Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-10-07
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE.

The wise man, when contemplating
political action, looks beyond the imme-
date effect of his vote, and endeavors to
ascertain what general tendency ne IS
about to help or to hinder. In the pres
ent canvass this thoughtful forward exam
nation is peculiarly needed, and it must
bring all who make it to the conviction
that the interests of the country, which
means the best good of the people, de-
mand support of the Republican party.
Among the most important questions OF
the near future is that of the reorganlza'
ton of the civil service. The efforts thus
far made to introduce reforms IN tbs
respect have failed mainly because public
opinion had not been enlightened suffi-
GENTLY on the subject. 1t must, however,
soon be recognized that the source OF cor
ruption in politics, and of nearly all the
scandals which have hitherto accompanied
our national party contests, is the present
unsatisfactory condition of the civil ser
vice. To bring about the necessary re-
forms, to take federal ofice-holding out of
politics, to abolish Congressional patron
age, and to make federal appointments
depend upon ascertained fitness instead OF
partisan claims must be the work of the
generation which is now entering the vot-
ing period of life. In order that reform
may have any stable basis to proceed upon,
there must then be in the dominant party
some recognition of the need OF it. Is
there any such recognition in the Demo-
cratic party now? Assuredly there is not.
That party clings with fierce tenacity to
the maxim: 'To the victors belong the
spoils" It's chief Indictment to action at
this moment is the desire to fill the ninety
thousand offices in the control of the fed.
eral Government. 1t has never at any
time given the faintest indication of desire
for reform in this direction, and no honest
Democrat will pretend that if his party
was in power there would be any hope
whatever of such change. The Democ-
racy is and must be controlled by the
South so long as the latter is solid. About
this there can be no question, and the de-
monstration is simple. The South brings
l3S electoral votes with it. The Northern
Democracy, should it do its best, cannot
raise more than so. 1t is therefore per-
feetly clear that the region which puts the
most capital into the firm will demand and
receive the most profits. A Democratic
victory consequently must be Southern
victory, and to ascertain what the party will
do if it succeeds we must find out what
the South wants most. 1t is to be borne
in mind that thus far all the Democratic
moderation has been confined to the North.
and that the Southern press and speakers
have been radical and audacious in their
demands. Rejecting on the relations be-
tween the two sections, as outlined above,
it follows that the Southern policy is the
one to pay attention to, since it is clear
that Northern Democratic moderation must
give way at the last, because the Northern
Democracy is the weaker of the two. Now
we know that among other things the
South demands the abolition of the Ma
tional Banks, to the end that State Banks
may be substituted for them. What this
involves all who remember the old State
banking system already know. 1t would
restore the era of high exchange, multi
form currencies, general loss and embar-
rassment and risk, thus impeding and in
juring commerce, and putting the country
back fifty years.