The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-12-22
Civil Service Reform.

tates, one day last week, may have two
old meaning. They declare for civil service
eform and provide for mission :
omposed of equal umbers Of each party,
o pass upon the qualifications OF American
tizens for official position, without refer
nee to political Identification. This prop
,sition, coming FROM Democrat OF extreme
,iews, and so pronounced in his party pre-
Elections, might be construed as legal
lodge by which to induct Democrats into
office, anda confession that the Democratic
party had abandoned all hope Of attaining
control of the government In the near fu-
ture. Certainly the history OF that party
would throw discredit upon the sincerity OF
The resolutions, if there was the least pros
pect of its getting control of the public pa
tronage, for it has uniformly practiced the
policy of Ito the victors belong the spells,
and it is not reasonable to sup pose that 1t
would do anything to destroy the beauty and
exalted patriotism Of this system, had not
the popular judgment gone forth against
it-"weighed IN the balance and found
lated reform in the public service, comes
with refreshing GOODNESS at time when
that party has been overwhelmed by an
avalanche of public wrath because OF its
many sins and short-com ings, and when its
grip upon the purse strings Of the treasury
has been so completely and thoroughly
broken, 1t is true, as national mendi-
can't, with record that adds to poverty the
further reproach Of imbecility and shame
less disregard of the interest Of the people
in an insane hunt after spoils, it is not out
of place in a party, which stands stamped
with the indignant reproof OF the people
and is now tottering on the brink OF des-
truction, to devise some scheme by which it
may filter into the public service some OF
| its noxions poison, and stow away some OF
| it's famished following.
| This view of the proposition of Mr.. Pen
dleton might be accepted as logical, in the
light of Democratic performa nee and pre-
cept in the past. But coming from gen.
tleman of acknowledged ability, known
experience and varied accomplishments,
charity would suggest that higher motive
be assigned. 1t is true Mr.. Pendleton does
not stand before the public as gentleman
of symmetrical craftsmanship. for it was he
who first flooded upon the country the her
esy of Greenbackism, and suggested the
policy of paving off the national debt in
greenbacks Those who remember the po-
litical discussions of 1868, have not forgot
ten that it was upon such vagary that be
sought the Democratic nomination for the
Presidency in that year, and with what zeal
and ability he sought to indoctrinate the
public mind with such a ruinous notion
: 1t was no fault of his that the price OF the
nations life was not virtually repudiated
and the honor of the governm emit that had
been preserved at such cost of blood anc
treasure, made a by-word and shame
throughout the civilized world.
: But the stubborn courage and integrity
of the American people were superior te
| the Establishments and enticements OF Mr
, 2endleton's scheme, and that people viii
again blazen it to the country, that no priv
LEGGED few will be hedged around with lie
gal safeguards, TO perpetuate them in officia
position, to the exclusion of the t0ilins
many who put in motion and direct tn
l forces which have lifted the nation ont o
the malstrom which threatened it. ant
into which Mr. Pendleton sought to driv'
| it.
There could be no greater insult offere'
| el,1 IL rQfiQaf
upon their capacities and patriotism thai
to embrace the mott ons Of Mr.. Pendle
ton as to civil service reform. His prop
osition is so Numerically opposed to tn
fundamental theory of popular govern
Z ment that not even the astuteness OF MI
Pendleton could conceal, under the pretens
: of the public welfare, the concession tina
: the Republican system is a failure. 1t is
in the first place. obnoxious to the Ameri
can consciousness. that system adapted
and fitted TO perpetual monarchy, shoul'
be accepted as expressive of the ideas whicl
> buttons, and it is a fragrant offense to tn
common intelligence of the nation that
commission should sit to guage the right
and claims of those who constitute the gov
eminent, to participancy in its operations
Indeed, there was never greater fraud O
a pretense than the thing called civ il servic
Z reform, in a government which recognizes
| as fundamental, the capacity of the peopl
for selfgovernment, and the equal right o
: the citizens under the laws and constitu
ton. To recognize any such proposition
is to az knowledge that the trainers an
| founders of our political system wer
dreamers. or that the present generation
has become so degenerate, that the trns
confided to them has to be administered un
der feudal notions, denying the irst prin
ciples of our political system. This is a gov
eminent of the people, by the people, ant
:, for the people," and not until this senten
,. tious formulation of Mr.. Lincoln is ackaowl
edged to be national libel, Will ever tn
POPULAR mind approve any such doctrine az
| Mr.. Pendleton is DESTROYS of intoxicating
S and enacting into law. The people who's
e courage and patriotism are the palladium
J. of public liberty, viii never assign thei
: rights to commission of half dozen men
e their equals and no more. and whose judg
It ment is to determine the few who are tt
e rule the many.
e. We have no doubt Mr.. Pendleton vii
e find that there are Senators and Congress
Il men who understand the question involved
in its true American sense, and will etfec
i. lively and amply vindicate the intelligence
and virtue of the people, as well as the eff
cacy of our institutions, which have been s.
insidiously and adroitly assailed in thes
= civil service resoluti ions.
e The friends of temperance reform in Wiz
ginia held a State Local Convention il
Charlottesville last Tuesday. The call fol
, the Convention was signed by representa-
tive men of all professions and callings il
the State. among whom are many men VIII,
| have been and are prominent 10 public life
i This, we think, may be regarded as thu
> first important step towards the genera
and active agitation of this subject. W.
d 1ooL for a VOW ovostfnw 90 ma no tOp in Vir