Smyrna times., 1881-10-19

SPEEDY REFORM MDEMANDED.--Guitea /
account of himself, on which much of his |
time while in prison has been spent, has
been published in a New York paper.
1t is a painful story of the possibili-
ties into which American politics may
run, and shows clearly that the assassina-
ton of President Garfield was the result
of political abuses. Read his words:
My conception of the idea of remov-
ing the President was this Mr. Conkling
resigned on Monday May Is, 1881. On
the following Wednesday l was in bed
l think l retired about eight o'clock. L
felt depressed and perplexed on account
of the political situation, and / retired
much earlier than usual. l felt wearied
in mind and body, and l was in my bed
about nine o'clock and | was thinking
over the political situation, and the idea
flashed through my brain that if the Pres
ident was out of the way everything
would go better. AT first this was a mere
impression. 1t startled me, but the next
morning it came to me with renewed
force, and began to read the papers with
my eye on the possibility that the Presi-
| dent would have to go, and the more l
read, the more saw the complication of
public affairs, the more was impressed
with the necessity of removing him. This
| thing continued for about two weeks. |
| kept being impressed, and the idea kept
bearing and bearing and bearing down
upon me that the only way to unite the
two factions of the Republican party and
save the Republic from going into the
hands of the rebels and Democrats was tC
quietly remove the President Two weeks
after | conceived the idea my mind wa:
thoroughly settled on the intention to re
move the President. l then prepared
myself"
The contention in the Republican part!
under the leadership of Conkling, Grant
&C., for the spoils of office it will thus b.
seen led to that state of feeling tha
ripened into assassination. The civilize,
world was shocked that in a country othe
than one of the most despotic power
such crime should be thought of, bu
we are made painfully aware that benin
the broad shield of American Liberty ma
e lurk the deadliest enemy of person;
1 liberty. 1t has been at fearful pric,
S and must sink deeper in the public min
a for this reason, that our system of polite
y needs reforming. The papers everywhel
e are passing along the watchwOrd, and tE
n party conventions are not avoiding tt
n issue that confrOnts them. Senator Wa
It rem Miller in taking the craftsmanship
II the late Republican convention in Ne
)f York, said
IS Another question has agitated Il
American people and has been eager
discussed, and that is the question of {
administration of civil reform By Il
II logic of events that question has pass,
rs out of the category of discussion. 1t
h no longer a question whether we sh;
- have a reformed service, which shall s
- to it that minor offices are properly fill
le by competent men, and in such q way
n neither to embarrass the executive or t
4 legislative branches. Isay that that gu,
ton has passed out of the realm of d
Us cussion. 1t is now question of how
as shall be best done. That is the only qut
he ton. The Republican party has made
or only record upon that that has been mac
We owe it to the old Democratic PAL
er under Jackson that TO the victor belo
ur the spOils,' and whatever of advance /
ONCh JOO upOh NuCStiOh l.
been made by the Republican party.
is for the Republican party to take
le- this question and properly settle a
tol adjust it. 1t may require time to do
lg- 1t may require experimental legislatiC
,iv but the people require that sOmethi
~ shall honestly be done, so that when
OF may number 100000 900 of people, as
it shall do by the end of this century,
It'll people shall still be free, and that
q shall not degenerate into government
-. efice-holders and office-seekers."
o civil service REFORM has been
-. % familiar phrase much used by both part
lou w Its importance could not be denied, bu
l'e needed blOw to arouse to action to br
'"0 about positive results We believe
both parties want reform in this particu
and the only thing we have to fear frol
speedy realization of it is contention h
IN and by whom it shall be brought abe
on But come it must
!