Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-10-13
No Cnre Save In Change.

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The silly twaddle that has been in
dulged in all summer, since it was given
out that Guiteau was disappointed
office-seeker, about the infamous "spoils
system" has had the effect of moving
some sspient statesman in the Minnesota
Senate to suggest plan to cover the
question. This patriot proposes to urge
Congress to draft constitutional amend
ment fixing the terms Of all Federal en-
ployes, their incumbency to be condl-
toned on good behavior.
Should the resolution making this re-
quest be adopted, the "spoils system,
so-called, will come under fire in Con-
gress very likely, and Mr.. Schurz, Mr..
Curtis, and the whole coterie of Republi-
can reformers will renew their fierce
phillipics, which, though lofty in utter
ance, are no more honest in purpose
than the muscular plea of the ward
striker" who makes no bones about
letting his wants be known. These
pseudo reformers want the service re-
formed to Just this extent, and no
further They want the 'ins' to stay in
perennially, if possible. or at least as
long as they can. 1t happens now that
the wing OF the party with which they
train has the major share of the offices,
and their zeal explains itself.
Your Republican civil service refOrmer
is Mortified at the prospect of Demo
cratic administration. A clean sweep is
his chief dread, and to prevent such
distressing calamity he joins his fearful
brethren, and the whole precious contra
ternity band themselves into a spolls
Salvation Army" and go up and down
seeking Democratic converts to their ex-
allied schemes. They get them, too,
more's the pityl Not that any success
will reward the labOrs Of the band, but
that Democrats should be willing to play
into the hands of the advocates of such
transparent sel6shness.
Were the arguments advanced by
these canting apostles of purity indispu
table theoretically, the logic of fact and
history would stamp them as dreamers
or knaves. Only the other day, not to
speak of the recorded infamies of
Republican placemen, there came to
light frauds in the Pension Bureau, ex-
tending over years, that were either
hidden or condOned. When three
administrations suffered these to
go on, or were ignorant of
them, what is to prevent frauds
elsewhere from extending throughout
the whole Of the Republican suprem-
acy should it continue?
With the average citizen it might be
that security of tenure would incline
him to fidelity, but the average Republi-
can oficeholder has practically enjoyed
such, and yet, from the accumulated
revelations of thievery and corruption
that have been given to the public, he
would bear watching, to put it mildly.
There might be some hope if there was
an entirely new deal among the Republl-
cans themselves, but the prospect of the
return of the "Old Guard" Grants vet
Grams, compared with whom the Free
Riders were honest, is decidedly dis
couraging.
The talk of purifying the service is
empty cant. Its directors have a pur-
pose, but it is a disguised and selfish
one. Republican editors can amuse
themselves with the discussion of plans
to further the object they profess to
seek, but Democrats waste time that
could be better spent while they dilate
upon the theme. 1t admits of fle writ
ing, but the lesven is spent The peo-
pie will never consent to the creation of
an army of employees of the government
secured in their positions, as these
dreamers would have them.
This is a government of the people
acting as parties. The public offices
Will CfCl DO VIC pllACo VI pdAbJ
gles The officeholder now, aside from
the caprice of his superiors, is construc-
lively on his good behavior. He can be
honest or adroit In the one choice is
safety, in the other pelf and probable
immunity. Be his tenure long or short
he can elect whether or not to be
knave. Vigilance is liberty's price. 1t
is also the price of official honesty. If
the people do not watch their servants
what wonder that they are dishonest?
Republican platforms have much to say
about enforcing honesty. The COMES
sion of the necessity is evidence of their
unworthiness to be entrusted with the
task, and their neglect to perform it
proves the hopelessness of its execution
at their hands. Change is needed, and
not reform. The one is possible, the
other not.