National Republican., 1884-02-29
Mr.. Pnvne,a idea.

Onlo, ana, Dy the grace Oh Samuel J' iHueu
and the Standard Oil company, prospective
democratic candidate for president, is cred
tied by intelligent democrats with having
given tho best exposition Of the true demo-
cratic idea Of civil service reform. In his
Cleveland speech he said the work Of re-
forming tho civil service was greater task
than that of cleansing the Augean stables +;
the only way to do IL was to hurl the republic
can party out of power, make a clean sweep
of republicans from office, and fill them all
with democrats" We quote from memory,
but this was substantially what Mr.. Payne
said.
Without stopping to recall the fact that tho
was incomparably less efficient and more
corrupt than it has ever been at any time
since, it is worth while to notice what the re-
publican party has done in the way Of i'm.
proving and elevating the civil service, aud
to inquire il there is any reasonable gro und
for belief that the democratic party could
administer the affairs of this great govern
meut
When the republican party came into
power, some twonty-three years ago, it found
the government honeycombed with treason
and hamstrung by traitors. Tho legacy left
to it by the democratic party was bankrupt
treasury and u civil war. Tho government,
at that time, was comparatively small
affair, and the civil service was devoid
of dignity or efficiency, and almost
devoid of honesty. The republican party was
new to power and had much to learn. Its
first experience was in the school of war, into
which its retiring opponents had plunged the
country. At the same time the civil service
had to be reconstructed on business princi-
Piles and broadened to meet the extraordinary
and ever-increasing demands growing out of
the war. New bureaus had to be organized
new systems created, new laws enacted, new
policies inaugurated, and all this amid the
commotion of q civil war such as tho world
had never seen before. The government
had, in fact, to be created anew. How sue
cessfully this was done the history of the
past twenty years shows. 1t is history Of
which every republican and every patriotic
American may justly feel proud.
During all these years the republican party
has been growing more experienced in public
| affairs and in the administration of the gov
ernment. Tho civil service has been i'm
measurably advanced and elevated. The
whole career of the republican party hai
been one Of civil service reform. 1t has been
a process of political evolution, the survival
ing to the front, the aptest in public affairs
the most skilled in administrative ability
tho best equipped for office. Incompetent
inefficient, and dishonest men have beef
weeded out to be replaced by others NOR
honest, capable, and faithful. Clerks hav,
been promoted from the lower grades to tn,
higher ones, and to heads of divisions and
heads of bureaus as their merit, ability, ant
experience have demonstrated their claim t.
promotion. Making every allowance for thu
exercise of political influence, it is still al
indisputable fact that official merit and abilit,
have been. the ruling idea in promotions il
tho civil service since the republican part
came into power. The result has been stead
and progressive improvement of our civi
service until for honesty and efficiency it i
equal to any in the world.
Not only is there no reason to believe tina
the democratic party could administer tn
vast affairs of this great government bette
than the republican party, but there is ever
, reason to believe it could not. The depart
ments and bureaus which have been organ
ized since the republican party camo int
power, the natural and necessary outgrowt
: of the increasing business Of tho country, al
greater in tho volume of their business an
the extent of their operations than tho entil
government was when the democracy tre
to wreck it. Does any person beliey
) that the bourbon democracy could a,
minister this great trust and manal
these vast affairs as satisfactoril
as the republican party has done and
doing2 Even granting them good intention
2 does anybody believe they could do it2 NJ
: Payne himself knows they could not. He
n interested in some great corporations. Wou
a he favor a sweeping removal of tried, homes
g and experienced officials and the substitute
T in their place Of untried and inexper
enced men who had never given any eviden
+ of business capacity? Yet this is his idea
G civil service reform, AS shadowed forth in h
r. Cleveland speech
n without Their Reward.