New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-11-02
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM,
y ADDRESS FROM THE NATIONAL LEAGUE.


An address tothe voters of the country has been
,ssmned by a committee of the National Clvi ser
80 Reform League, posed of George William
Curtis, sherman S. Rogers, Charles T. Russell
henry Hitchcock, and Charles J. Bonaparte. ms
address. which was written by George William
Curts reviews the growth OF the abuses IN the Clvi
ssrviee from tn Q improper use of patronage, pre-
sents the principles OF the reform movement SHOWS
what II is hoped to accomplish and Appeals 10
voters TO vote only for candidates who VIII suppoi'
actively in Congress tie passage OF measures es"'
fishing non-partisan and open compeutlou anu
probation for subordinate appointments Inc
address in full isas follows:
At the annual meeting Of the National Civil Service
reform League the undersigned were appointed Com
nttee TO present the voters OF the United states oh
behalf Of the League the principles OF REFORM ana 10 SA
for them the support of all good citizens
The dangers to free institutions that Turk in the power
of patronage are amar and they insdous as 'he
are fatal The corrupt Of patronage was tine
weapon Of the English crown in the long cont'' ~
the English people. By such corruption Aihs 80,
the Third endeavored 10 undo the work OF the ~
of 1883 and it by the same corrup'lon ''i@.
prolonged the effort subdue the AlneIIOu,i ~, -
The DANCER l. inherent; and the nature OF le e'H voc
-. 1891 nor ia consequences removed by the SUD
s,it,,io, of republican for monarchca government
The legitimate and healthy contest OF parties ~
ruhlic is not TO be deprecated They are 'he at Is
Nv which in a free government legislation Is cono
and national policies enforced The supJugau VI
this legitimate party action by patronage Is te
.h-oxv Of liberty under forms Of law ms j. Ine
peril which now threatens the country Inc ''9' IL
titnde OF subordinate places In the OlFH 0eI,i0' az
ubc trusts TO be filed solely for the genera oenen'
PM practce Is now firmly entrcnched In party tra-
60, Which assumes that such places constitute vast
scheme Of prizes TO be distributed by successi poI
CLANS To their followers The enormous poWefO OF INC
patronage which directly and indirectly controls nun
dreds of thousands of places ana many mllohs Vi
collars in annual emOuments Is thus prosuthted 10
party and personal service WIN Only "H in'1''"' -
card 20 the public welfare.
developing INTO A SERIOUS PERIL
tsis not new abuse except in its rapidly Increasing
extent its powerful organization ana us immaculate
menace At the beginning Of the century IL hao mas
tered the State Governments of New-IorK ana fenuJ
vana and sought control of the National Admnistra-
noD A. the National patronage enlarged the endeaVor
10 diert II 10 mere partisan and personal ends became
,ra and more aggressive until about fifty years ago
The National Civil Service abandoned unreserVedV
IN the evil practice and with the vast extension Oh pat
-o,age since the civil the abuse has developed into
serious peril The greatest OF American 9l
ali parties Adams Clay, Calhoun NeDsttr nav sol
6nences The Executive has sometimes yalhy endeay-
Dreu 10 SS,nd has been langid and indifferent, until
NJ last the accumulated and fragrant evidence OF inc
rerson TO personal ends OF the fundamental power OF
T. Corernment namely the votes OF the peOple.-a
verson accomplished by the corruption OF patronage,
Ehas thoroughly aroused the attention OF all pa'rouc
Unable personally to know those whom he must
fhe vast body minor employees the PRESIDENT Is com
nened 10 depend for information upon senators and
kepresentaves upon whom also the success OF MS Al
ntns+ratiou depends The Executive ana the IeglhI-
tive authority although carefully separated ny the
SDs+itntion become hopelessly and dangerously con
fused Representatives demand the patronage OF lncl
districts and Senators practically usurp me power OF
nonlineton From the system OF mutual Executive
and Legislative traffic IL places arises huge ohce-
~, ,St cHnoyes TO the highest officers. each depend
emf upon the other and all united III common purpose
~ control general and local politics for their personal
sdvantage political class independent OF the great
body of the people thus prac tea.y ~ ther o
ate he leaders of this class levy tax upon the public
treasuTy for the benefit of party. BY mercenaTy
@ ~ concnses and conventions they hold the gate
10 political preferment and pubhc employ neht anu ne
condition of such preferment and employment Is Implicit
obedience to their viii The voters OF the party submit
because the only alternative seems 10 pc e 90
the opposition. Under the ata4 sG1 u
nartv ceases TO be association 70 shape pouG P0ey
and becomes an agency to Pro9ote pIInsT Ss ,tS
become ce-huntine Nv ~ IL
SrsU more and more from participation IN puDlc aHaIs
- resl rnres and bosses OF statesmen The young
American is taught that the qualihcalons LOT puuc
Snt syeonhencv and seTviy. cheating and bnbing TO
,wen me parry vote and every KIND OF unInany pc
s Isce be learns that he can retain by official
merit but ny personal service that he must pay part OF
must u pa g I9sS of rcspoct the condition OF
psriii 3aces and salaries it stimulates reckless
eonqags Of the Government; it transforms the highest
administrative officers into brokers oi petly place,
snbsdizes the press defies the American name, and
1ebsuchcs the National character until. under Its dc
grading mastery, the power OF the Government passes
Eto the hands Of venal olgaTchy ana general eec-
hon Is no longer a contest OF differing policies deter
mined bv free argument before the people, but nerce
and desperate struggle Tor the vast elAoen's u ioi
APPEALING TO THE WORST PASSIONS.
.rhisis plain statement Of familiar acts. They are
md lp eft iypua
show that the question of reform is question OF the
continued existence Of free institutions in this country
But the spos system, from which the evils spring, Is
defended as essential 10 party government. On the
contrary il destroys the essential significance OF party
political party is voluntary association OF citizens
who hold similar OF the nature Of the Government
md who desire a certain policy Of administration
That policy secured by the election Of Legislative and
Executive officers who make and execute the laws, and
fessafiye ana the Executive tho convictions and the
purposes OF the people are represen cd Ial{ orgaza-
zion is designed 10 faelht0te ami MAXI enecllNe lne
expression OF the popular will ana Whatever tends 10
preyent election FROM showing that viii, by bribery
stroy very object of party organization. Such
system which. instead Of submitting questions OF public
policy to the public Judgment at an election appeals to
furious contests for every petty nee III the whole Civil
of the people upon public policy.
another defence attempted by the assertion that to
DaTpose as expressed in election there must be not
nnlV change in Legislative and Executive officers but
VIII Service. This T. no more necessary
Than corresponding change IN the Army and the Navy
Changes IN the policy OF administration do not aEec! IN
t I3st degree the duties OF subordinate and clerical
Officers Whatever the policy Of the Government may
he whether a protective tariff or a revenue tafln'
whether currency OF paper whether lavish or
n restricted system Of internal Improvement whether
M aggressive or pacific foreign policy, civil or 4
military Indian cheap postage or dear postage
The duties postnasters and collectors OF hnIslaI-
clerks and messengers Of all subordinate employees Of
ever, kind and degree, are wholly unaffected Elections
change political officers IN order that The policy al
~
Office as a maxim applied to tho great body Of public
employees j. as absurd public aS Ia private business
~ 81 ~ nnrrnsn OF tho OWL scrNice 10 provide