New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-10-26
ILIE (ITIL NIHIICE.

Bnsinees men have earnestly desired a reform
of the civil service. Whatever abuses there are
in the service touch them If it Is inefficient,
laundering or dishonest. the burden falls on
them The great body of citizens hardly icel II
executing as business tlourshes or stagnacs.
What reform do business men expect from
the election of Mr.. Cleveland They know that
his party has no sympathy with this reform. 1t
has all the time held that civil service reform
was merely Republican dodge TO keep the
present officials in place. 1t has declared, III
the spirit of Governor Hoadly of Ohio, that 1t
would be time enough to consider that subject
when the Democrats had obtained IT the Offices
that belonged to them" The cry in favor with
that marty is turn the rascas out" and by the
rascals they mean all Republican officials Let
us put this army of officials ont, says Mr.. Hen
bricks. so that we may see the books" The
Democratic party slaughtered Mr. Pendleton
because he favored this reform. 1t hOnorcd
and elected Governor lIoadly because he eX-
pressed unblushingly the reasons OF the Dem
ocratic mob for opposing it. SO at the East, the
favor of the party has gone to the men who
have treated this reform with the utmost con
tempt.
What would this change mean rs to the pub
lie service Would it make the service better
or purcr7 Look at the House when Democrats
have controlled it. See the swindca great ana
small that have infested that wing of the Cap
itol, the creatures q" bigger than old Grant who
have been placed in positions OF Importance
and trust for which they were utterly unht, be-
cause they have been INSCRIPTIONS partisans.
Consider the ravenous throngs that heSet the
House during its session, and remember that
throngs AS ravenous and vastly larger would
besiegc the White House. Could any President
( live, and try to disregard the demands of such
n party Swarms would come from the South,
from Cincinnati, Baltimore and Ncw-l ork. the
heccls and Strikers the rcpcatcrs and men
/ who stuff the ballot boxes, cOnrIvcrs OF chem
zeal ballots and tissue ballots, the heads of mobs
| and the heroes of the shot gun, all crying with
/ truth. gave You this place, and demand pay
ment." Would it make the service better to I'LL
/ il with these creatures Would it not produce
a total decentralization and throw away all that
/ has been gained
Mr. Blaine is strongly in favor of the reform
of the civil service. He approved 1t from the
! beginning. His letter of acceptance vigorously
advocated that reform. His experience III the
! Cabinet taught him the necessity OF relic wing
the Executive from the intOlerable pressure OF
partisanshp. Mr.. Cleveland. on the other hand
! started with the same professions, but he
onicxly yielded to the politicians. and as Ih'
Ne,r- York Times Indignantly declared. to The
most corrupt political gangs in the State His
appointments have been dictated by Hubert .
Thompson, by Kingsley, and by Manning
See his subordnates of all grades neglectinl
their duties and yelling for him at Syracuse ant
at Chicago See the whole army of State
County and City officials now doing dirty worf
for him. i this the sort of man to stand like {
rock against waves of partisanship which woulC
ovcrwhelm the strongest statesman III the land
Is this the sort of man to insist upon pure
efficient and non-partisan service regardless o.
| his own chances of re election