Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1880-07-30


are many good sound money men in tn
Democratic party, it is equally well know
that the Democratic party has irresisibly al
tracted to its fold very large majority of tn
greenbackers, inflatonists and fiat-mone
men. 1t has, indeed, in its national plai
forms of late declared for sound money bu
IN 1876, while it pronounced for resumption
1t demanded at the same time the repeal o
the resumption law. l ask what would hay
become of resumption had the RESUMPTION
law been repealedY But while thus speak
ing of sound money in their national plat
forms, is il not equally true in a large mum
bor of the States the most prominent infla
tionists are put forward for the highest hon
ors followed by the masses of their party
80 Gen. Ewing, in Ohio, so Gen. Butler il
Massachusetts,, so Mr. Landers, in Indiana
While IN Maine Democrats and greenbacker
fuse in cordial embrace, and while in many o
the Western and most Southern States tb,
Democrats almost en- masse represent un
sound financial ideas. Is it not true. that tc
the very last resumption was opposed in Con
gress by Democratic Congressman Why,
when Gen. Hancock was nominated the at
traction for the greenbackers seemed TO be SC
strong that the venerable Peter Cooper and
Gen. Sam Carey of Ohio were among the
first to pay him their devotion and wish him
VIII happen in these respects in case of a
Democratic victory? In fact, we do not
know whether the advocates of the public
faith or the repudiationsts, arc the strongest
element in the Democratic party throughout
the country, and which of those elements
Will control its policy. Iappeal to you, bust
ness men, am going too far in saving that
all this is dark, aud that in voting the Demo
cratic ticket you will take gambling chance,
and that chance being rather against you 2
Are you prepared, tax payers of the country,
to take that gambling chance under such cir.
cumstances But one thing is certain, that
the Democratic party, in its fashion, will re.
form the civil service That it will certainly
do 1t will do it according to an old Demo-
cratic principle, "to the victors belong the
spoils." That principle is Of Democratic or
lgin, and the Democratic party has adhered
to it with fidelity worthy of the best cause.
Other parties were infected by it, but
the Democratic party may claim the glory of
Its paternity and of its most unswerving ad-
vocacy. 1t may abandon any other princi-
pie, but not that. II there ever was a Demo.
crat, either at the head of the organization
or in the ranks, who has proved recreant to
that great doctrine, and made proclamation
of his opposition to it, l do not know his
name 1t is so closely interviewer with the
traditions Of that party that | doubt very
much whether it could be abandoned without
destroying the party's existence. That great
word, the cohesive power of public plum
der, had It's first and most pointed applica-
tion to the Democracy. And, indeed. when
we look at its heterogeneous elements TODAY.
1t is not easy to imagine any other cohesive
power which could hold them together. II
Gen. Hancock or any other leader should
slgLity his intention TO abandon il, every
Democrat in the land would receive the news
with an ironical smile, and simply say that
the leader knew a trick or two. II such an
intention were declared and the declaration
believed. it is not unlikely that their hosts
would disband at once. When the Democra.
cy therefore speaks Of a reform of the civil
service, the meaning Of that term in the light
Of history and of the tendencies at present
prevailing, can be nothing else than that the
reform shall consist in putting out all the
Republicans and putting all Democrats in
their places. What reform that would be !
How the North and South would shake hands
over the bloody chasm filed with such good
hings What a host Of men would be march
ng upon the capital from all quarters of the
compass, each one feeling that he is born TO |
erve the public and that the government |
'annot get on without him 1t is said that
u the present moment, when the Democracy |
eels sanguine of success, as it always does |
he most popular work of literature with |
Democrats, even with those who never read |
book before, is the blue Book, " being the |
egister of offices under the government, with |
alArles attached, each active Democrat Sc
actlng his, and many the same. Now let us |
&c what that sort of Democratic reform in
he civil service really means and what It's ef.
ect would be.
PRESENT CONDITION OF THE CIVIL SERVICE.
Look at the present condition of the SER
ice. l have already admitted that the re-
orm of it has not gone so far as was intend
and was desirable, but l may say also that
lore has been accomplished than is general.
: known and believed repeat it is an al.
lost universally acknowledged fact that nt
resent the public business is, on the whole,
ell and honestly conducted in the govern
lent offices. The revenues are collected
18th remarkable fidelity, and never in the
le history OF the country has the loss in
leir collection been as small as now. Insome
its branches it has almost entirely disap-
cared. The postal service is acknowledged
be more than ever ably, honestly, and eff
emily done. Even in those branches of the
lblic service which more than others have
most from the beginning of the govern
ent borne the reputation of being inefficient
Id corrupt, such as the land and especially
e Indian service, cases of peculation and
query have become comparatively rare. and
% general inefliciency of officers is yery
uch improved and l speak of this with as
rance, for the reason that l am conversant
lth the details. How has this been brought |
'outT In the first place, officers of all
AIDES were made to understand that dishon- |
ty OF whatever kind or degree would under
} circumstances be tolerated. Officers guilty
corrupt practices, whenever their guilt
rs shown with sufficient clearness, have
en exposed and elected from their places
thout hesitation. Every man in the service
this, it may be said that il
rsons with theving propensities were left I
put In place, they did in most cases not {
re to steal. Secondly, the number of re- [
ovals made by this administration has been I
small Not only clerks in the
partments, but officers appointed for a
IN OF years, were generally left in their
ices as long as they showed the necessary {
gree of ability aud efficiency in the dis I
arge OF their duties In this way the SER
70 retained very valuable stock of official c
perience which could not but tell in its gen. {
Il efficiency, while at the same time public i
wants were imbued with feeling that the L
st way to secure themselves in place was TO L
rtorm their duties according to the best c
ndard. Thirdly, in appointing new men e
70 was taken to select such as would pre- G
nably be capable to perform the tasks as p
ned them. In some departments, and in
lumber Of the larger government institu- n
MS in the country, systems of examinations
re introduced, which deferred at once the g,
irely incapable from urging themselves or D
ng urged for official position, while they Sc
nlshed also good measure of the capaci- ST
Of the applicants. This system of exam HI
On may not in all cases furnish an abso CT
ely reliable test, but it has proved to be an @,
nitely better test than mere recommended al
D from political favor. 1t has not been ex- fo
ded as far as it should be, but good be- W
ming has been made, capable of large ex- Ii
sion and development. Fourthly, the in
ctice of making promotions from lower to tn
her places for good official services rem of
ed, not only in the departments, but also tr
'ome branches of the service outside of re
m, has been carried out to a much greater WI
ant than is generally known thus furn- oil
ng another stimulus to the zeal of the pub ca
servants. / repeat that mistakes in an M