New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-08-09
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE
PRESIDENT WHITE FOR BLAINE.
LETTER TO THEODORE ROOSEVELT
TELLS WHY.
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM sAFE o@rY IN RTUHL-
INN TTNNI'"s
To he Hon. THEODORE ROOsEvELT.

IN
,rative reform thus far and the relations between
ms as delegates at the recent National Conventions
warrant a statement 10 you OF my view as 10 our
best course in the approaching National election.
Like Yourself | regard thorough reform OF the
general political and administrative system III our
country as by far the greatest Of al questions now
before us and what is known as civil service re-
form a. the essential germ and vital beginning o.
this whole better system whether National STATE
or municipal. As TO other questions. the protective
system in s important features. intertw tned rs 10
is with an the established industries and interests
of the country. neither party dares tonch Our
foreign relations must be handled virtually IN the
same way whichever party comes into power; lor
in either case there being no Navy to enforce our
views OF rieht a vigorous foreign polcy must
consist mainly of talk and Of this all the other
Nations of the world well aware as onr own
As to the rights of coorcd voters IN the South, no
promises are made now which have not been made
before Polvglmy each party will probably try to
diminish. The currency question Is 50 Immediately
dangerous that neither party viii dare neglect it
much longer.
The reform in the civil service then. remains the
principal qu, ston likely require cont nHed vg-
lance aud sustained effort. On It, hruiy believe
is to turn the future of politics IN our country. II
is the logical ginning of an other necessary re-
FORMS for, until Il accomplished the great qnes-
ton in the country at large and in every locality
will continue to be, not how shall We carry THIS or
that cool measure. but how shall we carry tHs oi
that set Of men into the Offices
1t goes far deeper than any other pending cues
ton for il aims at nothing less than TO aOOlsh me
present un-Repubhcan, un-Democratlc SPOTS
system which for many years has been growing
curse 20 the country 10 proposes TO destroy that
aristocracy and olgarchy of political managers
which admits to public Offices manly thcI own
pensioners and henchmeu and excludes the capable
and honest of the great body of cltzens OF
both parties wh) give themselves to honest toll ana
no. to shaving for political masters IL seeks to re-
store to the executive and leg satve agents OF the
peope time for their leg innate duties which is now
consumed in the strbuton and brokerage of
nearly 100000 offices. on the basis not manly OF |
fitness but Of personal services. In short II seeks
to take this vast multitude of Offices out of politics
81 that men shall be chosen TO elective positions |
and continued in them for the services they can |
render to the public and not for the bargains they
can make with local ofiice-seekers.
This then being the question of all questions !
the essential preliminary of all reforms confess
frankly that il IN my opinion the Democratic party |
were more likely than the Republican to carry out
the reforms already begun. should not hesitate !
for m ,nnent 10 vote the Democratic ticket. But
what are the probabilities the ccrtaIntJes-ln
the case / look at the Democratic dominec and
teel Obliged to own that his administration Of our
State has been vastly to his credit, aud that he
might bo personally relied upon to favor The VA
liona reform ~ lac has favored state reform. But
the nominee b. decidedly tho less OF the two impnr
tant factors in tho matter. Tho great question ~
What III the ground taken 10y the political party /
which would come into power with huns What
can We expect from thati Now # We take ont of /
The Democratic party u handful Of men thcrc tx no
one left from whom ths great reform has any thing
10 expect save butter hostility.
Look no its history ~ "a whole. 10 invented tho /
sp0ils system formulated IT, and evidently wlShes /
for nothing better than 10 fully restore ~ Look a.
it, recent history. Take Tor example ia treatment
OF Senator Pcudlcton. He had the wisdom and /
fores sht 90 recognize the Importance Of initiating /
reform ira the civil service. both rs regards his F
country AND h, party Strightway he was dragged +
through che uirc by the leading Democratic news /
p-p,r. deprived ignomuously OF the Seuatorship, /
aud replaced by q man infinitely his n.tro. m F.
every stltcsnlulike uaity, who made haste To /
icor Iu tle old stale fashion at civil service REFORM
Nor dd the Democratic party of the Nation treat /
Mr. Peuieton any better than that OF ms state had
done AZ their recent National Convention the /
temporary Chairman indulgei IN hmg at the re-
form and the climax WIS reachel wheu General I
& Butler wa allowed grossly to insult Nr. Peudeton
on account OF his connection with civil service re- /
fo-m and % declare that not person present who .
Wa, uot schoolmlsteI approved it, This vas re- I
cc'vei with universal applause and with not dis
seutug voice IRON the entire convention then or /
from the Democratic press since.
More fatal st to an hopes of anything better /
from that party was tue deliberate course OF that I
convention q framing its platform. 50 far as TINS /
great SUBJECT WIS concerned II gave the candidate
absolutely plank 10 stand upon. The reference /
TO It is not merely evasion; 1t Is hint clear
rs they darrell make il that means will be found to
nulHfy what has been done and to restore tho old
system with all It's intamies.
However much then, may respect Mr. Cleve
land for what he has done as Governor, | see 30
hope that he have any similar career Of reform
a. President. He cannot resist his entire party.
They are very hungry and very thirsty with the
hunger and thirst Of twentyfour years, anil in case
of victory no President without far greater support
than NJ can hope for could resist their onset. To
strengthen him at Albany there civil service
element IN our State Of some value; but TO support
him at Washington that element diluted or neu-
tralzed by the party in the whole Nation, Will be
practically infnitesimal At Albany he had
hackers in his party at Washington he mist stand
virtually alone far his party is concerned
With all his good intentions he would be- ~ power
less to resist the fanished cohorts of plumber from
East and West and South and North the sturdest
hunter of the plains would be to withstand single
and alone a rushing herd Of Wild bulstlOes.
What, on the other hand. are the chances Of the
reform from the Republican partyf Despite many
sins end shortcomings it has already done much
and is certain to do more The platform and candi
date are at last committed fully and unreserveuly
81 the right side Of the question. While the Demo
cratic National Convention gave to its nominee no
civil service plank to stand upon. the Republican
party gave its nominee. on this question, the
soundeqt plank OF the whole PLATFORM plank
hewn Gus by the honoreI leader Of the reform IN
orr own State and fitted i'm by leader Of the