The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-12-15
CIVIL SERVICE KEfuNM,
VIM In Rr<p0nsibie for the spells Syi
tenn? .#. .....


g tenn?
To the Editor Of the ln,elliccncer.
Sin: To hear Democrat crate over the
beauties oil civil service reform and to see
him roll his eyes i'll holy horror over the
enormities Of political assessments, one
would think they were all disciples OF that
stern old Spartan tyraut WHO bahishcd coin
from his kingdom that his people might
not become corrupted, and ostracised
mince pies md gingerbread that they
might not become enervated by high living,
and compelled them to sleep on the
ground TO inure them to the hardships Of IL
soldiers life. Lycursus was no greater
cynic in his day then are some Of the Dem
Gratis OF the present day. Senators pendle.
ton and Beck seem 10 have resurrectetl
the old Spartan's mantle and now seek
iame in posing before the public rs reform.
ers; and there is about as much reason and
practical COMMON sense III sotue OF their
views rs there was. in the extreme ridicu.
lousness OF some OF Lycurgus. laws.
When study the origin OF political as.
sessments md the authors Of our civil SER
vice am constrained to believe that the
honesty OF these modern Democratic per-
formers is not rs thick rs the bark Of sap
ling nor the cuticle OF their cheek. They
ache 10 reform the civil service because OF
the incivility Of keeping Democrats out OF
the service, and would make the paying OF
political assessments IL penal oil'ense be-
cause Republicans are protting by the re-
fusa! 10 pay royalty on Democratic patent.
When our opponents gain power again, if
they ever do, which, the Lord forbid, the
public will have Il clearer appreciation OF
the practical workings Of civil service re-
form Just assoon as they set the old ma.
chine grinding rs It used 10 way back in
the thirties ANIL forties, Oh course such ex-
cellent patriots us Pendleton, Beck, Ran
dali and others Of the reform (?) school
will try and slip the cogs of the old ma
chine out OF gear and throw the bands off
the wheels, but their efforts will avail lit
tie when hull million hungry followers
begin to yelp for political backsheech.
Since 1850 reforms OF this kind have
been prolific themes for Democratic ora
tors, but they should be accepted at their
true valuation aud should DO measured in
the Democratic bushcl.' Civil service to be
effective must conform to practical business
rules, and unless j does it will be 4 jargon
OF bungling crudities. A business man in
seeking an elnploye chooses the one OF
capacity and the one who, under all cir.
cunssances, will remain TRUE to his inter.
ests. There would be Just as much sense
in q merchant employing clerk who
spends his time inrunning down his wares
as there would be in an administration
filling its departments with employees who
labor to bring into disrepute the principles
and policies o. that administration. When
it becomes scriptural to put new wine into
old bottles, and when to iced the hand thut
rends you becomes IN added command to
tho dccalogue, then it will be time to add
tho theories Of modern civil service re.
forms 10 the curriculum OF political econ.
Omy.
Who iirst introduced into American poll.
tics the principle that political faith should
be the guer'lon OF political place and posi-.
toni Thomas Jefferson, the father of De.
mocracy. Under Washington and the
elder Adams politics had not assumed that
distinctive individuality it afterwards at.
tanned. But under Jefferson, when the
people had set their seal Of condemnation
upon the principles Of oligarchy and FEEDER.
aiism us represented by Hamilton, Adams
and Others, every department Of govern.
ment was swept US with Il new broom, and
only those who endorsed Jeflersonian Re.
publlcanism could so much as obtain the
position Of d0orkeeper or custodian OF the
lunch tables about the Capital. lido not
mention this In derogation OF Jefferson, |
think he did right. This principles were
worth anything--principles that received
the approval OF the wisest statesmen OF bis
day-they were worth q fair trial by their
friends rather than their enemies. ii The
same sharp line OF political demar-
cation was noticeable in 1861, when
Lincoln was inaugurated. The de-
pa1tments were full OF Southern
sympathizers No one could tell
who 10 trust. Even Cabinet secrets were
known in Richmond and Montgomery
within forty-eight hours after their creation
at Washington condition OF things that
caused the old veteran Scott 10 remark, rs
he arranged his soldiers to secure n peace.
able Inauguration, II have greater cause to
fear the enemy in the rear than tile one in
my 'front.'" Aud it was not until the nd.
ministraiion surrounded itself with its own
friends that It. commenced those series Of
successful movements TINT resulted 80
gloriously at Appomattox. ! would not be
understood as making party fealty the only
consideration for political preferment. Let
the two great requirements be integrity
and capability, and those followed by poll
teal fidelity. But that partyewhich goes
outside Of itsown organization for recipients
OF It's iayom, until its own honest and
capable followers are exhausted, commits
political hartkari. a IL. Kill. j
What party in America elevated the sys.
tenn OF political assessments into n political
science? The Democratic party. Jackson
enunciated tho principle and his followers
made it living thing. From 1881 to 1861,
with two short Intervals as exceptions, po-
litical assessments, under Democratic aa.