The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1882-12-13
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our regular cprresponaent.l

(From our regular correspondent.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Dec. 8, 1882.
The first week of the last session of
the Republican Congress is passed,
and the majority has shown some
signs of death-bed or scafIold repent.
ance. Repentance is good at any
time, perhaps, but it is too late to
secure reprieve or Communication. The
execution of the sentence of Danish.
ment must go or, must be made
thorough in 1884, when, in the Sc
.questration of private life, the men
who have governed and legislated SO
ruinousIy will have time for indi.
vidual, but not for party, repentance.
History is merc5less, as it should be,
for unfortunately there is no other
future punishment for condemned
political parties. The "fruits meet
for repentance that the Republicans
appear 10 be bringing to the altar
just now are a reduction of taxation
and civil service reform. They are
quite willing To- reform the civil ser.
vice so as to give stability of tenure
for the next six years to the 100000
Office olders-all Of them placed in
office by the Republican members
and senators as reward for such po-
litical partizan work as it must be
the object of all genuine civil service
reform to correct. The bill proposed,
if passed, would secure Offices to those
whom Hayes appointed in reward
for crime the most monstrous in
the annals of time. 1t would make
investigation of all the theft and ad-
ministratiye lawlessness of the last
twenty years impossible, for it would
leave the appointees of Sherman,
Robson and Belknap in possession
of the archives of the government
offices. 1t would continue in places
Of honor and trust hundreds of the
Il pointees of Senators Malone, Kel.
logg, Ex-Senators Dorsey and Spen.
Ger. No policy could be more wrong
in theory or practice than to dis.
charge a hundred thousand clerks
for no better reason than that they
are Republicans, but that no real re.
form can take place until several
thousand dishonest and incompetent
clerks are discharged is fact well
known to those who are acquainted
with the routine and the perSoneL of
the government offices here. Last
week President Arthur discharged
half.a. loEap persons for alledged sym.
pathizers with the Star Route de-
fcndants. If a!ll the active sympa.
thizers with the grimes by which
prominent Republicans, and the Re.
publican party, have prolted were
discharged, at least $4,000 govern
ment employees would join the pia-
cession.
1t is evident that the people are
aroused on the subject Of civil service
reform, and it is evident that the
President and Congress have heard
from the people. 1t is not q very
striking or tangible subject, not
subject upon which it is easy to
arouse popular indignation, for the
reason that it is almost impossible to
make its iniquities palpable to the
average voter. There is nothing
picturesque about it. Nothing sulf.
GENTLY sensational to attract popular
attention, except when Il Secretary
Of War sells post-trader-ship, or an
Elk Senator and Postmaster General
steal by the million from the Post.of.
fee Department. But tits one of the
most hopeful indications of our time
that public attention is at last earn.