Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1884-08-15

sius and shortcomings 10 has already done much and
Is certain 20 do more. The platform aud candidate
are at last committed fully aud unrcsrrvedy 20 the
right side of the question. While the Democratic
national convention gave To liz nominee no civil scr
vice plank 10 stand upon, the Republican party gave
its nominee, this question, the souudest plank Of
the whole PLATFORM PLANK hoWn out by the honor
ed leader uf the reform in our own state aud fitted IN
by a leader Of the sort from the state Of MaHsa-
chuscts. Better than this, the Republican candidate
has not only accepted 10, but has agreed 60 than
the boilcst of us dared ask. In the eht Of his expe-
rlrncr Secretary VI state, he has virtually pledged
himself TO labor for the extension OF tho system into
the consuar and diplomatic service. This position
Of the Republican platform thus distinct aud decided,
and this alone, determines my vote.
II It be said that Mr.. Blaine did not formerly sup
port the reform, answer that very few Of us sup
ported or even understood few years ago. If 1t
be said that ho has used the old Methods answer,
80 have all leaders Of both parties who have been
prominent In national affairs Whatever men have
said Of him they have never charged him with want
Of shrowdness or qucknoss In ascertanng the cur
rent OF public opinion or with Bourbon inability TO
forget outworn methods. His letter Of acceptance
shows that he recognizes the element which, II
be not regarded will leave the party In hopeless mi
nurity in some Of the more important states But II
may be said that the Democratic party also has learn
ed something. Doubtless 1t has learned something on
questions already decided; but not on this all i'm
portant question of reform in the civil service.
The trouble with the Democratic party for the last 40
years has been that It has never seen any great ques
tion until the country thanks to the Republican par
ty had got past II. The only source from whic the
Democratic party has learned anything during all
these years has been Republican victories. on slay-
cry the war, reconstruction, finance the currency,
education In the southon every great questionable
Republican party has had TO educate the Democratic
party by Republican victory And 10 It must be now
in the civil service question. Doubtless after the
Republican party has fully developed 1t and aud
red It to triumph the Democratic party will accept
but never until then To teach tho Democratic party
that civil service reform means anything national
victory Of the Republican party it's present plat
form Is an absolute necessity.
Again, some of our independent friends say, Let
the Democratic party in and If It be not true 10 thcsa
reforms we will turn It OUT
To all this comes the old answer:
81 hear a lion in the lobby roar;
Pray, Mr.. Speaker shall shut the dOorY
or, shall We ope the door and let him In,
And then all try 70 get him out again 2"
To sum up, then, regard this az the crisis Of civil
service reform, which, next TO the abolition Of hu
man slavery, wil n successful be referred TO in the
next century as the greatest achievement Of our
country In this. We are at the parting Of the ways
To place the country in the hands of the Democratic
party s certainly 20 check and probably destroy the
reform for many years; to bring In the Republican
party IL to secure its regular and substantial doye
opment; therefore, though my vote, like yours, was
cast at Chicago from first to last for Mr.. Edmunds
purpose to at the coming election for Mr. Blaine
! remain very truly yours, ANDREW u. WHITE.
Nantucket, Mass, Aug. 3, 1884.