Arizona weekly citizen., 1883-04-01
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 During the days of anti-slavery agita- tion iD the North. there was not politi- cal paper on either side that did not have something to say upon the ques- ton. It was discussed so thoroughly, that nothing was left uBsald. But the FreesoiIers-and then the Republicans had the best of the argument as well as right on their side, and as is usually the case under such circumstances, right prevailed. l. was q question that could be easily elucidated; every one could understand what slavery meant and with q little extra effort on the part Of tue sbolitiOuist agItator one cUlld almost hear the clinking of the chains far away on Southern plantations With the question of civil service reform, the newspaper, as a general thing have had but lIttle tO say, yet it Is of scarcely less importance to the people, than was the slavery question before the war. It does not appeal to the hearts Of men; there are no blood-thirsty tales of horror con nectod with it; no hiding of men away to save them from the lash Of a meTcI- less oyerseer. It is question that sp- peals to reason, rather than to passions, to justice rather than force. The polIti- cians have opposed 1t, because the political existence Ot many of them depended upon the patronage they could secure for their followers, and because the custom had grown in the land to give all the offices to those who belong to the dominant party. The influence and patronage of many new-- papers was effected to considerable ex- tent, by the spoils system, and such newspapers have kept silent ? said It, tie upon the subject. The. spells sys- tenn, or "to the victor belongs the spoil" was inaugurated by General Jackson, the model and patron representative man, whom all members of inc Democratic party with ancient ideas, delight to honor, and still occasionally vote for. Many of the best thinkers and aol-st men in tue country look upon the abuses of the spells sy stem as tAe very worst feature of our Republican form of government. But 1t Las required the united efforts of such able men a. George William Curtis, Tn, mas 4. Jenckes, E. l.. Godkin, Dr. Hall and Dr. Washington Hadden 10 keep tue question alIve. It Was looked upon by both parties as something they cou d say naught against, yet neither man. tested any desire 10 put Il into practical use, knowing that it would be tue death warrant to machine politicians oi whom large portion of bot political parties were made up. C.vll ssryice cOn;em- plates putting good and competent men in office and during good behavior keep them there.
 But the reform IS only begun 1; tue idea has taken hold Of the minds of the people. but it has not assumed practical shape. While the theory is correct, the details for its sue cessful operation must be formulated. The commissioners appointed under the Pendleton b.ll are good men, but it rs- mans to be seon whether they can eu- ter into the details and put the ma chinery into working order. We trust they will not go out of their way, as some os the examining boards did that pre- ceded them, and examine a subject on history and tLe languages, when tine work they were expected to perform, was the addition Of long columns of fig
 general bookkeeping. It Is nor necessary Do. .la-.,,,,s physlc h order to succeed bsfore a -, or jury, nor Is It necess try that a mi,is ter Of the gospel shoull studv oor,,,,..,. law before he attempts to exPoO . ..a
 --..u Is llu,,iv,ll lnd 'he move garbage from back ,,a-d- to re- animation should be with view GI de- terminiug whether the applicant Is qual flied to perform that service, and the question of Ehsther be is the president of college, a historian, or whether he understands astronomy and can speak the dead langGag-s, sholld not b. in- quIrsi iuto. Odr political writers have but just began the work. It will require years of thought, and many changes must be made and defects cured before civil service reform proves a complete success.