National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-08-29
CIyIL-sEnvICE rLAP-poopLE.

The Sunday Herald places very absurd
circular letter, issued by the President to
the heads of Departments in June, 1877, at
the top of its most conspicuous editorial
column, and ostentatiously calls the atten-
ton of "JoHN SHERMAN" to the Presi-
dental ed let, that No officer shall be re-
quired or permitted to take part in the
management of political organizations,
caucuses, conventions or election cam
paigns." The order, so-called, was one of
the many serious mistakes committed by the
President shortly after he was safely in
stalled in the White House. 1t is the only
piece of Cwsarism ever attempted by an
American President. The idea of any man
in this Republic assuming to dictate to any
of its citizens and saying that they shall not
be permitted to take an active part i'll pub
lie affairs! Why, 1t is too preposterious for
even respectable consideration.
The civil-service decree is so totally in
conflict with the theory of our Government
and the genius of free people, that not
only Republicans, but even Democrats
laugh at it, and no one, least of all q refor-
mer in office, if he can travel at the public
expense and get pay for his speeches, makes
any pretense of respecting it. If the
Herald means to intimidate Honest JOHN
SHERMAN, who travels at his own expense
and accepts no pay for his speeches,
into refraining from taking part in
political campaign or forbidding
the officers and employees of his De-
partment to take such an active part in
political affairs, as will not interfere
with q faithful performance of their official
duties, we can assure the Herald that it is
wasting its ammunition. JOHN SHERMAN
and every other good Republican, in office
and out of Office, treats the Imperial
" Decree" exactly as the reformers in Office
treat it, as it deserves-as mere piece oi
absurd fiddle flddle reformy-doodle.
The Republican party itself is neither
more nor less than political organization.
The President and all the self-styled civil
service reformers insist that the mainte-
nence of the party at the helm Of National
affairs is absolutely necessary for the secur-
ity of our institutons-at least all reform
ers agree with honest Republicans upon
this point, and as stOutly maintain this
absolute necessity, at least as long as they
can or could manage to hold an office under
it. The management of the political cam
paign is, therefore, even from ciyil-servicC
point OF view, of the most vital inn
portance to National affairs, and be
ing of such Importance, it is Difficult
to see why intelligent, patriotic citizens il
Office under Republican Administration
should not be rs active in participating il
all political movements which tend to per
petuate their party in power as citizen
who are not in Office. We can understand
why Democrats desire the exclusion O
citizens from political activity who's,
patriotism and intelligence qualify then
to hold executive offices and honorable EN-
ployment by the suffrage of the part.
which directs the affairs Of the Nation, bu
we do not understand why any true Re
publican should desire to deprive his part,
of the political services of such host o
intelligent and highly honorable, patriotic
gentlemen as those whom President HAYE
finds worthy to entrust with the execution
of National business.
No citizen can divest himself of his dut,
10 his country. In some countries oIhy
favored class are allowed to participate il
political affairs, but here all are free to d
80 more than that, our institutions deman,
that each citizen shall do his whole duty t