The Portland daily press., 1883-08-03
The Republican Advance.

The National Civil Service Reform
league held their annual meeting this year
under more cheerful circumstances than
they dared to hope for one year ago. Then
the prospect of the early passage of law
embodying their views was not at all good.
The work seemed to be all before them. But
the elections of last Fall showed that their ap-
peal to public sentiment had found re-
spouse and that the party in power must re-
deem the pledges of its national platform if it
expected continuance of confidence. The
Republican Congress needed the warning
and promptly enacted a bill which at the
adjournment of the previous session seemed
TO have no better chance of becoming law
than did the bill for the payment of the
French spoliation claims. The President had
already pledged himself to carry into effect
with fidelity any measure of reform upon
which Congress would agree and indicated
his approval of the features Of the bill
known as Mr.. Pendleton's although it was
drafted, as was well understood,by gentle
man long identified with this agitation. No
complaint can be made of the Presidents
conduct since the passage of the bill, and
the National League in its resolutions grace
fully acknowledges his useful aud important
services.
That there are many Republicans who
had no desire for this reform and who ques-
toned its motive and usefulness everybody
knows; but the party is now committed to
II hu daf1ptfa Ia ~ I'D,
action as well as by platform professions,
and it cannot retreat. Those who opposed
the new policy cannot hope to reverse it. If
1t were believed or suspected that such az
ton is contemplated by any considerable
and influential body of Republicans, the
case of the party in the next national cleo
ton would be hopeless. The defeat it suf-
fered last Fall would not be circumstance
to the indignation that " ould oyerwhelm it.
Reactionary policies are for the Democratic
party, not for the Republican, which has no
option but to advance, perfeciing whatever
good work it has begun.
This is not the first time in its
history that the leaders of the par
ty have been forced by the urgency of
public opinion to take step in advance of
their convictions or their convenience; but
whenever such steps have been taken they
were taken for good. The line reached has
been held and the fant-hearted and reluc-
tant had but one alternatiye-to march on
with the army or to quit the service. Some
fell out when the emancipation proclamation
VIZ nd oil ont urto DO
termined to antagonize President Johnson's
policy. Some fell out when it was resolved
to maintain an honest currency at whatever
cost and pay the whole war debt in honor.
Some have fallen out because the party in
sists on a tariff that will protect labor, and
perhaps some will prefer to take their
chances with the democracy and the spoils
system rather than to cooperate in reform
ing the civil service. But on the whole the
party by going ahead from one advance post
to another has gained more than it would
have gained by hanging back and refusing
the challenges of the future.
The Pendleton bill may not be perfect, but
that is not the question. As experience
shows it to be in any particular defective in
accomplishing the ends aimed at, the friends
OF the principle it embodies undoubtedly will
be anxious to amend it; but they are not
likely to consent to any amendment which in
effect will restrict its scope or restore the
old system of filling offices by favor. That
must be considered as dead as Johnson S
policy or the Greenback heresy by all Re-
publicans, or the party will be torn by dis
sensions that will destroy it. 1t is necess airy
for parties which would succeed. as it is for
men, to look forward and not back, to keep
abreast of The best thought of their time
and to have the intelligence and the courage
to keep every advantage they get in the
struggle for position.