The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-01-17

unaC IL is not Ill unison WIN Dr. van worms
on the alleged invalidity of the amendments.
THE PARTIES AND THE CIVIL SERVICE.
1t is a singular but significant fact that
just so soon as a Democratic politician makes
a move looking toward cvil-service reform
he is denounced by his party as doing Re-
publican work 1t was and is so with Sena-
tor Pendleton, who is now derided as being
a Republican. What does it mean? What
can it mean but that Democrats themselves
recognize the fact that the demand that the
civil service should be reformed is essentially
Republican, and that any Democrat who pre-
sumes to advance such an idea in the face of
a possible Democratic succession is an enemy
of his party.
1t may be asked why the Republican party
has not inaugurated civil-service reform and
put it into practice. The Republican party
has had mighty work to perform, and as a
whole has succeeded in manner creditable
to every member of the party. Its birth
right of peaceable succession was stolen from
it and civil war substituted. When the first
Republican President crossed the threshold
of the executive mansion the Confederacy
was fixed fact, secession had been accom-
years later the rebellion was at an end, and
the perplexing problem of restoring not only
the tranquility but the unity of the Nation
was undertaken. The assassination of Mr.
Lincoln and the accession of Mr. Johnson
threw the country into foment only less
fierce than the struggle of war. Naturally
a great many mistakes were made under the
circumstances. 1t could not be otherwise
But at length order came out of chaos, and
the integrity of the Union was restored.
linen followed the duty of putting the pub
lie debt into the best possible shape to be
carried by the people and the restoration of
a sound basis to the peoples money. Since
1865 the debt has been reduced over thou
sand millions, the rate of interest has been
brought down from 6, and 10 per cent. to 8
and 81, and the currency system is confess
eddy the best in the world, and the stablest
From owing the debt nearly all abroad and
paving vast sums of interest to foreigners,
the bonds are now Practically all in the
nanos americans. ms maCUev ufsposeu
of, the party is now in condition to attend to
the minor details of the civil service and it is
safe to say that practical reform will soon
be put in working order.
If there is fault to be found with the way
the ciyil-service appointments have been
made under Republican administrations. it is
because the Democratic idea of "to the vic
tors belong the spoils" has been too much fol-
lowed. Time was in the history Of the Re-
publican party when this system was excus-
able if not actually imperative. The safety
of the republics most vital interests depend
ed on loyal men being placed in office every
where. and at one time Republicansm
was the best badge of fealty to the Union
cause. That has passed now, and the time is
whole has not been efficient and trustworthy,
but in order that all people may share alike
in the favors of government The elective
offices are in the hands of the people, and a
majority must say who shall fill them.
The minor positions may be filed
by men chosen by commission,
governed solely by the candidates
qualifications, as developed through a COM
pettive examination or in any other man
ner that may be prescribed. A year ago such
plan would have met the approval of the
Democratic party, but now, since the Novem-
Der elections have given them new courage,
they will be satisfied with nothing less than
absolute control of the Federal civil-service
system. Can anyone doubt what will be the
result? Is anyone left to surmse what the
change means? The cry of civil-service re-
form was popular with Democrats as re-
ministration and to hoodwink the people.
But affecting a possible Democratic
President they will have nothing to do with
it. The leaders are afraid to advocate the
Pendleton bill, for the rank and file would
desert them incontnently did they do so.
The Republican party only is sincere in The
profession of desire for civil-service reform,
and it is to that party and to none other that
the people of the country must look for it.
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The New York Tribune is vigorously dis
cussing the relation of saloons to the city
government and city expenses. AS is the