The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-07-22
fciently so now, should be made 50 to the full
extent allowed by our treaties with friendly pow

fciently so now, should be made so to the full
extent allowed by our treaties with friendly pow
ers.
THE CIVIL SERVICE.
The subject of civil-service administration is a
problem that has occupied the earnest thought
of statesmen for a number of years past, and the
record will show that toward its solution many
results of a valuable and comprehensive charac-
ter have been attained by the Republican party
since its accession to power. In the partisan
warfare made upon the latter with the view Of
weakening it in the public confidence a great
deal has been alleged in connection with the
abuse Of the civil service, the party making the
indiscriminate charges seeming to have entirely
forgotten that it was under the full sway of the
Democratic organization that the motto ITO the
victors belong the spoilsn became a cardinal
article in the Democratic creed.
With the determination to elevate our govern
mental administration to a standard of justice,
excellence, and public morality, the Rep ublican
party has sedulously endeavored to lay the
foundation Of a system which shall reach the
highest perfection under the plastic hand of
time and accommodating experience. The problem
is one of far greater intricacy than appears upon
its superficial consideration, and embraces the
sub-questions of how to avoid the abuses posi-
bic to the lodgment of an immense number of
appointments in the hands of the executive; of
how to give encouragement to and provoke emu
lation in the various government employees, in
order that they may strive for proficiency and
rest their hopes of advancement upon the attri-
butes of official merit, good conduct, and exem-
plary honesty; and how best to avoid the evils
of creating a privileged class in the government
service, who, in imitation of European proto-
types, may gradually lose all proficiency and
value in the belief that they possess a life
calling only to be taken away in case Of some
fragrant abuse.
The thinking, earnest men Of the Republican
party have made no mere wordy demonstration
upon this subject, but they have endeayored to
quietly perform that which their opponents are
constantly promising without performing. I'm
der Republican rule the result has been that,
without engrafting any of the Objectionable
features of the European systems upon our own,
there has been a steady and even rapid elevation
of the civil-service in all of its departments, I'M
til it can now be stated, without fear of success
full contradiction, that the service is more just,
more efficient, and purer in all Of its features,
than ever before since the establishment of our
government; and if defects still exist in our sys-
TEN, the country can safely rely upon the Re-
publican PARTY as the most efficient instrument
for their removal.
lam in favor of the highest standard of ex
cellence in the administration of the civil
service, and will lend my best efforts to the ac-
complishnent of the greatest attainable perfec-
ton in this branch Of our service.
1890 -. sx.sx E-L--
The Republican party came into existence in a
crusade against the Democratic institutions of
slavery and ~polygamy. The first of these has
been buried beneath the embers of civil war.
The party should continue its efforts until the
remaining iniquity shall disappear from our civ
ilization under the force of faithfully executed
laws.
There are other subjects of Importance which
l would gladly touch upon did space permit. /
limit myself to saying that, while there should
be the most rigid economy of governmental adj
ministration, there should be no self-defeating
parsimony either in our domestic or foreign serv-
ice. Official dishonesty should be promptly
and relentlessly punished. Our obligations to
the defenders of our country should never be
forgotten, and the liberal system of pensions pro-
VAuSu Wy bn0 h0puVAhCdu parry SnOulu HOb Do
imperiIed by adverse Legislation. The law es
tablishing a Labor Bureau, through which the
interests of labor can be placed in an organ
lied condition, / regard as a salu-
tary measure. The eight-hour law
should be enforced as rigidly as any
other. We Should increase our navy to a degree
enabling 'dGs to amply protect our coast lines, our
commerce, and to give us a force in foreign
waters which shall be a respectable and proper
representative of a country like our own. The
public lands belong to the people, and should
not be alienated from them, but reserved for
free homes for all desiring to posses them; and,
finally, our present Indian policy should be con-
tinued and improved upon as our experience in
its administration may from time to time sug-
gest have the honor to subscribe myself
Your obedient servant,
JOHN A. LOGAN.
To the Hon. John B. Henderson,, Chairman Of the
Committee.