The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1881-12-20
ity in the pursuit OF party success which

ity in the pursuit Of party success, which
is the condition OF getting Office.
Necessarily, by the logic of the sys-
TEN, which is stronger thanlhe determi-
nation of good men, however strong
they may be. in its far'hest ramifcation,
it awards the highest comparative pri-
zes to those who have done the most of
the dirtiest work Of our lowest politics.
1t makes our President and our Seoreta-
ries peddlers of Office and diverts their
time and attention from a wise and faith
ful discharge of the high duties with
which they are charged. ~
Degradation of Public Men.
This sl stem drives Senators and Rep
resertativps intO such position that not
only do they neglect their chief duty of
legislation, but too often they are tempt
ed by their friends and supporters, and
are almost coerced, to make a support of
an administration conditional upon eb-
tanning offices for their friends.
Nor is this all, or even the worst.
This appeal 10 love of money and love
Of patronage, as the stimulants to exer-
ton, creates fierce and brutal party
spirit which stops at no wrong in the ac-
complShment Of its end. 1t makes an
intelligent exercise or the elective fran
chise impossible. 1t makes free elec-
ton and fair count impossible. 1t lev
les contributions on the salaries of all
the Offices and expends the vast sums
thus collected in corrupting votes. 1t
lowers the tone and degrades the senti-
ment not onlv of the public men, but,
more important still, OF the whole peo-
pie behind them.
After sketching the evils which have
grown up under the present system of
appointments, the Senator read, "we
must establish
The Merit System.
We must supplant this system-we
must chase it out with hue and cry. In
its place we must put the other and bet
ter system found on the idea that public
offices are public trusts to he administer
ed solely for the public good. that the
tiliest men shall administer them until
still filter and better men shall be found ;
that offices have no right TO be, except
that the faithful execution of the duties
attached to them is necessary to the
public welfare and the maximum Of ef-
ficiency and minimum OF costs consti-
tute the only condition ON which they
should exist.
We must establish the idea that the
business of fifty millions OF people must
be transacted by business men on busi-
ness principles, and all the more rigidly
and faithfully, because it is the business
OF the people.
If vacancies were to be filed only bv
the one man whom proper intelligent
comparison. hased ON competition
should show to be the filtest, irrespec-
tive Of personal influence or action, how
little would be the pressure for reno.
walls! 1t removals were only for cause
OF inefiiclency or unfaithfulness or be-
cause another was shown 1o- be 6tter and
better. how little would be the scramble
for office!
This is the merit system 1t appoints
men who are honest, capable, and faith
ful, II keeps lii service those who are
proved to have such qualifications 1t
would open The subordinate civil cervice
to all who chose to aspire. 1t would fill
that service with the men proven TO be
the best by fair competition. 1t would
elevate the tone of oil aspirants by ma
king them feel that they own nothing TO
patronage. but all to merit 1t would
make that service
Tenfold More Efficient.
1t would greatly reduce expenses Il
would set up the adoption of principle
and not emolument, as the prize Of party
struggle, 1t would destroy the danger
Gus quality, even i it should not serl
| ousiy moderate, the zeal of party spirit
1t would conslgn politics to men o.
higher aspirations aud nobler aims. L
would elevate the motives, ano therefore
the tone, of party strife. 1t would raise
the temper and style OF public partisan
discussion It would eliminate t5e bru
tality OF our politics 1t would leave
to our President and Secretaries and
Congressmen time aud heart for thei
high duties.
The merit system would do all this
1t would do more. Its benefcent spiri
would give to merit the highest rewards
and would therefore stimulate excellen
cies into competition. 1t would demant
and stimulate higher grade of intellect
ual and political education. 1t would il
time reach popular elections apd appoint
ments to the offices which dictate >poIi
cies. 1t would reach popular opinion
and through it stamp out all interference
with a free ballot and fair count
whether by fraud. or force, or intimida
ton of voters 1t would put an end t
political assessments and the expendi
ture Of immense corruption funds. LAX
, Jacobs ladder, its foot would be o.
earth, its top in the heavens, and angels
bearing public blessings, would deseen'
J upon It. 1t would realize the aspiratio
/ of the convention Of Massacbusett
| which, far back IN the olden times oil
2 dained the provisions of its coustitutio
"to The end that it NAV be a governmer
of laws, and not of men,"
e Mr.. Pendleton then, for the purpos
r of showing that the evil could be Grad
Gated, sketched the condition OF Euglan
: at the time Lord Palmsrston broke u
/ the spoils system. which had lasted fc
Y 150 years, and introduced that of con
peretive examinations, and msintaine
that the same thing could be done her
!. where it was Of but twenty years gro WI
S He then explained that the provision
e Of the bill did not apply to officers elec
C ed by the people; or TO officers appointe
Y fby the President and confirmed by tn
: Senate; or to officers of the army or tt
D navy. or Of the judiciary; or to Officer
in the postofflces or custom house
where the number of clerks does NJ
!, exceed fifty; or to laborers. They d
not apply TO those officers who NAV e,
!. ercise political power. who may dicta
= policies, whose efficient cooperate
;. may be essential in carrying into effe
:, the theories or policies of parties.
8 Offices to Which 1t Applies.
:. Thev apply only to that immense bot
d of subordinate officials, clerical and a
/ ministrative, whose duties under evt
10 o6,n;n;etration wonld no tha eamo nj