The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1882-07-27

Chairman OF tlle hcpuDi Ndii NoH-
gressional Committee. calling upon Federal
Office holders for a voluntary contribution
to the campaign fund for this falls cleo
tion. The sublimated civil service reformers
have been very industrious in their efforts
to brighten people to disregard the request.
These political Oscar Wildes, who are too
esthetical to enter into the common Things
of life, and not sufficiently ETHEREAL to reach
to the seventh heaven. are suspended be-
tween the arching blue and mother earth IN
an atmosphere of their own. They are the
Pecksniifs OF American politics, assuming
a moral altitude inconsistent with common
flesh and blood, aud protesting a transcen-
dentsl ethics incomprehensiblet to ordinary
beings. From time immemorlal contributions
have been made for political purposes, and
the propriety recogn lied of those who hold
official positions through party favor giving
Il pittance to promote the interest OF the
party which they believe will best subserVe
the purposes of good government. Ihese
civil service reformers would create priv
eminent. and prescribe the people from all
participancy in the advantages OF the sue
cess of the party to which they may be re-
spectively allied. Such a policy is obnoX-
ious to the whole theory of a government.
founded in the popular " i'll and subject to
its authority. 1t assumes that the funda-
mental idea of our institutions-the capac-
ity and intelligence of the people for self
uovernment-tp be falsehood, and those
who really constitute the nation are not ca
pabIe of administering its affairs. The fact
that the business of the departments, pre-
sided over by tie party friends Of the ad-
lninistration in power, have, from the foun-
dation of the Republic, been conducted
lust as it is now directed, condemnf the re-
timing notions Of these political esthetes.
and iustifies the policy OF the party in
power giving preference to those who aided
in placing 1t there. Each party recognizes
and practices the theory that to the victOrs
belong the spOils-not in a mercenary
sense, but in the sense that each member
of the party desires to see it succeed, and
hence bis efforts would he more unselfishly
given to cousummate that result. The idea
of the civil service reformers that select
few should be chosen, through system Of
technical examination before board of
refining abstractonists, to run the govern
ment. regardless of political sympathy
with the party the popular will had in
stalled in power, and to hold position by
life term, modified by good behavior, would
be reflection on our whole system of gov
ernment and deny the fundamental fact
that the people are the source of political
power. TO admit the theory of these po-
ltical Oscar Wildes would be to confess Re-
publican government a failure, and sub
stantially acknowledge that an aristocratic
form is that only under which Repub-
lcan government should be maintained.
We have confidence in the robust COM
mon sense OF the American people, and
called to conduct the affairs of government,
we believe there could be found sufficient
numbers in political sympathy with it, to
honestly and efficiently administer its in
terests, and direct its machinery for the
common veal. 1t certainly could not
be in the mere mechan ical or admin istra-
tive feature of the government thus con-
trolled that defect would be found. 1t would
be in the policy or governmental prin-
ciples favored aud practically introduced -
al,
least affect the result. If the controlling
policy as it relates to popular and national
interests were correct, the selection of per-
sons in sympathy with that policy would not
initiate against it. 1t is the most impu-
dent presumption to assume that board
of profess onal reformers could better reg
ulate the civil service through red tape
method OF appointments than the heads of
departments directly interested. by reason
of party pride and that reasonable ambi-
tion that attaches to every faithful officer
to acquit himself well of the duties entrusted
to him.
The unfavorable criticisms of Mr.. Hub
BELLS circular come from either Democrat
ic demagogues, who, hopeless of ever Sc
curing the control of government, would
devise some means Of sharing in the pa
tronage of power. or class of idealists
who live in a different atmosphere from
that in which the people move, have no
sympathy with them, and would erect a
subliInated standard of qualifications that
would prescribe every one who could not
present "a parchment from some college
faculty.
We believe that the true policy OF the
government is to entrust with its adm is
tration those whose political sympathes
are in accord with the party in power, and
that it is the duty Of those thus favored to
contribute OF their means to peTpetuate the
authority which proves its ability to direct
the nations affairs in the interest of the
people. The civil service reform Pecksniffs
and Oscar Wildes, who are just now dis
turbing their minds about a moral and DO
litical esthet'c ism as rule for official recOy-
milton, will hardly revolutionize the meth
DDS and the policy which have controlled in
American politics for a century, and under
which the nation has passed from one step
of greatness to another, until it stands as
the model COVE nment among the civilized
powers OF the world
The Democratic rage against Speaker
keitfer is quite natural. While he may not
be as expert in parliamentary law as Blaine