National Republican., 1880-11-27
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
A Visit to General Garfield by the lldc-
pendent Republican unb.
Their vciws Presented In tho Form of
Mcmorial-Tho suijcct Gcncr-
ally Discussed.

a Memorial Presented TO General Garfield
Mr. Horace White aud Mt. +. W. Whltridge,
delegation ofthc Independent Republican associa-
ton Of New York, called on General Garfield at his
residence yesterday aud presented to him the fol
lowing paper:
General James A. Gorfcld PresiicNlgicci Qf The United
States:
SIN, The independent Republican association Of
New York congratulate You upon the result OF tue
recent national election, which thcy deem most
propuous. as it signifies the popular approval Of
principles with which YOU have long been 'denli,
fed, and gives reasonable assurance thnt YOU VIII
be sustained by public opinion In your endeavors
to carry the same into cloct, Your utlcranceS ~
congress on the condition and needs OF the civil
service and the effective support which you gave IN
the Chicago convention 10 the resolution there
adopted In that behalf aud which constitutes part
ofthe platform Of the republican party, impcIlGd
us to give you our cordial support IN the lole
campaign md inspire Us with confidence that
your administration VIII justify the promise or so
The dangers to our political system arising from
savage contest every four years extending over
the CENTRE continent and pcnetrating 81 ranks OF
society respecting The distribution OF the federal
Offices. seem 10 us extremely grave History
teaches that the thing most to be guarccd against
i'll republic Is an excess of party rage. Ihis
spirit, always sufficiently active under free gov
ernmcnts. Ia stimulated and augmented 10 an
alarming degree by the spoils system which re-
CARDS all federal ohccs the prizes OF the m0jor
ity, aud which would have snntched from the
whole body of the prcscut incunlbcnts their means
ofliycihood IL few thousand votes in this state
which were cast ior yourself had been cast for
General Hancock is II not apparent thnt the
greed and terror inspired by such system must
add largely to the heat aud fury aud attendant
dangers of our national elections, and increasingly
rs the country grows in proportion aud the federal
patronage becomes more extcnSive2 No other
civilized government exposes its public servants
10 the danger OF bcggnry upon the hazard OF an
election, or would expect good service from them
under such conditions.
We are aware that this subject Is hedgcd abou.
with difficulties, and that abuses of half cen.
turysgrowth are not to be rooted up IN 4 day. We
believe, however that public opinion is In advance
OF any reform of the civil service hitherto at
tempted, and that you may safely establish rules
for entrance to all subordinate positions, which
shall make asccrtained merit the sole test of APP
pointment, discardiug both partisan services and
party utilization from the list of qualifications. In
this way now basis may be gradually gained for
the civil service to rest upon. 50 that hereafter no
political party In its hour Of triumph shall look
upon the public offices as nn encmys camp, sub
1ect to indisGrminute pillagc.
If the civil service shall receive the same states
manlec treatment Mt your hands rs president that
you have bestowed upon Il as member OF congress
aud public teacher you will be entitled TO the
gratitude OF your cOuntrymen and to the verdict
which history awards to those who have wisely
used great opportunities.
lSgued:l Horace White (prcsdent) Henry $
Vanpuzcrtsecrelary( f. W. Whitridsc, George Wal
ton Green, George Horace Putnam, Felix k0uf
man, n. s. Spencer and Clarence DeminR OK
ecutivo committee Independent Republican Us
ISOLATION of the county OF New York,
General Garfield, having read the paper, entered
upon discussion Of the civil service, In the cours
OF which he said that he hoped to have the CO
operation OF congress In establishing Il legal basi
for al routine appointments, so that IL should no
be IN the power OF anybody, even tho president, t
remove any capable and faithful appointee durin
his term OF olice, whether tho term be long Q