Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-09-18

administer it. If they are cowardly,
insincere, without convictions, without
patriotism, absorbed in selfish greed, caring
for nothing but spoils, it is simply because
the system neither calls for nor counte-
nances any other kind of men. 1t is there
fore useless to imagine that the tone of
American politics can be elevated SO long
as the core of the system remains what 1t
is. Before we can have courageous and
patriotic politics, we must have political
field capable of attracting statesmen and
patriots, men of honor and intelligence
and unselfsh public spirit.
That is to say, we must have Civil Serv-
ice Reform. No matter where we begin
the analysis of the evils which affect our
politics, we shall be brought back to this
conclusion in the end. All other at
tempted remedies are feeble and ineffi-
Gent None go to the root of the disease
The vast patronage of the Government
must be taken olt of politics. That is the
one effective cure for cowardice and insin-
cerity and lack of craftsmanship and parti-
san pettifogging generally. That this
can be done admits of no controversy. 1t
has been achieved in England, which coun.
try has gone through our experience in all
particulars, and in every phase, but has
outstripped us in the work of reform. A
quarter of century ago abuse of patronage
was as rife there as it is here to-day.
Thus when a change of parties occurred
there was the same Z" clean sweep which
signalizes our change of administration.
But the other day the Conservative party
was beaten overwhelmingly, and the Lib
eral party went into power; and this great
change caused the substitution of precisely
thirty-six officers throughout the United
Kingdom. This has been accomplished in
England without affecting in the least de-
gree the energy or enthusiasm of party
warfare. 1t has abolished the spoils motive
in politics, but it has in so doing broadened
the political arena, and made it eligible to
the highest minds. All this can be done in
the United States as well as in England.
Perhaps not as easily, but nevertheless
it has to be DONE Thus far the peo-
pie have failed to recognize the urgent
necessity for it. They have been dis
gusted and shocked by party cowardice and
insincerity, but they have merely turned
from one party to the other, ard no relief
was to be had in that way. The abolition
of the spoils system, the lifting of the
whole civil service out of politics, the de-
privation of Congressional patronage, the
elimination of all the influences which breed
corruption and SO attract the foul things
which batten thereon-these are the steps
which it is necessary to take before it can
be expected that parties will become truly
representative and progressive, and
capable Of guarding the national interests
boldly and wisely. Nor must the difficulty
OF the enterprise appal 1.-The country. The
need of pressure is after all at one point
chiefly. The people can always compass
the reforms here outlined by making it
understood that nothing less will satisfy
them. To do this they have but to sup
port those who are willing to devote them
selves to reform. Hitherto reform was
impossible, because whoever entered
politics was compelled to employ the old
corrupt machinery, and, employing it, was
fettered by it. Let the people determine
that those who stand for public interests
shall be upheld, and there viii be no lack
of champions. When opinion is ripe the
reform will be accomplished, and mean
time we have sought to help it forward by
showing that all thoughts OF better things
are vain and lille so long as the system re-
mains what it is, and therefore excludes
from the public service the only men who
could be expected to do better.