The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-03-14
The Argus and Reform.

The Argus is very much concerned about
the fidelity of the Republican party to the
principles OF civil service reform In the
administration of the city government We
stated the other day that civil service re-
form is not yet an accomplished fact, and
we fear that it will be some time vet before
its beneficent conditions are applied thor
oughly. But it is very well understood
mat The objections of the Argus to the
changes which have been made in city Of
nees does not have its motive in ardent de-
votion to reform. That is not where the
shoe pinches our Democratic friends. And
II we must have political workers IN Office,
men who will serve the Republican cause
will naturally be preferred by Republicans.
But the Republican party is the only party
that has done any real service toward re-
form of vicious system, and is the only
party from which the friends Of the reform
have any large expectation of assistance in
the future. They understand perfectly we'll
that some of the Leading men in that party
scott at the reform aud that many others
are reluctant and recalcitrant when the time
comes for them to act.
There were some Republicans who were
very reluctant to approve Of emancipation.
Later, there were other Republicans who
opposed The restoration of specie payments,
and few are now opposed to the ceosa-
ton OF the coinage of silver dollars. But
for the progress that has been made in
iro IL
rights, securing sound currency and he
ginning the work of civil service reform, the
Republican party is entitled to the crt dit,
and on all these policies the tendency Of the
Democratic party is reaciionary and its
practice, where it has power, is corrupting.
1t is 10 be expected that the Democratic
party organs will be shocked beyond ex-
preston whenever Republicans fail to illus
trate in perfect measure the Hottest slam
dards of their political faith, and will ignore
their own weakness in having no such stan
dard, just as the people who make no pre-
teuce of being actuated by religious princi-
pies are the severest critics of any lapses on
the part of those who are. It is a singular
testimony 10 the relative status of parties
touching this question, that nobody is sur
prlsed when the Democratic party uses any
official authority it can seize upon for par
usan ends, while everybody expects some
thing better from Republicans
The Republican party comprises vast
body of voters who do not all move equally
fast in the line of progress. And it is true,
we suppose, that the party in Maine has rath-
er hung back with regard to this issue of
civil service reform. Perhaps, as we sug-
gested the other day, it is because the evils
OF using the government service as ma
chine for controlling the free action of the
party have not been so grossly apparent
here as in some other places. But making
all allowances and deductions that are reas
enable, it is nevertheless conspcuously true
that, taking the parties as a whole, in their
theories, their practices, and their aims, the
Republican party is far in advance of the
Democratic party. And by that party if by
any the reform will be made general, thor
ough, and effectual, and so safely estab
hshed that the Democratic party, even If II
should succeed in coming to power, will not
dare offend the public conscience by resorting
again to the shameless and UBIQUITOUS poll
cy which was inaugurated by it ia Jackson's
day, and by which, more than bv.zss--*hing
else, the politics of the U We h3ave
been degraded and corr - essbect
The Republicans of Maine a. .ne coming
State Convention to make such a declsra-
tion on this subject as will relieve them from
any suspicion of not being in full sympathy
with the progressive Republicans of other
State' regarding what the Lewiston journal
rightly calls zone of the most momentous is
sues before this country to-day"