The Republican journal., 1884-07-31
NUMBER 81.
THE CIVIL SERVICE.


The subject of civil service administration is
problem that has occupied the earnest thought
OF statesmen for a number of wears past and
the record will show that toward its solution
many results of valuable and comprehensive
character have been attained by the Republican
party since its accession to power. In the par
tisan warfare made upon the latter with the
view of weakening it in the public confidence,
great deal has been alleged i'll connection with
the abuse of the civil service, the party making
the indiscriminate charges seeming to have en-
tirely forgotten that it was under the full sway
of the Democratic organization that the motto,
ITO the Vlctors belong the spos," became
cardinal article in the Democratic creed.
With the determination to elevate our gov
ernmental administration to Il standard Of JUS
tice, excellence and public morality, the Re-
publican party has sedulously endeayored to
lay the foundation of asystem which shall reach
the highest perfection under the plastic hand of
time and accumulating experience. The prob
lem is one of far greater intrcacy than appears
upon its superficial consideration, and embraces
The sub-questions of how to avoid the abuses
possible 10 the lodgment of an immense num-
Der of appointments in the hands of the eXecu-
tive; Of how to give encouragement to and
provoke emulation in the various government
empoye,, in order that they may strive for
proficiency, and rest their hopes of advance
ment upon the attributes of official merit, good
conduct and exemplary honesty and how best
to avoid the evils Of creating privileged class
IN the government service, who. in imitation of
European prototypes, may gradually lose all
proficiency and value in the belief that they
possess life calling only TO be taken away i'll
case of some fagrant abuse.
The thinking, earnest men of the Republican
party have made no mere wordy demonstration
upon this subject; but they have eudeavored to
quietly perform that which their opponents are
constantly promising without performing. Un-
der Republican rule the result has been that,
without engrafLing any OF the Objectionable
features of the European systems upon our
own, there has been steady and even rapid
elevation of the civil service in all Of its de-
partments, until 1t can now be stated, without
fear of successful contradiction, that the ser
vice Is more just. more efficient and purer in all
Of its features than ever before since the estab-
llshment of our government; and, II defects
still exist in our system, the country can safely
rely upon the Republican party as the most
efficient instrument for their removal.
am III favor OF the highest standard of eX-
celience In the administration of the civil SER
vice, and will lend my best efforts to the ac-
complishment of the greatest attainable per-
feclion in this branch OF our service.
THE REMAINING TWIN RELIC OF BARBARISM.
The Republican party came into existence In
ii 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
til the remaining niquity Shall disappear from
executed laws.
There are other subjects of importance which
| would gladly touch upon did space permit
| limit my yself to saying that, while there should
be the most rigid economy of governmental ad-
ministratiom, there should be no self-defeating
parsimony either in our domestic or foreign
service. official dishonesty should be prompt
ly and relentesSly punished. Our obligations
to the defenders Of our country should never be
forgotten, and the liberal system of pensions
provided 10y the Republican party should not
be imperileu by adverse egslation. The law
establishing Il labor bureau, through which the
interests of labor can be placed in an organized
condition, | regard sautary measure. The
eight-hUur law should he enforced as rigidly as
any other We should increase our navy to a
degree enabling US to amply protect our coast
lines, our commerce, and to give us force in
foreign waters which shall be Il espectable and
proper representative of a country like our
own. The public lands belong to the people,
and should not be aenated from them, but re-
served for free homes for ali desiring TO pos
sess them; and, finally, our present Indian pol
icy should be continued and improved upon as
our experience in its administration may from
time To time suggest.
have the honor to subscribe myself, SIT,
Your obedicnt servant,
JOHN A. LOGAN.
10 Hon. John b, Henderson, chairman Of the
committee.