New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-12-15
THE DEBATE IN THE SENATE.
IBY TELEGRAPH To THE rRlsUNEI


WAsuINGTON Dec 14.-SenatOT Brown OF Geor-
ria is the FLANAGAN of ais party. He lacks the cpl
glammatiC force of the Texas statesman, who ni-
mortalized himself in the Chicago Convention III
one sentence What are we here for if not for the
offices ?V aud on the other hand he has tho advan-
taqe over Flanagan in the fact that
majority of ms party share his views lie
made the speech to-day on the civil Service
Reform bill which a good many OF his
Democratic colleagues would have liked to have
the courage to make. and which displayed boldly
the real Democratic hostility, in spite Of then pro-
fes.ions 10 "a reform of the civil service.
Now slid Senator Brown, Il am going to do
some very plain talking to Democrats. IL IS not
worth while for us 20 miGce words here for the
country understands this whole question. The Re-
publican party has had the offices Of the Govern
ment for the last twenty years consecutively. The
Executive has been Republican, and they have had
the distribution of the Offices and places. They
still have II. Lately there has been an avalanche
sweeping over the country, carrying
with it the seveTest condemnation or
the practices of this party 1t is true 1t
was an off year, not a Presidential year; but
prndent conscientious men on the other side OF the
Chamber understand this rs well as we do. ii we
make no great blunders-and have heard it said
on the other side that they rely great deal on
Democratic
guilty of great folly on some important questions,
there can he to my mind and think 20 the minds
of Senators generally, little doubt that the next
President of this Republic will be a Democrat
But | am speaking now to Democrats
How do you go into that campaign ?
Suppose you put up my honorable friend from
ONO, Mr.. PenIletOn, or my honorable aud worthy
friend from Delaware. Mr.. Bayard, or any ether one
tf The prominent and able gentlemen mentioned for
the nomination, and you 20 before the Democratic
masses Of the United States and tell them that you
are handicapped that ali the Offices that amount to
anything all the more Important places are already
disposed Of Disposed Of sthey will
tay. How SOP "Why the Republican
laIty has had them for TWENTY-FIVE
years, and seeing that there was probability Of
change Of Administration they have taken good
care OF themselves They have pressed Civil Ser
vice bill, and Democrats have helped them to enact
st, aud we have it on the statute
books now. that there IL no Democrat
10 be put into Office in any Of these larger
executive brauches-none except the lowest de-
partments Above those, Republicans already in
compete with each other, but leave 40 chance for
Democrats.
Now, do you believe the Democratic leaders in
Ell the different States would work with the same
eneray aud zeal, and be well satisfied az they
would If you hold out 10 them the chance of a
changel 1t would be contrary to all experience,
contrary TO all history of the past to expect such
work. But know II has been replied that the
Democratic candidate would not be likely to have
so strong opposition from the Republican Office
holders. have no faith in that.
The Republican o1icehOlders are usually
ardent aud true Republicans. They believe in the
principles Of their party and they want to promote
them, and thoy believe that that party has sort of
divine right TO the offices Of the Government, and
they would be true 10 their partyn the campaign
as the needle is TO the pole. viii you destroy the
energies Of the Democratic leaders, from the lowest
to the highest, by taking away any induccment
offered 10 them with view of getting any OF the
rewards Of SUGGEST They would not exert them
selves as they would do il they believed there
would be a general change, or even chance
OF One-half. ! sag then, take 1t III any way you
Will, don't see-with great Difference to my friend
from UhiO-why at this time a Democrat should
vote for this bill; certainly not without important
ot Republican offce-hoders that this bill provides
iGr when il closes 10 the Democrats all the Offices
except the lowest.
don't wonder that our Republican friends are
very unanimous, and very anxious, at his moment
for the passage Of tLs bill. The only wonder have
Is that IT has taken them so long 20
reach this point The first four years when
time u discuss Civil Service Probably the next
Two or three years ought not TO be counted during
the stormy upheavals which followed the war. But
take Of say SIX years from The twenty-five, and 1t
leaves about sixteen years OF peace, which il
uas taken them " reach the point OF. as they