The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1880-01-29
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
Z WAsHINeToN, JANUARY 16, 1880.

WASHINGTON, January Is, 1880.
Mr.. EDIToR:-In an editorial lately
published in "Ha2peg's Weekly," Hon.
George w. Curtis has notified the Re
publican Party that unless they COM
ply with his views in nominating a
candidate for President, said nominal
ton Will not receive his and his friends
support, and claims without such sup
port a Republican President cannot be
elected e.-
Mr.. Curtis has great deal to say
about machine politics, and of late has
not felt bound by the action of any
Republican Convention that was as he
alleged (Which he always charges when
there is no one present to sustain him)
controlled by the machine, but is not
this the first instance ON record where
a prominent politician has given the
country due notice that if the Repub-
lican National Convention aOas not
ram bg has machine it would meet his
opposition?
It IS well settled fact that one Of
the two great political parties into
which the country is divided must con-
troll the destinies of the Nation.
Parties are therefore necessary and
their organization must be and will be
kept UP. The only way possible TO
maintain them is by organized indi-
Vidual effort, which shall be entirely
willing to submit their opinions to the
decision of the duly authorized con-
ventions of the party they are acting
with. All true Republicans who are
opposed to the Government passing
entirely into the hands Of those who,
only a few years since, used their best
eXertions to destroy it, will band to-
together to sustain tile nominee of the
National Republican Convention, with
out regard to the person they may Sc
lect, and not sustain the Confederate
Democracy because their individual
opinions and efforts were not sustained
by the Convention.
Mr.. Curtis was first brought to pub
lie notice by President Grants appoint
ment of Chairman of the Civil Service
Reform Commission.
Under the rules and regulations of
said commission, Mr.. Curtis, as Chair
man, selected the persons from whom
President Grant was to select the bus
mess, working force of the Govern
ment President Grant gave the rules
and regulations adopted by the Com
mission full and fair trial, and after
repeated failures to secure worthy per-
sons for the public seavice, discarded
it and thereby made Mr. Curtis his life
long enemy.
The great trouble with all Compel
tive examinations for appointment to
the public service is. that it entirely
oyerlooks the character and business
experience decidedly the most essen
tial qualities) of the applicants, and
frequently while in force, secured po-
sitiOnS for persons whose character
would have prevented them from Sc
curing positions by any other method.
Why should the Government be ask
ed to adopt a different method for Sc
lecting it's employees from those adopt
eel by business man IN making his
selections for conducting his private
business Mr.. Curtis would never
think of selecting by competitive exam
ination persons to aid him in transact
ing his business.
There is great noise about civil
service reform, which with the prac-
tice of the Confederate Democracy as
they gain control of the different
branches of the Government, in turn
ing out all experienced Republicans in
government employ to make room in a
large majority Of cases, for late Con-
federates, is Of no practical use or ben
eft whatever.
The Civil Service as carried out by
Presidents Lincoln, Grant and Hayes
is the best of any nation on earth ;
there is not corporation or business
firm in existence that has done the
same amount Of business as the Unit
ed States with as little loss. Under
this state of facts where is the great
necessity of Civil Service Reform I? All
that is necessary for good civil service
is continuance Of the Republican
party in power.
The following nominations for Wis
consin have been confirmed by the
Senate within the last week, viz: Isaac
H. Wing, Register OF U. S. Land Office
at Bayfield,; William Delap, Postmas-
ter at Bose obel, and H. III. McGraW,
Postmaster at Whitewater. XXX