Daily Republican., 1883-04-14
Lincoln and Civil Service.

AhiS NiNlI k''iNltN uuVStlbu ~ liDt u
triting one. or course, 1t may be made
farce of, as 1t is now, where all the
. departments assume to have competi.
tive examinations. There are competi-
tive examinations now, but they are
instituted more 10 keep out those that
are not wanted than to admit the most
competent, ] notice that 1t never hap
pens that clerk fails in passing the
board when his appointment il really
desired by the ruling power. 1t by no
means follows, because a candidate for
a cerkship passes the best examination
thai therefore he will make the best
clerk | do not believe there is a sin.
gle one of the seven Cabinet officers who
could successfully pass IA rigid examin
alton and yet we all know that they
are all capable and able men. am
reminded, In this connection, Of a story
relating to Mr. Lincoln's treatment of
the Civil Service in the army | do
not think the story has been ever print
cd
A sergeant Of infantry, whom ] shall
call Dick Cover, commanded his com
pany III great mary battles in the
West IN the early days of the war. His |
company officers had all been killed,
but right royalty did Dick handle his
men. His discipline was perfect; his
bravery not only made him hero
among his men, but excited the atten-
lion OF all the officers. AT the first lull
IN the campaign, the officers of his re-
Rlincnt, of his brigade and Of his di-
vision united in recommending him for
a lieutenancy in the regular army. The
commanding officer joined In the re-
commendatiou. Mr.. Lincoln ordered the
Forthwith, Sergeant
Dick was ordered before an examining
board here in Washington, for the reg
uIar army officers were tenacious OF !
what they thought their superiority.
Dick presented himself ina soiled and
faded sergeant's uniform, his face and
hands bronzed and cracked by the ,
winds and suns Of u hot campaign.
The curled darlnRs Of Washington
'oclety, the pcrluued graduates of
est Point, who had newer seen u
'quadron set in the fled conducted the
Examination to ascertain If Dick was
" to bs an officer in the regular army.
lhcy asked him questions as to eng
leellnG, mathematics, philosophy and
ordinance, Of harbpr warfare, OF field
and all such stuff. Not u
iugIr question could Dick answer. o
W hat IS an echclOn? ?" was asked. v
don't know" answered Dick : 81 il
lever SAW one" wv hat Is AN abattis?" Il
vas the ncXtYucstion. Dick answered.; II
You We got me again. We haven't 4
ot'cm in the West" "Wcll, hat is (
hollow square 2" continued his tor p
mentors. Don't know" said Dick,
orrowfnlly ~ never heard Of one" 81
Well" finally said young snip, h
n Eyeglasses, "wlilt would you do IN "
ommand OF Il company il the calvary OF
hould charge on you" They had at Ii
Isl gone down TO Dicks comprchen- IL
on, and he answered with Il resolute q
ice and a flashing eye. ara give al
ZEN hell, that's what I'd do, make a A
pllow square in every mothers son of ii
lelE.' a few more technical qlies-
ons were asked, but poor Dick was g
Ut able to answer them, and tho IN
closed. The report was NJ
My sent (" the Secretary Of War, who dc
lbmittel it to Mr.. Lincoln, saying az
at evidently Dick would not do for an at
tiCcr. su
Mr.. Lincoln went through the report, da
I'd found that Dick had not answered A
single question, but he came to where bI
lex said what he would do if attacked 90
: calvary, and then he did what sensi-
o A be Lincoln did in all such matters, INT
threw The report on his tab and tn
lde Il lirle memorandum in pencil
icring the Secretary of War to ap. Va
int Dick Cover Il lieutenant in the do
,ular army, Dick achieved distinc-
n aftcrward, and was everywhere
own in the army AS a man without to
IT, who never made mistake.
have told this little story as a sort the
warning to the Civil Service Com Gig
ssoncrs that they may not always !
,cnd on Harvard graduates to make we
best officers in the Civil Service. lOa