The Red Cloud chief., 1884-02-01
Tie Civil Service Bill.

The Civil Service Bill.
A few DAYS ago occurred the first an
niver.ary of the passage of the first act
of the National Legislature having as
its purpose the Inauguration OF a reform
in the Civil Service of the Nation. 1t is
a remarkable fact that the day
passed without note or comment
on the part OF the Democratic jour
nails of this country. although eight
cen months ago their columns were
erammed with editorials demand
inc that the Republican party be ex-
PEELED from power because it did not
reform the Civil Service. 1t is now
very apparent to the public. and pain
fully so t. the Democratic brethren.
that the reform in the Civil Service
which they meant was not SO much the
retention of efficient help and the eieva-
ton of the service, as the removal OF
Republican office-hOlders to make place
for Democrats. The Republican party
is the only political organization known
to the history of the United States which
ever made any effort to reform the adj
ministration of the Civil Service, which
had been debauched by its Democratic
predecessors and bequeathed to it at a
time of great National distress and ex-
element.
Ever since 1929, when President
jackson removed Over seven hundred
office-holders to give emphasis to his
original Democratic doctrine that Ito
the victors belong the spoils," that
maxim was the Shibboleth of the Dem
ocratic party. Such was the condition
of the public mind, educated to accept
and perpetuate this doctrine, when the
Republican party in 1861 came in pos
session of the machinery of Govern
ment. Certainly the doctrine accom-
pliShed one good result as it insured ut
that time the removal, more or less
gradually, of a great many corrupt
Democratic Office-holders and their re-
placement by efficient, honorable and
patriotic Republicans. the effect of
the change beng visible in a most
marked manner in the financial record
of the couatry since that date, as CON-
pared with the same showing for the
previous period, the percentage OF
losses under Republican Administra-
tons being vastly less than had
ever been known under Demo-
cratic regime. After nearly twenty-five
years of hungry waiting outside. the
Democratic party. despairing OF gain
inc admission to the confidence of the
people and the control of the Govern
ment by an open advocacy of its
| known views, complained that the Re-
publicans were administering the at
fairs of the Government upon the old
Jacksonian doctrine. In order to give
emphasis to the hypocritical demand of
the Democrats for a Civil-Service Re-
! form, which was intended merely to
catch the public ear, win public APP
plause and aid in Democratic success,
but which it was never intended by the
Democrats to enforce as a measure of
public policy, Mr.. Pendleton introduced
his famous bill before Congress to
reform the Civil Service, and much to
his surprise and the disgust of the
Democratic party in general, a Repub-
lican Congress accepted the movement
in good faith, and passed the bill and
put it into actual operation. And now
q year later on the anniversary of the
birth of this prodigy so loudly clamOred
| for by the Democratic threats, its birth
day is allowed by the Democratic breth-
rem to ass in solemn silence and with
out an indication of their approval of a
measure adopted at their request, orig
mated by n of their own number,
adopted by a Republican Congress and
enforced by a Republican Executive.
We are sorry for our Democratic
friends, sorry that they are not satisfied
with having what they asked for. and
can offer them but one cOnsOling reflec-
ton. The Civil-service bill and its OPP
Grafton will make very little difference
to them, as in any event there would be
no opportunity for the advent OF Demo-
cratic statesmen in 1885. If the coun-
try has gained anything by the reforms
inaugurated in the Civil Service it has
not been At the expense of the Democ-
racy. for the Democracy had nothing,
even in expectancy, to ose.-Bmrlington
Hawkeye.