National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1880-01-15
FIFTY CENTS PER MONTH.


This shows that oivl.service reform is grow
lug in America, in tho only way II can grow
natumlly--ihrougl tho long continuance OF
Que party In power, aud tho consequent oduca-
ton Of an expert need class of public servants.
That is the only way. As for censurlng u
President because there is no civil-service re-
form written in rules aud books, it is absurd,
for, rs | have said, the President whoever lie
| is, is tho ono man in the country most anxious
for tho reform. Notwithstanding all that is
said by the newspapers 1 am convinced that
our civil service, take it all and all through
out the country, Is in as high n state OF
efficiency, and, think, higher than that oil
any other nation in tue world.
ELECTION ABUSES.
"Out of this arose a question as to the abuse
which had crept into our eloctions-tho abuse
of assessing public officials for funds to carry
on elections | see, said the General, =" in
some of the newspapers that under President
Hayes IL Is a subject for congratuaiion that
the Office holders arc no longer removed be-
cause they will not pay assessments for politi-
cal campaigns. | never removed man iOr
such a refusal, never knew ono Of my Cabinet
to do SO, and if had ever known IL would
have dismissed the officer who had made
such removals. Statements like this bolOng to
the cant of tho civil.scrvce discussion, aud
throw doubt upon the sincerity of those who
I'D vocatC tho reform. | can SEQ where our ser
vice can be amended But every day the Re-
publican party remains in p1wcr amends 1t.
AS to competitive examinations, they are OF
questionable utility. Ono of the most brilliant
candidates before the Civl-Scrvice Board WAS
IN Jail very soon after his appointment, for
robbery. The way to achieve the best civil
service is, first, to influence Congressman and
induce them to refrain from pressure upon the
Executive then pass laws giving each Office y
special tenure; then keep tho Republican
party in power until the process of education
is complete.
THE REAL DANGER TO THE CIVIL SERVICE.
" As it is now, the only danger | see to civil
service reform is in tho triumph OF tho Dcmo'
cratic party. As IL is, If our friends at home
would only be candid and sec it, civil-service
retOfiu has been going on ever since 1861, with
the exception of the 0nd of JOhusOn'5 term
During those years there has grown up an
educated tried and trusty body of public SER
wants. Thoy cannot DO displaced without in
jury. There are black sheep now aud then,
failures from time TO time. But the great
body of the public service could not be i'm
proved.
"Thore is nothing l have louged for so
much" said tile General, "as period of re-
pose in our politics, that would make II mat
ter of difference 10 patriotic men which
party is in power. l long for that. l am &C.
cused, l see, as having u special aversion TO
Democracy People used to remind mo that
voted for Buchanan, and call mo Il renegade.
The reason 1 voted for Buchanan was that |
knew Fremont. That was the only vote ever
cast
IF had ever had any political sympathcs
they would have been with tho Wings. | was
raised in that school. | hay0 no objection to
the Democratic party as it existed before the
war | hope again TO see the time when will
have no objection to it. Before the war,
whether man was Wing or Democrat, he was
always for the country. Since the war the
Democratic party has always becn against the
country. That is the fatal defect in the DEM
ocratc organization, and why | would see
] with nlarm its alyent TO nOMer.N y