The Sunday herald., 1881-03-06
AN ISSUE roR 7HE NEW TERM


Just now in Washington's farewell address
to the people Of the United States, it may be
allowable to remark that in that venerable
document nothingis deprecated more strongly
than party strife. 1.-THE alternate domina-
" tion of one faction over another" says the
sage, sharponed by the spirit of revenge,
natural to party dissension, which in diff
" ferent ages and countries has perpetrated
" the most horrid enormities, is itself
frightful despotism. The disorders and
" miseries which result gradually incline the
minds Of men to seek security and repose
" in the absolute power of an individual, and
" sooner or later the chief of some prevailing
" faction, more able or more fortunate than
1" his competitors, turns this disposition to
i" the purposes of his own elevation, on the
ruins Of Public Liberty" Here he evil
IDENTIFY predicted the Third Term movement.
And again "There is an opinion that par
+" ties in FREQ countries are useful checks
" upon the administration of the Govern
" ment and serve to keep alive the spirit of
i" Liberty. This within certain limits is
probably true, and in Governments of
" Monarchical cast Patriotism may look with
" indulgence, if not with favor, upon the
spirit of party. But in those of the popu-
" lar character, in Governments purely elect
" i've, IL is a spirit not TO he encouraged.
" From their natural tendency, it is certain
" there will always he enough of that spirit
" for every salutary purpose. And, there
" being constant danger of excess, the effort
ought TO be, by force of public opinion, to
" mitigate and assuage it. A fire not to be
" qucnched, it demands uniform vigilance
" to prevent its bursting into flame, lest,
" instead of warming, 1t should consume"
Now, it is very curious to hear those who
are among the strongest in indorsing these
principles at certain times, advocating on
the other hand the very thing which gives
all the low fury to partisan disputes. We
refer of course to that perversion of the civil
service which turns it from an agency in
doing the peoples work efficiently into
wretched bait hung out for partisaagreed a
yenal prize to be struggled for in the political
arena. Elections, which should he contests
of principle, with no more heat than sturdy
but disinterested convictions may give, will
more and more become dangerously violent
scrambles for office in proportion as the
offices to be won or lost increase in number
and temptingness. The alienation of parties
has been compared to the health giving rise
nd fnl nF ;,, 1,,t l.,
turbing element makes them "tidal waves, :"
overilowing and smashing everything which
should be preserved. The only way to pre-
vent this, to take the ruck of clerkships,
out of Federal politics, is to make the tenure
of subordinate Offices dependent solely on
merit by express law TO that effect. 1t is
useless to talk of any reformation of the evil
short of this, since all that one President
can do by his individual authority is easily
upset by any successor who chooses.
The immediate question is, will Gen. Gar
field be true TO the pledges and platform of
his party, and to his known convictions on
this point' Mr.. Hayes went in distinctly as
a civil service reformer, but from variety
of causes, not necessary to enumerate here,
he turned it into what was rudely called by
its enemies SWIVEL service reform-much
protestaton combined with the minimum of
accomplishment. We might have viewed
Mr.. llayes's failure under the peculiar cir
cumstances of his case with more leniency
had lie not carried into the military and
| naval service the same gross favortism and
total reversal of all system which are the
faults of the present civil service. We need
not dilate here upon the Whitaker case and
all its consequences to show how political
broils were sought to he injected into our
little Army, which has always striven to he
non partisan. 1t has been gravely argued
that if the civil service is taken out of poll
tics that useful game will lack its prime in
centive, and probably its sinews of
"war," in the shape of Department
and other assessments. II is to meet
| this that we have quoted the sentences above
from an address to which public attention was
last month greatly directed. If the first and
!
an abuse of that sacred trust, the appoint.
ing power, as We have grown accustomed
to, there is 10 doubt he would have had
some ringing sentences on that matter in
this very connection. II is to mitigate
and assuage" party frenzy that General
Garfield is bcsought, rs his predecessors have
been before him, ito deliver the country
from the scandal of an army of paid poiti-
cal janizaries. 1t is unquestionably the
greatest measure with which he can signalize
his administration.
Since writing the above President Garfield
has in his Inaugural Address uttered the fol-
lowing wholesome sentiment
The civil service can never be placed satisac
tory basis until ills regulated by law. For the good
Of the service ITSELF for the protection of those who
are intrusted with the appointing power, against the
waste OF time and obstruction To the public business
caused by the nOrdinate pressure for place, and
tile protection Of incumbents against Intrigue and
wrong, SHALL at the proper time ask Congress to
fix the tenure OF the minor Offices Of the several ex-
ecuive departments, and prescribe the grounds upon
which removals shall lie made during the terms ior
which incumbents have been appointed
If he fullllls the promise of these words lie
will gain the praise of all patriots of every
party.
OiR vol UNTEERS.
We prefer not to take sides strongly in
the question between the Washington Light