The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-07-14
The Spells sxssem .


The attempted murder of the Presi-
dent being attributed to the demoral-
izing tendencies Of the spoils system,
there is an urgent demand for re-
form. Certainly let us have it as
soon ss possible.
No reform in this direction can be
lasting unless based Oh the fundamen-
tai condition that the subordinate Of
fees of the Federal Government are
open TO all the citizens of the Repub-
lie, be they Republicans, Democrats
or Greenbackers. The JeffersOnian
qualifications-is he henest7 is he ca
pable Pare the only ones that can be
allowed to determine appointments to
Office. Are our Republican friends
ready fer this move forward?
The prevention of assessments on
officeholders for political purposes, is
another fundamental condition 10 any
reform. There must be no more ap-
peals to "dear Hubbell," or friend
Brady, or spurring suggestions as to
what the departments are doing. The
Democratic in the last Congress had
thorough going bill on this subject,
up fer consideration, from the Com
mittee on Civil Service Reform. They
desired to pass it in view of the ap-
preaching Presidential election, and
it would have stopped many scandals
that must now afflict the hearts Of re.
Gently converted reformers. But Re.
publican opposition to this bill went
to the length of breaking a quoram to
defeat it's passage.
| Senator Pendleton has in the Senate
bill carefully drawn proposing the
fret steps in reform in the depart.
ments at Washington, in the matt ers
of appointment to and tenure OF Off ce
So far as we have observed, Republi
can papers have been very free in de
nunciation and ridicule of it.
Nor should the proposed reform b,
confined to- Federal appointments, bu
be extended.to State, County and Mu
nicipal Offices There ia more scanda
and corruption in the filling of sin
gle important office in Philadelphia o.
Pittsburgh-taket the SherifTs Office il
this county as an instance-than Their
is in all the appointments to Fedora
Office in the State of Pennsylvanis
These local Offices are q greater leve
in The hands of the political boss tha
: all others. In fact, we don't know bu
{ tho root OF the trouble In the FEEDERS
service has its growth at our yer
doors. 1t is home concern muc
] more than Washington affair. No
r . day but every principle Of homes
I and effective administration is cor
+, temptuously thrust aside in our cit
!, and county affairs, and it is done wit
the appreciation of the people. A
Q least they have become so sccustOme
to it that they go on voting year aitt
# year 10 retain in power the machr
!, and machinists.
" Ii there is to be civil service reior,
e in the federal government we mu
also have il in our local Affairs. An
q We have not much faith in it's perm'
s nence until the people are educated
= exact decency, honesty and capaci
% in political matters occurring at the
II doors. ).
d The universal craze after Office
!, the most disgusting sign Of the time
Of what concern is it to nine hundrt
70 and ninety y-nine out of every thOusar
e, psrsons, who fills tho Offices, SO tn
l. the occupants are honest and capabl'
a. We mean particularly those offic
which have no legitimate influence {
&c principles of government and adml
istratiOn. Yet the community excited
J. identifies itself with the personal al
n bition of individuals for a fat salar.
sends delegations to Washington Z
's defoot this nan aPp0int tue 9TH
q man aud holds rowdy and CORFU
t. conventions. running into days al
+ weeks, to decide who shall have Il
% salary of sheriff or Coroner, wi
very little-no thought, in fact, of Il
q capacity or integrity of aspirants
a. Pitts. Post.