The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-11-27
GEN. GARFIELD.
HOW HE'S PUTTING IN HIS STAY AT
1aECAPIrAL.
An Address from New York Republicans,
and suggestive Reply simon
Cameron's opinion OF Gar.
Held and Grant-9aT.
neId's Church. .a

WASHINGTON, November 26.-Horact
White and F. W. whitridge, a delegation
Of the Independent Republican Associa
ton Of New York, called on Gen. Garfield
at his residence this morning, and pre-
sented the following paper:
General Garfield, President Elect Of The United
States:
SlR-The Independent Republican As
sociation Of New:York congratulates you
upon the result Of the recent National
election, which they deem most propiti.
tious, as 1t signifes the popular approval
OF the principles with which you have
long been identified, and gives reasonable
assurance that you will be sustained by
public opinion in your endeayors to carry
the same into effect. Your utterances in
Congress on the condition and needs OF
the civil service and the effective support
which you gave in the Chichago Conven.
ton to the resolution there adopted in
that behalf, and which constitutes part
OF the platform OF the Republican
party, impelled US to give you our
cordial support in the late cam.
paign, and inspires Us with confidence
that your administration will justify the
promise OF 80 noble record. The dan
gers to our political organization arising
from the savage contest every tour years,
extending over the entire continent
aud penetrating all ranks OF 80:
ciety, respecting the distribution OF
the Federal offices, seems 10 us
extremely grave. History teaches
that the thing most to be guarded against
in slrepublic Is excess Of party rage. This
spirit, always sufficiently active under q
free government, Is stimulated and aug.
mented to an alarming degree by the spoil
system which regards all Federal offices
as prizes OF the majority, and which would
have snatched from the whole body Of the
present incumbents their means Of liveli-
hood II q few thousand votes in this State
which were cast for yourself had
been cast for General Hancock. Is II not
apparent that greed and terror, inspired
by such system, must add largely to the
beat and fury and attendant dangers OF
our national elections, and increasingly as
the country grows in population and
federal patronage becomes more exten.
siye. No other civilized government ex.
poses It's public servants 70 the danger OF
beggary upon the hazard Of an election, or
would expect good service from him un.
der such conditions. We are aware that
this subject is hedged about with ditiicnl-
ties and that the abuses OF half century's
growth are not to be rooted up in Q day.
We believe, however, that public opinion
js in advance OF any reform OF civil SER
vice hitherto attempted, and that you may
safely establish rules for entrance to all
subordinate positions which shall make
ascertained merit the sole test OF appoint
ment, discarding both partisan service and
party afEiliation!from the list OF qualitica.
tionB. In this way new basis may be grad
ually gained for civil service to rost upon
so that hereafter no political party In its
hour oftriumph shall look upon the public
offices as an enemy's camp subject to in
discriminate pillage. II civil service
shall receive the same statesmanlike
treatment at your hands as President that
you have bestowed upon 1t as member oil
Congress and public teacher, you will. be
entitled to the gratitude OF your country.
men, and TO the verdict history aTards
those who have wisely used great oppor-
tunities.
HoRACE WHITE, PreSldent.
HENRY S. VAN DusEN, Secretary.
]. W. WHITRDgR,
GEO. WALTON GREENE,
GEo. HAVEN PUTNAM,
FELIX KAVPMAS, .
N. s. SPENsER,
CLARENCE DEMISG,
Executive Committee Independent Repub-
can Association OF New York county.
Gen. Garfield having received the paper,
entered upon discourse upon the civil ser.
vice, in the course OF which he said he
hoped TO have the cooperation OF Con:
gress in establishing legal basis for all
routine appointments, so that It should
not be in the power OF any person, not
even the President, to remove any capable
and faithful appointee during his term oil
of,ce whe..,s.as the term be long or short.