The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1884-07-26


our progress. Our legislation should be
amply protective against this danger, and
if not sufficiently SO now should be made
so to the full extent allowed by our treat
les with friendly powers.
THE CIVIL SERVICE.
The subject Of civil service administra
ton is problem that has occupied the
earnest thought of statesmen for a num-
Der of years past. aud the record will
show that toward its solution many re
suits of valuable & comprehensive char
acter have been attained by the Repub-
lican party since its accession to power.
In the partisan warfare made upon the
latter with the view of weakening it in
the public confidence n great deal has
been alleged in connection with the abuse
of the civil service, the party making the
indiSc.iminate charges seeming to have
entirely forgotten tina: it was under the
full sway of the Democratic organization
that the motto ITO the victorS belong
the spoils' became a cardinal article in
the Democratic creed.
With the determination to elevate our
governmental administration to a stand
ard of justice, excellence aud public mo-
ralty, the Republican party has sedu-
lousy endeavored to lay the foundation
of system which shall reach the highest
perfection under the plastic hand of time
and accommodating experience. The prob
lem is one OF far greater intricacy than
appears upon its superficial consideration,
and embraces the sub questions of how
to avoid the buses possible to the lodg-
ment of an immense number of appoint
mentS in the hands of the executive of
how to give encouragement to and pro
woke emulation in the various govern
ment employees, i'll order that they may
strive for proficiency and rest their hopes
of advancement upon the attributes of
official merit. good conduct and exem-
plary honesty, and how best to avoid the
evils of creating privileged class in the
government service, who, i'll imitation of
European prototypes. may gradually lose
all proficiency and value in the belief
that they possess IA life calling only to be
taken away in case of some fragrant
abuse.
The thinking. earnest men of the Re
publican party have made no mere wordy
demonstration upon this subject; but
they have endeavored to quietly perform
that which their opponents are constant
ly promising without performing. Under
Republican rule the result has been that,
without ENGRAVING any OF the object
ionable features of the European sys-
TENS upon our own, there has been 4
steady and even rapid elevation of the
civil service in all of its departments,
until it can now be stated, without fear
of successful contradiction, that the ser
vice is more Just, more efficient, and
purer in all its features than ever before
since the establishment of our govern.
ment, and if defects still exist in our SyS-
TEN the country can safely rely upon the
Republican party as the most efficient
instrument for their removal.
| am in favor of the highest standard
of excellence in the administration of
the civil service, and will lend my hes.
efforts to the accomplishment of the
greatest attainablc perfection III this
branch of our service.
THE REMAINING TWIN RELIC OF BAEBAI,.
ISM.
The Republican party came into exist
ence in a crusade against the Democratic
institutions cf slavery and poly gamy.
The first of these has been buried be
should continue its efforts until the re-
naming iniquity shall disappear from
our civilization under the force of faith
fully executed laws.
There are other subjects of Importance
which | would gladly touch upon did
space permit. | limit myself to saying
that. while there should be the most
rigid economy of governmental admins.
tration, there Shoul4 be no Self-defeat-
ing parslmony either in our domestic or
foreign service. Official dishonesty should
be promptly and relehtlessly punished
Our obligations to the defenders OF our
country should never be forgotten, anu
the liberal system of pensions provided
by the Republican party should not be
imperiled by adverse legislation. The
law establishing "A Labor Bureau, through
which the interests of labor can be
placed i'll an organized condition, | re
gard as salutary measure. The eight
hour law should be enforced as rIgidly as
any other. We should increase on: navy
to degree enabling us to amply protect
our coast lines, our commerce.. and to
give us Il force in foreign waters which
shall be "A respectable and proper repre-
sentative of a country like our own. The
public lands belong to the people, ard
should not be alicnated from them, but
res, rived for free homes for all desiring
to possess them; and, finally, our present
Indian policy should be continued and
improved upon as our experience in its
administration may from time to time
suggest.
| have the honor to subscribe myself,
sir, your obedient servant,
JOHN \. LOGAN.