The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-12-20

avowed support OF the cause of civil service
question was involved. The candidates
were party candidates and as he regards the
position of parties and their relation to this
question vote in favor of the Republican
candidate was vote for the reform while a
vote for the Democratic candidate would
have been vote against 1t. He refers to
the effort of Mr.. Carlisle at The last session
to get the reform bill recommitted which
would have imperiled its passage and dis
courses in some detail of Democratic indif-
ference in theory and practice to the princi-
pies of civil service reform. If his vote had
been governed by considerations relating to
this reform only he could not have support
ed Mr., Carlisle. He calls the attention of
| the association to the fact that at its meet
| ing where 1t was determind to question his
vote for Mr.. Keifer no question was raised
about the action of his colleague Mr.. Morse
who voted for Mr.. Carlisle and for displac-
ing the clerk and all the faithful officials of
the House. Indeed Mr.. Morse was re-eec-
bS0 q VIC pAC6iQCut. VI tu0 dSSUCldlIOU.
"This, he says with good point, sswould
seem to show either that you approve of his
course in this respect, or that you agree
with me in what have said in regard to the
issues of civil service not being specially in
volved in the election"
Both Congressman are right in their view
that the issues of civil service reform were
not specially involved in the election, The
objections to Mr.. Keifer as the Republican
candidate were many, and among them his
attitude on the civil service question was
only one, and perhaps not the most import
ant. If the Civil Service Reform Associa-
tion of Boston wishes to put itself in the at
titude of DIR. Miners temperance party and
quarrel with everybody, however well dis
posed to the cause it has at heart, who does
not, in all his public conduct, narrow his
views so as to see only that one issue, it
will not increase its influence; for there are
other great questions agitating the country,
and it becomes everyone who has respon-
] sible part in the oondnct of national affairs
to consider how he can enhance his infu-
ence and make it more effective for good.
There is such a thing as being unreasonably
and Intellectually critical, and the Boston
reformers seem to have dropped into that
folly in attempting to call congressman to
account for voting for Mr. Keifer, as if they
had thereby forfeited their confidence. Es-
pecially does their fault-finding appear abb
surd in view of their course toward Mr..
Morse, for, however inferior to Mr.. Carlisle
Mr.. Keifer may be in some respects, he has
done quite as much.to advance such legisla-
ton as the Boston association fayors.
The reform of the civil service is impor-
tant and desirable; the effectual restraint Of
the liquor traffic is important and desirable;
the right adjustment of revenue and expend-
iture is important and desirable; the securi-
ty of all citizens in their political and civil
rights is important and desirable; the restor-
alton of our commercial greatness is impor-
tant and desirable; the suppression of polyg-
amy is important and desirable but all these
objects have to be attained, if they are at
tanned, by judiclous and patient endeavor,
and neither of them, unless it is the
security of fundamental rights, can be wise
ly made the single consideration in determ-
lining statesma action in all exigencies
that arise.