Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1882-11-02
SPEECH or ID. r. FORTNEY, DELII
Erred AT MADISONBURG, Oct.
25. 1889.

-o. lSSS.
When last addressed you from this
stand we were in the middle Of the
Hancock campaign. You were conf
dent that the eminent soldier and pat
riot who bore our standard would be
our next President. Notwithstanding
the fact that he had suffered much for,
and rendered great service to his coun.
try in time of war, the republicans
fought him as desperately as though he
had been the chief Of traitors. This
same republican party is now seeking
out and soliciting the aid and support
of the soldier for the stalwart candidate
for governor because forsooth. he has
been a soldier. To them the old
soldier has become a great favorite.
but only to vote. When he desires =
nomination at the hands Of the County
Convention for so small an Office IA Jury
Commissioner the stalwart candidates
friends refuse the poor boon because the
one armed soldier does not suit their
purpose. Their patriotism is confined
only TO party and their fealty to and
love for the old soldier is only shown
when they desire his vote for stalwart
candidat.s. On our part this campaign
has been commenced and must be
fought and won on the question of re.
form. That reform is needed is demon
strated by the fact that both of the great
political parties have emphatically de.
clared for it, in one form or another
through state and national conventions,
regularly for the last ten years. Re
form in the civil service. Reform in our
system OF internal revenue system. Re.
form in the tariff, and reform in every
department of the government state
and national has been vigorously de-
manded by the people, and insolently
refused by the party in power.
There has been q living and growing
sentiment in favor OF reform come up
from the rank and file OF the Republican
party to its conventions, which demsn.
ded and received recognition in spirited
resolutions, made as IL afterwards ap-
peared for the ear. and only to be brok.
en- to the hope. So often had this been
done that honest intelligent and faith.
full republicans have refused to longer
submit TO being betrayed, ,trsmpled upon
and ruled by the machine and the boss,
have organized a revolt and de.
mand that the promise Of reform made
shall be put into execution,
The republican party in 1872 by its
notional convention declared that "any
system Of civil service under which the
subordinate positions Of the government
are considered rewards for party zeal is
fatally demoralizing, and We therefore
demand q reform OF the system by laws
which shall abolish the evils of patron .
age and make honesty fidelity and
efficiency the essential qualification for
public position"
The Democrats and Liberal republi.
cans in the same year made even a
stronger appeal for reform. denounced
the practice of using the civil service OF
the government to promote personal
ambition, that il was a scandal and re.
proach to free institutions and declared
that honesty and capacity constitute
the only valid claims TO public employ
ment. In 1876 the republican party by
resolution rejoiced in the quickened
conscience OF the people concerning pub
lie affairs, and resolved they would hold
all public officers to rigid responsibility
and engaged that prosecutions and pun
ishments of all who betray Official trusts
should be swift thorough and unspair
ing.
n this declaration had been rigidly
adhered to, or II punishment o.
those who betrayed official trus
had been swift thorough and un
spairing many OF the chief offic,
holders of the republican party. inolud
ing Dorsey and Brady would now b.
found within the secure walls Of the
penitentiary. In 1880 the republican
party by its convention adopted th'
declaration of president Hayes that re
form in the civil service shall be thor
oush, radical and complete, Thes
several declarations Of the republican
were made because the honest element
of their party demanded that reform
should be Instituted, but the men wh
controlled the party and held the Office
persistently refused TO obey the d.
mands made upon them or fulfil th
promise given to the people after th
elections. The refusal of the boss
hear the honest demands Of the peopl
has finally led ss 1t naturally would,
disruption Of the republican party.
When the stalwart Republicans me
in convention on the 10th of May, 1888.
they declared that public Office const
autea . high trust 20 be administers
sCiely for the people. whose interes
must be paramount TO those Of perso
and parties. They condemned unequi'