deterioration OF political parties. This system OF
Civil Service is not new BolngbrOke described II 200
years He said It was getting good employment for
swartwOut, nearly fifty years ago, repeated the sent
eR me M Of Hf T da5s
Bile for plumber graphically described by
now it is known generally the American
system. Yet contemplate IL IL, IT Is thoroughly
ganzed. The structure huge hierarchy, which holds
us all in hand contemplate and demoralzng IL
is There not an officer Of the army and navy who
serves while olce-hOlder in ciyn life lie term OF
proach from the Illuminating tenure under which
he holds his place. Fear OF removal renders
it necessary propitate superor and tends TO make
Oficehoders personal parasites ana OF ther
own self-respect Men WIN the same ute 70 place
which Sherman Farragut and other brave men hold IN
the army and navy have come 70 me ana spoken OF the
recang the degrading orders OF their superiors yet
they had 10 obey bread for their families The
question 10 DO met Is the Cy Service shall be made
TO destroy all sefrespect
FIom the result Oficeholders turn 20 the effect
general politics. II creates Sc fish political class aud
tine whole management OF politics slides into their
n
10 repubncs The fever sezes young men, and de-
mOralizes schools. Men form mercenary rngs every
party and drive good men out OF politics man argues
mat things become because A many respectable
men Keep out OF politics. The price IL
TEN which commits politics TO ring for personal. not
public ends pOisOns the OF good IL inevitably
Crowds oYefrun every place for plumber. webster
Clay and other statesmen Of former times denounced
the system inaugurated so openly under jackson
pernicOus
We demand that the public business shall be done on
min ana nh IN
system is presented, aud that comes from all directions
Government only be carried on by party, and
cannot keep up party without wardng the men who
bring out votes The smaller places must be given to
workers only The hiser places are legitimate objects
nate ones. Legislation fixes the policy OF the country
and the Executive carries IL out 30 much Is the leg
mate scope Of party action.
AchaDge Of Administration In England only amounts 10
a few score Of persons. The system vogue here
was in practice In the early days Of the Republic
When jefferson elected there a great change In
the general policy OF Government Party sprit i'm 800
WAS much more bitter than In 1876. The denun-
citation OF leading men was much stronger than We
see, and the party which Jefferson led had been
ten years forming Monroe Gallatu and few leaders
took office under JefersOn but subOriinates not
changed Jeferson's letter on Civil Service Reform
aDte-daed Hayes by long time All OF these things
show how modern Is the inqustiOn for the spos. Our
fathers may not have been saints they now 10
be heroes Holding that the right Is always the polite
appeal TO you II the moral publication Of political life
is not a moral and religious duty
DOrman Il. Eaton was announced 10 make a fifteen
minutes talk Mr. Curtis's address. He said every
subject had been covered and he hardly what was
The Rev DE- Bellows suggested the English Civil Ser
Mr. Eaton said: In 1920 the agitation for Civil Ser.
vice Reform began in England, ana went on
1872 doing away with the sale OF commissions
in the army. What has been done in England shows
what be done here II will be only political
which prevents our going TO follow the plans OF
England. In England the Custom House IL no more "A
centre OF political intrigue than Is regiment Of artillery
or infantry.
At the close Of Mr. Eaons remarks routine business
was resumed Resolutions to try raise $4,000 for
the Mesdyllle Divinity School, fayoring temperance and
Of thanks for favors, were adopted.
The Committee Nominations then reported the fol.
lowing President E. r. Hoar, OF Massachusetts, Vice
Presldentss F. Miller, Of Iowa; George o. shattuck
Of Boston Jos H. Choate, Of New-YOrk p. c. Cheney,
Of New-Hampshirei Z. G. sprague, OF Buffalo; Thos.
Talbot, Of Massachusetts.
COUncH-The Rev. Grindell Reynolds the Rev Ed
ward H. Hall, John ID. Long, John +. Kmball, Elliot C.
COwdin, the Rev. j. l.. Jones.
SecTetdrB-Ihe Rev. George Bachelor, of Salem
Ireasuer-The Rev. Adams Aver, OF Boston
Committee on FeIOpshtp-C O. Everett, OF
Cambridge; Augustus Woodbury., OF Providence ;
James Denormandie. OF Portsmouth: A. A. LAYER,
more, OF Meadvile; s. r. CalthrOp, OF Syracuse ;
G. W. Cutter OF Buffalo Brooke Herford OF Chicago
j. r. ElnRef, OF DesMOnes j. l.. Jones' OF GAINESVILLE
H. Stebblns, OF San Francisco Thomas l.. Elliott OF
Portland, OregOn ID. N. Utter, OF Olympia W. r.
The Committee on Credentials reported 53l delegates
present representing ISL churches eighteen
lions and twenty0ne States. The conference closed
with prayer by the Rev. DR. Bellows at O'clock meet
here again In September Of 1880.