The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1881-07-29

y
Ciyii-scrvice Reform no sclf-rcsnccting
citizen has particle 81 patience. The
phrase has become by-word. Most Of
The men who have palavercd about the
subject and covered Il with their sicken-
ing rhetorical drool are descrvcdly sus-
pected IL the worst sort Of dema-
goguery. II they are not despisei.
Grant pro cs>cd ID he Civil-scryicc
Reformcr; but il was only to get rid Of
personal annoyance and evade 1.-THE
courtesy OF the Senate" he now 80
stoutly contends for. lie merely want
ed pfcte>t for ignoring the .'claims"
81 leading Republicans whom he dis
liked. while he appointed whoever he
pleased 70 any Office thst happened 10
be vacant. regardless Of qualifications
Or character. Many OF his appoint
ments u important Offices were not
only disgraccful in themselves, but an
insult 10 the country. Hayes made
great prctensions 10 (ivil-seryice Re-
form. and stuffed the Federal Offices
with scoundtcls who had helped count
him into the Presidency. and political
tramps and nobodies from Ohio. violat-
ing every principle Of sound policy and
ordinary propriety.
Garfield was -blossomed Civil
service Re.ormer. He advocated the
subject in speech and press. He waxed
eloquent in depicting the evils Of the
present system and the beauties Of the
one he proposed 10 put in its place.
Three months in the White House. and
be has repudiated BY his acts every
principle that he proclaimed. Pension
Commissioner Bentley, who had been
years IN an Office where he had saved
the Nation 81. 100000, and prevented
the stealing Of as much more. was re-
moved on account Of 1.-THE pressure of
the thieves who found him in their way.
General Smith. Collector at Bangor, a
faithful and successful officer. was dis
missed in the middle Of lis term TO
recompense Davis for retiring from the
Senatorial contest and insnring the cleo
ton OF Hale. General Merritt. the re-
spected and admirable Collector at this
port. was removed in the midst Of his
term to reward Robertson. whose course
az Chicago made Gariield's nomination
possible Stanley Matthews. 4 railway
lawyer. was put on the Supreme Court
bench, for which he was VIGOROUSLY I'M
fit, TO placate interests and please indi-
viduals. Wallace X. White. notorious
as briber. a second Sessions without
the lattcr's ability. was made District
Attorney in one Of the territories. A
score oi other instances can be named
in which not only has every profession
been falsified. but every sound principle
Of executive action has been trampIed
- t-x~-l-
service Reform is looked upon as mere
pretense and suspected IS q blind when
1 il is not loathed. And now Mr.. Gar
/ field has been shot BY man who was
mad that he was not provided for BY
the President he had worked 70 elect in
4 the expectation Of an Office.
Whatever interest the country might
have had in Civilservice Reform has
been killed By the hypocritical pre-
lenses and INSCRIPTIONS acts Of its i'd
| vocafes. Moreover. the people Of this
country do not want an ironclad civil
service system fastened on the Federal
Government. Everybody knows that
schoolmaster examinations are not tests
Of capacity for the public service and
are ridiculous. Why demand that !
Wei0her. or Inspector. or tide-waitel
in the Custom-house shall answer I
schoolmaster' catechism when Senator
Logan murders the Kings Engisi
every time he makes speech. and one
third Of the Senators are incapable d
correcting himP Three-quarters Of tn
talk about Civil-service Reform Il tn
veriost trumpery. What ID wanted \
20 abolish the whole spoils system
which il debauching the politics Of th'
country and degrading the Genera
Government into an immense plumber
shop for the distribution Of places 70 th'
favorites 81 the highest officials. Thi
system dcgrades the 100000 Fedora
Offices into . vast corruption fun'
with which an Administration pay
the expense Of its election ant
promises 70 pay for is continuanc
IN power. And 10 get rid Of this sys
tenn there should he such = tenure 0l
Office act Is shall make il impossible 10
even 4 President 10 remove anybod
save Cabinet Minister during his on
, cial term except fer just cause. All th
subordinate places Of the Government
should be taken out Of politics alto1eth
, er. A man appointed 70 an Office shout
be SO assured Of his position for his teri
that be can give his whole time On
mind To the public service. Il il ID
Presidents duty 10 appoint the bes
men he can find 10 Offices a. they b
come vacant. There il no system IN
der Heaven BY which weak Or unprir
. cipled President will be compelled I
\ make good appointments. AZ Gcncr'
v Hancock well said, the only way To r.