The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1880-08-06
Plea VI Carl Srhurz,

In his elaborate plea Mt Indianapoli
tor stay ot judgment against the Rcuub
lean party Carl Schurz urged that III,
election of Gen Hancock would caus,
SO violent a change in official places a
To shake the machinery of government
itself He candidly admitted that thi,
was the only ''crisis'-thc removal o.
| the office holdcrs-that caused him any
alarm. AS n member of the office holding
class Secretary Schmz was making a not
very indirect appeal in his own behalf
lie was speaking for.hiS own class. On
the other hand, some of the active Re.
| publican workers who are "out in tn,
cold pretend to have assurances from
Garfield that there will be an entirely
new deal. But in case of election
Garfield could not make good his assur-
ances to. outsiders except in the rare cas-
cs "t death or resignation. Secretary
Mlhcrson sends ont his backmailinc
circular to all the officials of the govern
ment with the significant admonition
that they had the deepest interest inpre-
venting the restoration OF the Democrat
ic party to power. They pay in order
to keep their places and with the under
standing that they would not be dis
turbed in case of the election of General
Garfield. If removals were made in the
change of Republican administration the
ofiice-holding class would have little in
tcreSt IN making contributions to keep
their party in power The chief cause
OF the hostility to Hayes in the Rcpubli
can party arises from the fact that he
has not been able to make, room to ac-
commodate the clamoring outsiders. Gar
field would be in the same dilemma.
According to the argument of Carl
Schurz the people must submit to the
establishment of an oiiice-holdinr aristoc-
racy III their government There must
be no change of administration lest by
removals from Office too great a shock
would be given to the governmental ma
chine. The alarm of Carl Schurz is un-
duly excited on this subject. Rotation
IN office has alwa' been a Gavorte and a
santaly doctrine of the people.
In their state constitutions they have
made short terms in all otiicos.cXcept the
judiciary, from governor down to town
constable. Thispolicy of rotation in office
ot short terms has grown ont of popular
repu@nance in an office holding class.and
out OF the experience that LONG continued
possession OF power leads to corruption
ana abuses. 1t is a policy that can be
applied as usefully to the general roy
crnment aS to the local governments of
the people
The republican party is no exception
to the rule that everywhere and at all
times Il long lease of power breeds cor
ruption and misrule in the state. In his
compulsory abandonment of his civil
service policy to the cxigencies of party
MI Hayes has demonstrated that reform
can come only through Il change of ad-
But Carl Schurz pleads
that a change will produce too violent n
shock TO the body polite. lie need not
be disturbed. a change will give fresh
impulse TO the political development of
the country. There will not be the
slightest untoward disturbance in the
machinery of government. Let the Of
nee holders be shaken up and the Tite
l5arnaclcs scraped from the bottom of
the ship of state once in twenty wears
Against the demand and the impcrious
necessity Tor II change the only response
OF the republican organs and orators is
to flap the bloody shirt in the faces of
the people and to plead that the country
Is indebted to the republican party (and |
It's office hoIders) for its abundant wheat
Gro Is ana ITS ProdlgiouS growth in wealth |