The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-08-07
CLEVELAND ON CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.

In his letter of acceptance of the nom
nation for Governor of New York Mr..
Cleveland announced himself as thorS
oughly in sympathy with the cause of
civil service reform. This is what he said:
"Subordinates in public palce should
be selected and retained for their eff
cheney and not because they may be used
to accomplish partisan ends. The people
have right to demand here, as in cases
of private employment, that their money
be paid to those who will render the best
service in return, and that the appoint
ment to and tenure of such places should
depend upon ability and merit. Ii the
clerks and assistants in public depart>
ments were paid the same compensation
and required TO do the same amount of
work as these employed in prudently
conducted private establishments, the
anxiety to hold these public places would
be much diminished and the cause of
civil service reform materially aided.
The expenditure of money to influence
the action of the people at the polls or to
secure legislation is calculated to excite
the gravest concern. When this peril
cious agency is successfully employed a
representative form of government be-
comes sham, and laws passed under its
baneful influence cease to protect, but
are made the means by which the rights
of the people are sacificed and the pub
lie treasury despoiled. 1t is useless and
foolish to shut our eyes to the fact that
this evil exists among us, and the party
which leads an honest effort to return to
better and purer methods will receive the
confidence of our citizens and secure
their support. 1t is willful blindness not
to see that the people care but little for
party obligations when they are invoked
to countenance and sustain fraudulent and
corrupt practices. And it is well for our
country and for the publication of poll
tics that the people, at times fully reused
to danger, remind their leaders that party
methods should be something more than
means used to answer the purpose of
those who profit by political occupa
tons.
He not only acted in conformity with
these sentiment IN making appointments
and promotions in the executive officers
of NV York, but also promptly approved
| the civil service reform law which was
passed in obedience to the demands of
public sentiments. Then he appointed
as commissioners to carry out its prov
isions, men who are thoroughly identified
with the reform, and has aided and sus~
| tanned them at all points in a most unre>
served and honest manner.
On the other hand Blaine is the ideal
of the "spoil-men." He believes that all
the offices great and small, ale the res
wards of party workers and partisan
favorites, and that in every election their
possessors should be used as an army to
thwart the will of the people. And con-
seQuently he believes in the system of
political assessments and is an intense
admrer of Hubbellsm in all Its forms.
To-day he and his managers are concoct-
ing scheme for driving coach and
| four" through the national anti>political
assessment law. All public servants, from
secretaries down to scrub women, must
| Join State Associations and pay monthly
dues for political purposes. In this way
the law is to be cheated. Blaine wants
soap" and will have it in spite of the
prohibition.
There are thousands. many thousands
of voters in this country who correctly
believe that the spoils system is great
and threatening evil to our government.
To Buch. Blaine is utterly repugnant
They will support Governor Cleveland
whose honesty courage and independence,
as well as words and his acts, are proof
that he is the champion of genuine civil
service reform.