The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 18??-1882, 1881-08-12
Work for the Next Congress, q

tft ilA.Hn --NNiA NHfe if sra
The Congress that holds its frs
session this winter will have q glori
GUS opportunity 70 distinguish it
self. If it improve this opportunity
twill deserve, and it will receive
the lasting gratitude Of the friends
of good government. II il neglect
the opportunity it will merit the
public's strongest Interpretations
The opportunity to which we refer
is that of directing legislation to
the reorganization of our Civil Ser.
vice. nGo a.i gou b4 ~ .ra
For some years there has been
quietly at work in the minds of the
people, an idea that the present
system of structure andmanagement
of the machinery that transacts the
public business is, IN some way, re-
sponsible for many unpleasant and
menacing phenomena in our politi-
cal life. Within q few months this
impression has grown into convic-
ton, and, while deepening in force,
has .widened in area until it has
become an article of political belief
in the minds of all thoughtful and
intelligent citizens, The HHSpoils
Systempe had wrenohed the instru-
ments Of party government from
their legitimate Office; had substitu-
ted selfshness for patriotism; had
reared partisan oligarchies and
boss-ships; had turned the august
senate of the United States into a
government employment intelli-
gence Office and patronage agency;
until, insatiate, with excess Of appe-
lite that grew by what it fed on, it
could brook no opposition to its
purposes, and would rush to the
qualification of its lust of power
even at the cost Of public murder.
It was the "Spoils System" that fired
Guiteau's pistol, and the bullet
whistled close to the ears of freedom
loving citizens startling them into a
realization of danger.
The sentiment in favor Of Civil
Service Reform, whose development
has been wonderfully accelerated
by the sad event just mentioned, is
constantly growing in public SYM
pathy. The people are investiga,.
ing more carefully the whole bear
ing and tendency of the scheme; the
press is throwing much light upon
the subject and quite generally CIV
ing it a generous support; while
political platforms are bidding for
popular approval in emphatic COM
mediation of its objects. It seems
10 us that if the next Congress shall
lake measures in furtherance of the
aims of administration reform they
may rest assured of a prompt and
hearty ratification by the intelligent
voters of the nation. Such meas.
nres they ought to take, for the con-
,lusions of well considered theories
have been 80 completely confirmed
BY experience in other governments
Ind in our own, that o failure to
AXE some action looking toward re-
'orm will be most naturally explain
ID ~ unquestionably an avoidance
If duty. In such circumstances a
representative of the people should
lot long hesitate what to do. He
must come face to face with the issue.
The cause is marching on and is
'ure to win, so that the honesty to
he public and to himself which his
position imposes upon him, is also
# ultimate political advantage.
Where mems sense of honor and
herr ambition both dictate the pro-
,riety Of certain action, they seldom
,esitate to act. We believe that by
he time Congress meets both these
motives will favor the interests of
and we accordingly possess