National Republican., 1880-02-21
CIVIL SERVICE ORDER NO. 1.

issued it acted like q stroke of paralysis
upon every Federal oflice-holder in the
| Nation. They became literally dead aud in
active in all their political relations and
duties, except that they felt at liberty to
discuss political issues, write political let
ters, and exercise the right of suffrage at the
ballot-box. The several Republican State
associations at the National Capital fell
before it as the tree falls under the blows
of the woodman's axe. They all disap-
peared under its influence and yielded up
their existence, so rigid was the rule enforced
and so fatal was its effect upon them. No
Federal ofic holder was permitted TO take
part in primary party action, or to serve rs
delegate to a convention. To hold Federal
position was tohandicap the citizen and de-
stroy his efficiency everywhere except at the
ballot-box. He was permitted to vote, but
beyond that he was as dead TO politics as
the religious recuse is to the pleasures Of
the world. That was the condition of
affairs two and a-half years ago, and hard
as it seemed for an American citizen to
surrender these rights at the behests Of
power, all who held Federal offices bowed
submissvely to the mandate. Offices under
the Government and primary politics were
successfully divorced by the potential
touch OF Order No. /, and it was proclaimed
that the millennium of civil-service per-
fection had come.
Now it appears that marvellous change
has come over the aspect Of this feature of
civil-seryice reform. So far as is known
to the public, Civil Service Order No. 1
stands unimpaired in its force and terror
1t has never, to the knowledge of the pub
lie, been repealed or modified, but stands
an unbroken shaft of warning to all Off
cials who shall dare TO violate its iniunc-
tions. Here it is, in all its majesty of warn
ing:
"No officer should be required or permitted
to take part in the management of political or
ganiZations cauCuses or election campaigns" /"
This rule is applicable to every department of
the Civil Service. 1t should be understood by
every officer of the General Government that
he is expected to conform his conduct to its
requirements.
We are about entering upon the last year
of the Administration which promulgated
the above order, and it has not been, so far
rs the public are aware, i'll any degree re-
moved or changed. In view of this fact, il
strikes the public mind with some surprise
to notice the fact that those connected with
Federal position are at this iuncture among
the most active politicians engaged in the
primary action Of the Republican party in
preparing delegations to the Republican
National Convention. They are occupying
positions on committees, are manipulating
delegations, as committeeman, are usurping
the powers of conventions, and are accept
ing the responsibilities of delegates all over
the South and West, and even in the Dis
trict of Columbia, to say nothing of the
North. In Virginia, North Carolina and in
most of the Southern States the activity of
those who hold Federal positions in pro-
viding for delegations to the National Con-
vention has become matter of surprise
and comment. In Missouri the activity
of the Federal ofiice-holders has been such
as to excite attention and lead Mr.. FILLEY,
n member of the National Committee, TO
address the President and several heads of
attention D the circumstance and inquir-
ing if this is in accordance with the views
and purposes of the Administration, and
whether or not if this is permissible in
certain cases, it should not be equally so in
all. What view the Administration
takes of this question at the present time
has not transpired with the public, and it
remains matter of doubt, discussion and
speculation, which can be settled only by
the declared purpose of the President.
In the face of this order the Collector of
Taxes of the District of Columbia has been
vention. OF his personal fitness for the
position there can be no question, but the
natural inquiry arises in the face of Civil
Service Order No. /, will the President per-
NIT him ito take part in the management /
"of political organizations, caucuses or
election campaigns" If so, then of what
effect is the ciyil.servicc order of the Presi-
dent? And if not, and the Collector of
Taxes will not be permitted to serve the
people as a delegate, then they should have
known it before, or be advised of it now,
that another delegate may be appointed
against whom this objection cannot be
urged.
Under existing circumstances it is due
alike to the Federal Ofiice-holders aud TO
the people that the existing scope Of the
Presidents order on civil service should be
more clearly defined than it seems TO be by
the action Of those to whom it directly
relates. Ifitis in full force, then the Pres
ident should promptly call halt on the
part of the oflice-hOdeTs of the Government
who are engaged in primary political work.
lit is not in force, then it is due to the
people that they should know when it was
suspended, that there may be no misappre-
hension in regard to it. We have seen the ell
cheney of the Republican party greatly Grip
pied by the interpositiou of his order with
profound regret, and have been waiting pa
tiently for its revocation. Let it be revoked
at once, or be consistently enforced as il
was at the outset of its existence. Then
the matter will be stripped Of much doubt
s.lNa al