Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1880-01-30


in the Tdmont Chronicle, the organ of the
Congregational denomination in our State.
But the Chronicle, as will be seen from the
Introductory note, has declined to print it,
We think that there has been sufficient mis-
conception Of the position of the protesian's
TO warrant their present statement, and that
they arc entitled to public hearing and
We accordingly cheerfully give them space
for such a hearing in our columns.
Eatoa's Civil Service in Great Britain"
The book on the British Civil Service, its
Abuses and Reform, as bearing on the ques-
ton of civil service reform in this country, IS
probably the most elaborate contribution TO
the literature of this important subject rs YETI
made. Mr.. Eaton spends 175 pages on the
history of the British civil service down TO
1853, bringing that history down to the in
auguraion of the present civil service sys-
TEN in England In May, 1855, without ask
Ing leave of Parliament, the government
issued an order requiring all applicants Tor
office topasS competitive examinations before
a board Of commissioners. These eNamina-
tons were not at first open TO all, or OF equal
stringency in ell the departments, but be-
came so in 1870 after public attention had
been more firmly fixed upon the evils OF pat
ronage The vote of Parliament on the hrst
occasion was adverse, but the government
clunr to its examinations. Of the first LUIS
applicants examined. onc-t third were rejected.
One of the men rejected was protege OF
Lord Palmerston. then prime-minister, who
in some anger demanded that the examina-
ton paper he sent to him for his inspection.
He was informed that he could see it at the
office Of the commission, and on reflection
acouicsced in the results of his own policy.
In 1857, the House of Commons unanimous
" approved of the policy.
In 1860 committee consisting of Sir Stat
ford Northcote, John Bright, Robert Lowe
and others investigated the working OF the
reform. They found about 10000 persons
| in the public service. besides postmasters,
laborers and persons rendering occasional ser
vices. Of these only "a persons were class
ed among the political holders of office and
held to be subject to change with change
of administration The appointments found
to be necessary under the merit system were
only 500 a year The nominating power
was still in the hands of members OF Parlla
mcnt. 1t was not till 1870 that these exam
nations were thrown open to all persons oil
requisite standing for character and moral!
and of physical ability. AT the same time
probationary period of six months in actua
discharge of official duties is required, be-
fore the appointment is made. From
| 1870 to 1872, there were examined before thu
official board !, GS4 persons disappointment IL
the departments, not including the postoilice
of whom $40 were appointed; 10000 young
men were examined for junior clerkships il
the postofiicc and for other positions in tht
postal and telegraph service, of whom abou
1000 were appointed; and other examina
ton were conducted for the military, nava
and corstabulary services, making the tota
over 1900, exclusive of the examinations
for service in British India.
| The great lesson of Mr.. Eaton's book !:
the growth of reform from small beginnings
From the Rutland (vt.) Herald and Globel
TIE anti-Grant faction seems to have sud
denly awakened 10 deep sense of the abll-
tiles and patriotism of Senator Edmunds.
! We heartily wish that gentleman was IN any
real danger of nomination by the Republi-
! can parfy, for, if elected. he could be safely
counted 10 ply his stalwart switch on the
back of the turbulent and lawless South SO
vigorously that the independent philan-
thropisls would soon fall 10 sniveling again
about mercy and magnanimity TO our erring
countrymcn." Sixty days of Senator Ed
munds would make all these preachers of
the gospel according to Saint Slobber think
that Oliver Cromwell or Edwin NJ.
Stanton had come back to life and
labor If there was anybody in 1872
who hated the Greeley movement" with
any more heariiness, or expressed that hate
with any more bitterness than Senator Ed
munds. We would like to learn his name !;
there is nobody to-day who despises and dis
trusts 'thc Independent Republicans that
are sounding the anti Grant slogan more
than Senator Edmunds. and we only wish the
ANYTHING to beat-Grant' crowd could only
once have Edmunds; why, the memory of
that policy of government, which would
coax Il man with offers Of candy and oranges
into obedience TO the constitution and the
laws, would he eifaced 50 sternly that the
statesmen, who would make no answer to
murder but to sit down and cry over it,
would find the occupation of their weeping
VEIN gone.
| The Springfield Republican copies the
above paragraph, heads it, Senator Ed
munds as pictured by an editor who has
/ lived in Burlington, W." and evidently ac-
! cepts it as an accurate likeness. 1t does not
strike us as altogether such. Mr. Edmunds
would not be fit Representative of Yer
mont, if he were not ''stalwart" in the sup
port Of Republican principles; of National
unity; of civil freedom and equal rights for
all before the law Of obedience TO the
amended Constitution and of wholesome
law as opposed to lawlcss violence and pros
scription for opinions sake. Of the techni-
cal independence" which is 50 often indepen-
J
which consists chiefly of carping criticism, i'm
pugnment of the motives of Others and trim
ming concessions of principle 10 prejudice
hc undoubtedly has very little. But with
some opportunities To understand him, w
have not come TO set down Mr.. Edmunds as 1
very bitter halcr either of men or classes
We believe that his long service at Washing
ton has given him truly National sympa
thics thai hc realizes that the men of til,
North fought the men Of the South, not il
order that thereafter they should forever
hold each other at arms end but because
they intended TO live with them, and dcsrct
to do so under conditions of law. anC
civilization and civil society, Soutl
as well rs North, which should maxi
mutual respect anI confidence and sympa
thy possible that he considers the mainte
nance of what Ought to have been the result.
Of the war, as necessary to the peace anc
prosperity of the South, as of any other sec
ton and that if he should ever bccom,
| President of the United States, he would
carry into the oiiicc no vindictiveness to
wards any section. Firm resistance TO folly
and wrong is one thing vengeance is AN
/ other thing, and bitter hatred of fools and
wronr doors still another. And We are quite
mistaken in our Senator, if he is not an ex
poncnt OF the first rather than Of the lattel
sentiments
PERSONAL AND POLITICAL.