The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1881-03-04
WAsHINeToN. Feb. IS, 1881

4
great light in the legal profession ha;
gone out. Senator Carpenter had &
national reputation as an expOunder OF
constitutional law; in that direction
was one of the elements of his great
ness. He was a forcible speaker and q
popular orator, although not an orator
in the true meaning of the word, as was
Rufus Choate. Edward Everett, and
others of that class. These latter made
elocution a careful study; Mr.. Carpen-
ter did not. Had he given attention
to the graees of Evolutionary training
he probably would have been the equal
of those men, whose names will 60
down in history as the great American
orators. Mr.. Carpenter had a remark
able command of language and an
almost ineXhaustible store of useful
information, therefore always heard
with satisfaction on whatever subject
he discOursed.
SENATOR CARPENTERS SUCCESSOR.
When it was understood some few
weeks ago that Senator Cameron had
declined reelection to the Senate the
attention of republicans here. especi-
ally those having a residence IN Wis
consin, was very generally directed to
Hon. Charles G. Williams, as suitable
successor for the Office. AS Mr.. Saw
yer was known to be a candidate for
the senatorship Mr.. Williams declined
to authorize his name to appear in op-
position to Mr.. Sawyer. but cheerfully
approved Of his candidacy. After the
death of Senator Carpenter the repub-
lican friends of Mr.. Williams in this
city would no doubt have urged his
favorable consideration for the vacant
position. But in the meantime it was
| understood Mr.. Cameron had consent
ed to be candidate for reelection, so
there appears to be general approval.
Senator Cameron has the respect Of the
people and the members of the senate,
| in which body he has done faithful SER
vice. Mr.. Williams is held in high
esteem by republicans here; he Is pop
ular with the members of the House.
CIVIL sERvICE-ITs ABsURDITY IN THE
PAST.
A few men who have once had some
political influence, but failed to reach
the object Of their ambition, are now
attempting to organize the democratic
party by adopting civil service as a
new issue. Civil service, although
grown little old, is just now being re-
vived in the newspapers and by mem
bers of Congress. There has been more
unmeaning talk by the press and stump
orators during the past six or seven
years about civil service than any other
nameable subject. A vague notion has
seemed to pervade the minds of many
people that civil service is an invention
for discovering the inwardness of men
and revealing their capability for office.
Diogenes, it is said, searched Athens
with lighted candle to find an honest
man. His was an undertaking more
sensible than the civil service in some
departments of our government.
| Some seven or more years ago George
W. Curtis, man of magazine notOri-
ETY., invented civil service code, which
was putin operation in some of the de-
partments in Washington. and did more
to put characterless men in Office than
had been done before for years. Men
of no reputation for honesty, integrity,
sobriety or good morals. obtained pass
ports for office simply ON the ground OF
their being able to solve mathematical
problems and answer curious questions
When the boards of examiners were
reminded of the worthless character OF
some of the candidates who passed
their ordeal, the reply was, the board
had nothing TO do with moral charac
ter; the civil service rules only requir.
ing them to ascertain the educational
standing of candidates.
The manner of conducting competi-
tive examinations for Office (not in all
cases. ignores sensible business quail
hcations and substitutes school-boy
puzzles. To answer what particular
spot the river Gaboon rises in Africa
now many years the pyramid of Cheops
in Egypt was in building? What KIND
of food the inhabitants of Senegam
bic subsist on, are questions which
have as little to do with capability fol-
Office as a theoretical speculation
whether the man in the moon eats
and sleeps like other people. A new
phase of civil service is that men in
Office should have no political opinions
and when they take the oath of Office
they should implicitly swear to keep
their mouths shut on politics.
When there shall be a civil service
that puts at the foundation moral char
acter, honesty, integrity, and then fol
the superstructure requires common
sense business education, it viii
amount to something. But so long as
the essential elements of right charac
ter are put at the tail end any reform
will be hopeless.
VIRGINIA DEMOCRATS -DISFRANCHIsE
MENT OF THE NEGRO INSISTED.
While there are now and then en-
couraging indications of loyalty to tbs
union in the south, still the spirit Of
hostility is too frequently manifest
The Bourbon Democratic State Com
mittee of Virginia has just issued ar
address to the people of that state, de
claring that higher than all other issue!
is the maintenance of the supremacy
of the white race, and, if all else is lost
white control must be preserved. Ne
gro hate is the fundamental idea of the
democracy of that state, and therefore
the colored people must be kept in {
condition of disfranchisement. The
constitutional amendments declaring
the equality of all men before the Law
are treated as utilities and set at def
ance. Such is, in effect, the declared
doctrine of the Virginia democracy
and upon that issue they determine to
| go before the people at the ensuing
election.
This same Virginia democracy claim:
to be in fellowship with the northern
democratic party, and, for aught thai
appears, our northern democrats recog
nize the Virginia democrats and al
others in the south of that party rs CO
workers and feIlow-laborers for the
success Of the one great democratic
party of the whole country. The same
brotherly interest exists between the
southern Brigadiers and their northern
allies in Congress. The unrepentent
secessionist members from the south
and northern members Of the demo
cratic party counsel, caucus and vot'
together, and are in each others politi