New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-09-09
publcans in their position, and we are unable
to believe it now.
RErORu or CJYIL SERVICE.

REFORM or CIYIL SERVICE.
1t is quite the fashion lately, i'll certain quar-
| ters, to greet with denuncation or ridicuc any
reasonable expression of opinion in regard to
Civil Service reform. Mr.. Blaine's remarks on
the subject, like those of Senator Harrison Of
Indiana, have been criticised IS if it 'vere fool
ish to believe that those gentlemen had intelli-
gent opinions on the subject, or that they were
sincere in their expressions. Yet these men
have every reason to oppose any existing evils
and not single reason for desiring that abuses OF
patronage should continue. They are statesmen
of distinguished ability, who never need torely
upon patronage for support, and who have had
much opportunity to study the workings OF the
present system. Mr.. Blaine especially, during
n long and active public career, has had oppor-
tunlty to know the vices and the merits, the
abuses and the exccllcnces of the present civil
Service, as well ~ any man living 1t has nap
pened, too, that he has hardly ever, during his
long public career, been on such terms with al
Administration as to enjoy advantages III Vho
distribution of patronage. Mr.. Coukllng, VINO
was not his friend, was the most trusted adviser
of President Grant; close personal friends or
President HAYES and members of his Cabinet
were in the last degree hostile to Mr.. Blaine );
and he had not been long enough in Office with
President Garfield to understand what ought
to be or could be done when the assassination
arrested all action. More than any other pub
lie man in this country, he would naturally
sympathize with an effort to clear away an
abuse which has been almost constantly to his
dctriment. Yet the opinions OF such men as
these are treated with contempt by journals
and speakers of certain class.
1t is Il great misfOI tune for a reform when
il falls into the hands of those who make
living by it, or find in il their only title To pub
lie recognition. Then it always comes to pass
that sincere and able well-wshers are repealed
10y a censure that is indecent and brutal only
because it is suprcmely selfish There are not
two public men living, excepting the President
and lis nearest adviser. who have power To do
more for the cause of Civil Service reform than
the two Just mentioned. There is every reason
to believe that both are entirely sincere in de-
sizing genuine and effective reform, but, to
the disgust Of the professional refOrmers, these
gentlemen seek for something practical and
useful They are not quite disposed to commit
themselves to crude and doubtful measures,
WHICH may 90 more HdlH l!Iiu E"'h' ~ -
not enough for them to embazOn Civil Ser
vice Reform " on their banners and shout with
the loudest for any Lill no matter what that
may be presented with that label The fact Is
that they are statesmen. and not demagogucs.
The problem of Civil Service reform is not
quite as simple as some imagine. There arr
hundreds of influential men III public life who
are really anxious TO find some means OF getting
rid of the lntoerable nuisance of Office be gging,
and clearing themselves of the gricyous re-
sponsbility of selection between many APP
picants. TO some of them it seems enough
to favor a mere scheme Of competitive cXam
nation, perhaps because they do not know how
much evil that system also involves Others,
again, are particularly anxious TO dissOciate
officials from any participation i'll political action,
reg ldless of the iDdisputahle right OF the citizen
to he citizen, whether in Office or not. Others
still have an idea that the world will rey0lve
on its axis in very different way if only Fed
eral apI ontees can be prevented from contrib
uting to campaign funds. But all these aud
similar measures are open to criticism. The
statesman who is earnestly DESTROYS of reform,
but does not see in these measures all that
their friends see has some right to decent
treatment. From the low point of view of
political expedency, men who really want to
bring about n reform will not be in haste to
make war upon others who want the same re-
form, but differ as to the practical methods.