New-York tribune., 1880-01-16
of this order are described by the author in preg
nant passage -

~ c fio with the small exceptions Just pointed
onf of all opportunity to make any selfish or Pr
tison use of the appointing power kecoPIliz'he tIo
;nLarent dutv of glwaVs using that power SO as 10
eccure the persons best qnaihed to serve the peo-
ple the order declared that the open coinP'@a @
nroyidcd for was the most rclaOle means oi ,sccl
! taininp such persons and that, upon thelr Delng
| asccrfained the duty or appoin tment was lmIera-
| tive The usurped authority thus reclaimcd from
~ org of the legislature was not an increase
of eyecutive mower in any arbitrary sense or even
! in anv sense Whatever; for the freedom or open
/ comnetition was at the same time eNtehueu 70 the
,rhoIe hodv of the British people and hence 1t was
mi the executive but the people themselNes-colh,
mon justice general OeTy' Perso1Mh' Ill., e,,a',U t AMI
! capacitv-whch had really won ,lne Hlc'oIH dlu
uada tie gain. If the executive had' III one schac'
iorgrr discretion than before II was ONLY dlscre
tion to discharge pu5ilo quly; Nv
| which all right minded men approved. Ii was no
discretion 10 grant avors or 10 encloach on Iloerty'
Tic order was in short, grand triumph ot patIi-
otism character educalloh ana capaciIN Over sci srI
6sbncss official favOrtism, partisan intrigue, anu
whatever else had been corrupt immoral or uiJuIIt
in thc action of parties or the b stoNal OF once II
t'orad the highest elevation OF justice and Official
self-denial that governmental action In any coun-
try had ever reached tor thoush eAanIIa.Ions IONS
| o13d comnetitOns had been used IN qualified form
~ France Germany. Sweden. and several other
European countries, they were not wholly without
ofiical dictat!on 10. were they free to all citizens
alike Open competition. thus t2p!I.hed ID Groat
BritaIn said ia substance, TO every British subject
The administration cOnicrs no fav9rS ny appoint
rneuts the great parties are nor HioNcn To- 'oei''
Won tIc HIGH officers are forbidden 20 use the ap-
nointinp power capTici0usly; and subject 10 the
inst regulations prescribed, each III yen Is at nneIy
Ia conncte for and. ii you arc the most WORTHY,
Won will win a place IN the pnbc service ot youl
countrv thcIe 10 remain rs long rs N0u serve ncr
hcnoraby and efficiently ana her interests Iequnc
vou The able and experienced statesmen Who'
9fter ihe partisan system Mad been iricd for more
than five generations, thus brought IN the merit
svafem in lis complelcs form, win no Qrotest from
either party, must, | think, he regarded as con-
dominic more cmphaucuilY ny thtli acl"li ihhi
they could by any LANGUAGE, the cHllle ueoit ol
] f..s, ff,.s .fqli a
tions or economy. purity on safety for nations, by
a partisan use 0i the appointing power hey ulu
not condemn party government IN lts uo iorln' oi
| when acting by Jut mcth"u7 nut oHiA liS p'cc,.F
tuition 70 the purposes on partisan e!atelh Oh ~
nointment Thus, the British reoPlc-Wth
whom p4rty government originated, aud by whom
II has been given the most absolute swav-haNr'
after a long and earnest discussion OF Hlo SUD-
i.ct-such rs has taken place IA 10 oihcr hat"hT
/ demanded and appiaud,d that great ch1hg'-dh"'
by their acts, have oppressed thcr profound con-
viciion tia; all that il sanitary ~ political parties
will survive the loss ~ all Ht - corinpt or Nehal
and their determination that, thciralter' thoSe ~
rnyycr shall seek support not through intrigue ana
ina,icuation or through influence secured 10y the
nrosfitutiou of the appointing power, but upon
th.lr record OF good administration. In approving
This order they practically sGid 10 Inc ClOWn 10
the administration, and 90 inr great par.cs: heie
after as before the party lnaJoIllrs may carry ;l
elections. name all members oi the CAbihcl, mah'
all laws and guide all ndtioua! acUon, WhtlHcl t"-
mestic or foreign. IN those high spheres the prin-
cipes of parties, the worth and ability OF their ead-
ora the wisdom nf their policy must gain publlc n
80 r FoI in tho attculpf With such prize, TO win
elections can never lose their WholeSOne interest
nor citizens be Indifferent to their results. The eX-
ainluatous will cause tho most wory 10 be selected
as sbordinatcs 10 carry into effect TIE instruction
OF their supcri0rs l}ui We neither wish, nor VIII
we allow any action by parties, or anlthlig 10 he
done by po,tWastnrs, collectors, or oher Ruhodiu-
ate officers or any pToce-.es of ciccng members OF
Parl aucut which depend upon making merchaQ-
disc Of the appointing power or upon treating pun
lie places $ pcIquist"s or tpoia. \ tc. Inc par
tiean system in It's long trial under IT. iavoriie forms
had failed. We allowed party managers and public
officials % decide during me peHod from 200 10
1870 who should be examined for almisslont to the
public service. The records show that inferior ana
Unworthy persons were generally nominated lcm-
her. of Parliament dd not nominate IN" most wor-
tay among their acquaintance but they used iheir
monopoly n selfish and partisan spirit. We now
therefore suppress tn" monopoly. We order the tlal
whether parties cannot make their issues upon
sound principles and good works; whether better
men Will not apply foT admission 10 the pannC ser, ser
vice, now that official and partisan tyranny has
bpcn dAlod gcd at ITS gates whether the moral tone
of politics will not rise. now that PATRONAGE ana
favoritism have been expelled from tho depart
mcnts.
Mr. Eaton continues n succinct history
Of the movement down To the year 1915,
prescutinQ variety of details which IL
luetrote the success Of it, operation, and
its benefcent Influence during that period.
"It is worthy Of notice that not charge OF iaVort-
ism OF intentional injustice. or OF interference IN
marty politics has ever been brought against tho
commission nor has any instance OF actual Injustice,
AS the accepted result of al examination, been sub
stantiated The commission has steadily advanced
in public estimation; and now. IN the twcnty-hfth
wear OF It's growing work, with duties more extended
than ever before and unchallcngcd by any party
or by any class Of the people it stands intrenched IN
public confidence with guarantees Of enduring use
fumess hardly inferior 70 those which support the
strongest agency Of British Goyemmcnt'
10 .I IA he Al
graphs Of our literature. and possesses an equal in
terest for the student Of history and of politics for
the practical statesman and the intelligent ciizon.
In the hands of Mr. Eaton. the subject
is perhaps rendered attractive IA Is per
mlted by It's intrinsic character. He indulgcs in no
misplaced attempts at description, or flights Of
ambitious rhetoric. The gravity of his style IN
keeping with the dignity Of his subject. His state
meuts exhibit exhaustive research, discriminating
Judgment. candOr Of opinion. and moderation II
express sion. The work cannot fail to find a wide
circulation among the Intelligent classes of Ameri-
can readers and the more widely 1T Is circulated
the more bencfccnt will he its effects. II is intro
duced with an appropriate preface BY Mr. George
William Curtis. who presents lucid compendium
of he principles Of the Civil Service Reform.
THE PRESBYTERIAN REVIEW. No ]. January.
The new quarterly periodical, OF which tho
first number Is published by Messrs. q. ID. f. Ran
dolp & Company is intended 10 represent the theology
md religious life Of The Presbyterian church in this
try II IA 10 be Issued under the charge OF Professor A.
A. Hodge Of the Princeton Theological Seminary and
Professor C. A Briggs, of the Union Theological Semi
nary IA managing cditors; and Professor Herric John
son Of the Auburn Theological seminary Professor
J. wilson, Of the Western Theological Seminary. Pro
fessor James Ecs. OF the L1no Theological Seminary
Professor Francis l.. Patton, of the Seminary Of the
Northwest. and the Rev DR.. Talbot W. Chambers. Of
the Collegiate Reformed Church New York, associate
editors the RcricD will embrace the whole range of
the theological sciences with special reference the
critical and philosophical questons Of the day. inc,ud
ing reviews of the most important theological publca