The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1884-04-22


a truism which scarcely one out of 50.-s
600, 900 of people will be bold enough
to controyert in words, and yet it had
come TO pass tha, offices we're called
"spoils;" that they did, in fact, operate'
to the public service; that.
they were filed with active, jealous, un-I
scrupulous partisan henchmen; that new
offices we're created as the demand for
"spoils" increased {; that they we're fought
for. according to Mr.. Quincy, as pigs
tight for swill at the feeding trough; that
capacity to carry elections, not capacity
for official duty, became the highest re-.
commentator in the eyes of the bosses
pardon the use of so vile but express
sive word in this connection-great
and small, who under this system ped
die patronage 10 every state and county
and city and ward and school district
and corner saloon oil over the land i
was . sad sight. OF official misconduct,
of official incapacity, of party dismem
berment, of personal enslavement, and
of popular apathy which our civil SER
vice presented. Worse still was the
spectacle of forced. assessments, to be
paid out OF salaries to enrich the .bosses,
to corrupt the voters, to prevent an hon.
est election, to secure an unfair count ;
aud sadier even still that for the sake OF
their Offices, at the price OF their man
hood the whole body Of incumbents sub
mitted to be marched TO-. the, polls. and
voted as slaves at the bidding OF their
masters. I will not dwell on that psin-
ful subject, I will not trace this corrup
tion at the heart to its consequences in
al, their ramidcations. Thoughtful men
do SO without prompting, They know
that poisoned blood gushing from the
heart to the extremities, returns through
every vein and permeates the whole sys
ten A convention in Ohio, large and
enthusiastic, nominating state ticket
without a single dissentient. vote, pre-,
sented the atirihntes of this spoils sYs-
TEN: s'Resofvsd. That We are In, favor
of an honest civil service reform where
by Offices sball be held to be public trusts
to be administered for the public good,
not spoils to be enjoyed as the. reward
of partisan zeal and service" You will
perhaps pardon me for saying that it
was. a democratic conyention. This no
BILE statement was an eleyating truth to
me-sn Inspiration and stimulant. Il
have stood on that doctrine in the past (;
l stand on ID to day, and, with my con
sent, no foot OF ground which We have
gained 10 its advancement shall ever be
surrendered; no single step backward
shall ever be taken A good law has
been passed. It has been wisely admin
istered; good results have thus far been
accomptished; let us improve the law,
II possible Let us strengthen and en-
courage its administration Applauses
Let us expand its scope, and We and our
children will resp tue rich rewards OF q
pure administration in the prolonged en-.
joyment Of free government. Az
plause. These reforms have taken hold
Of the public mind. The forward move-
ment has commenced. 1t is in the one
case . brittle for merit against patronage,
for purity against eruption. 1t is, on
the other hand, battle for freedom
freedom Of effort, freedom of trade, free
dom to labsr, to produce. to sell, and to
buy under the economic laws which God
aud nature have male, and not under
the impediments OF mems selfish devi-
sings. And like every other struggle
under which lies an appeal to the great
heart of humanity it will. through what
ever dangers aud after whatever back
sets, result in complete an I benedcent
consummation [Applaase at