The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1882-12-20

purer political methods" Now that
the campaign is ended and the pub
lie is breathlessly awaiting the frui-
ton of these charming reforms, 1t
is discovered that the reduction of
theory to practice is task not easy
of accomplishment, as each and ev-
cry Individual reformer is persuaded
that he alone is master of the SCI
ence. The Democratic reformers
particularly. are in a quandary.
Bred in the faith that, $50 the vic
tors belong the spoils," they can APP
preciate no civil service reform, com
prehend no purer political methods,
that do not begin with turning all
their opponents out of office. They
are for reform next year, or at some
subsequent time, not under Repub-
lican rule, but at some indefinite tu-
ture, when their party possesses all
the offices. When Senator Brown,
in his speech against the civil e r
vice reform bills now pending in
the Senate, last week, asked if any
body believed the Democratic lead
ers in the several States would come
up to the support of a Democratic
candidate for President with the
same energy and zeal with civil ser
vice reform accomplished, az they
would without that reform accom-
plished, he put a question which
was not openly answered, but TO
which each nearer mentally re-
piled. 1--WE do not" 1t is not a flat
terlng view TO take of human ma
ture. but we do not believe that any
party leader would work with the
same zeal and energy in a campaign
in the absence of a prospect of re-
wards for themselves and their
friends. Victory, in a political con-
iict means this, and for more than
fifty years our citizens have been ed
ucated to this. As Senator Brown
also said, the passage of a civil ser
vice bill now would handicap the
Democrats in 1884, and understand
ing and believing this, as ali Demo
Gratis do. we have no faith in their
professions, or in their ostensible adj
vocacy of a reform in this branch of
the service.
As to the clamor of the Independ-
ents, whose sole ostensible object
was for "purer political methods"
their present demand for a fair APP
portionment of the offices in this
State by the National Government.
and a recognition of the right of
Senator Mitchell to distribute a por-
ton of its patronage al the price of
peace in the party, shows precisely
the moving and controlling influence
by which they are governed. The
truth is, no party vas ever known
that was too young or too old and
dignifed, to join in the scramble for
patronage, and among the loudest
shouters for reform of the civil SER
vice are to be found the most invet-
crate Office seekers and p,acemen in
the country. For these, as well as
other reasons, we do not have much
faith in any great measure of civil
service reform, being enacted during
the present session of Congress. 1t is
impossible TO ~legislate on this sub
lect without reference TO 1854. If
Democrats win then, they will take
the offices regardless of any bill to
the contrary that may be passed this
winter, and if the Republicans re-
tain power they will wish also TO
retain the patronage of the Govern
ment with it. We DO not believe
either that the service can be abso-
lutely severed from politics and all
labor to that end will eventually
prove abortive. But that the service
can be reformed, unnecessary offices
be abolished, incompetents weeded
out, drones dismissed, salaries be
better adjusted, ptipary examina-
tions be made, promotions follow
merit, and sundry other measures
be taken to advance and improve it,
admits of no doubt. These are prac-
teal means for its improvement to
which Congress may well address
leaving 6ne spun theories and
learned dissertations TO those who
delight in speculative and utopian
dreams of a perfect Government
without flaw or blemish.