Morning journal and courier., 1880-02-13
Yale Kent Club.

Lecture Ely GamRliel BradROrds Of BOs-
 tOn--Civn Service Reform.
 The very interesting course of lectures giv- en under the auspices of the Yale Kent Club, connected with the law department of the col lege, was concluded last evening with leo ture by Gamaliel. Bradford, Esq. of Boston, Mass, on s'Civil Service Reform" !" The speak or has made the subject study for ten or more years past and enjoys the acquaintance of many of the leading men of the country, not few of whom are in accord with him to the letter on the subject of the reform of the civil service. There was large audience present, with many prominent gentlemen in the number and goodly sprinkling of ladies. Mr. Russell, president of the club, introduced the speaker, who, in the early part of the lec- ture, advocated strongly, as powerful aid to effecting the reform, the according the mem- bers of the national Cabinet the privilege of addressing Congress upon measures and mat ters of importance to the country in their de- partments. The speaker rehearsed the efforts for civil service reform instituted in this coun- try in late years. They were futile largely be- cause members of Congress were unwilling to
 part with their s'prerogatives" as to patronage.
 Again, where man of superior intellect was
 sent to Congress in favor of the reform, he
 was so hampered by his colleagues that he
 generally either declined reelection or was
 not renominated, as not the man the
 people took him for. The speaker credited
 President Hayes with fidelity to the reform as
 having done all he could. He pointed to MT.
 Conkling as glaring example of carrying the
 State of New York by handling the party ma
 chinery in defiance of the Presidents order.
 The speaker referred to the Indian question, and compared Great Britain's treatment of the American Indians with that of the United States, greatly in favor of the former. We were in Indian wars perpetually. Great Brit
 ain on her side of the line, had had no Indian war for one hundred years. Why? Because
 she kept faith with the Indians through re- sponsible agents. They did as they agreed paid for the lands and held the agent re- sponsible With us nobody was held responsible. Great Britain wronged the Ben gal people under Warren Hastings. She atoned handsomely by grand reform, so that her East India subjects are equally protected in their rights with the Englishman. Great Britain was ahead of us in having responsibility fixed somewhere. Her Cabinet ministers were held responsible in their business. Public meas ures were discussed abundantly beforehand. There was almost as much suffrage in Eng land as here. The speaker digressed into 8 short plea for universal suffrage. Where all the people had voice, wars were infrequent. The speaker held that capitalists and proper ty owners need not fear. By organization l they could protect themselves. The tariff was touched upon by the speaker as absurd, ! and the ''quinine victory" was cited as an e1' ceptional success, not likely to happen often. Alexander Hamilton tried to get the ear of the nation on the floor of Congress, but Congress \ took fire and heard him in writing, not orally \ and since then the practice of Congress hal | kept the Cabinet members of the floor. Int speaker quoted conversations with Bristov and Sherman, as in accordance with his views ! The lecturer was warmly applauded.