Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1885-07-17
Real Reform of the Civil Service
BY LEE DAVIS LODGE, A. NJ,

That civil service reform is a burning
question of the present day, no one, whether
he be friend or foe of such reform, can
deny. Ii commands the earnest study of
statesmen, excites the thought of the peo-
Pile, makes some politicians swear. II is,
therefore, important that we should, if pos
sible, form clear and definite conception Of
the meaning of true civil service reform, the
modes of its operation, and the ends it seeks
to attain. The acknowledged difficulty of
satisfactorily discussing the subject is no
sufficient reason for not making at least an
attempt. But it will be necessary, at the
outset of our investigation, TO resolve that
We will seek for truth, that in all the intri-
cacies of the problem truth shall be our pole
STAR that whatever the conclusions we
reach, after patient and careful study, we
will accept, however distasteiul, provided
always that they be, so far as we can dis
cover, founded on justice and reason. For
if we will not agree TO this, then We're it as
well il we'shoud refuse even 10 consider
the question, and should coolly determine
that, right or wrong, we will clutch what.
ever we can.
All good Democrats demand that there
shall be some reform in the civil service
| We all know that during the tweaty -four
years of Republican rule the money of the
| people, washed with their tears and stained
with their blood, has been stolen to pamper
and clothe in splendor the illustrious ma
hobs who have SO long l0rded IL over hon
est men; we all know how hundreds Of Off
Gals have been paid large sums for services
which they never performed; we all know
how "the whole weight of the administra-
ton" has been thrown TO influence the cleo
tons; how contractors and the government
have leagued In villainy; how corruption
has raised its hydra-head in every depart
ment. These appalling abuses must be
stopped, many of them have already been
stopped by the Democratic administration
Again, il is nlanifestly just that all officials
who evaded or openly defied the civil SER
vice law, or who broke its provisions in
letter or spirit, should, in vindcation of the
law, be at once dismissed. The men who
aided the contemplate squeezing commit
tee" of Clapp, Raum Il Co, with the arts OF
the bull-dozer and informer, with all the
meanness of spies and all the infamies OF
men lost 10 the sense of honor now do but
follow the dictates of their base natures,
when, like whipped ours, they try to sneak
under the protecting wing Of that reform
which they secretly hate and which they
labored with might and main to defeat
! The genius Of true reform, with indig-
nant gesture, cries, turn these rascals out"
And let our Democratic friends possess their
souls in patience, for out the rascals are be-
/ ing turned We must remember that the
tasks of purifying the government is great
We must be willing 10 give our President
| time. Forget not that he is our President,
nominated by Democratic convention and
elected on a Democratic platform by Demo.
cratic votes-we must give him time.
Another class of men 10 take leading
places in the great funeral march of the q
o. 7. out of office comprises the depraved
wretches that hawked over the country the
filthy ISLANDERS against our candidate Every
last one OF them must pack up his duds-
For years the South has groaned in spirit
under the despotic acts of Federal officials
who, like the Publicans of Palestine, have
iedtheir yulturine appettes on the misery of
an unfortunate people. But the gray light
Of dawn is seen in the east The services
OF the Official gentlemen ("the prince of
darkness is a gentleman'1 will no longer be
| required by the Democratic administration.
All the arpet-baggers, all the scoundrels of
reconstruction days. from the verirne clad
hills OF Maryland 10 the undulating prairies
In enumerating the men destined for the
political guillotne We must not leave out
the hIrelings and henchmen of the minute
Malone. They We're appointed at the die
tation of politician 10 serve that politi
clans ends; they will be cut of by the Pres
ldent for the good of the public service
Now when TO the classes mentioned we add
all those who during the last campaign neg.
lected the duties of their offices, all who
prostituted themselves 10 the service of mean
politicians, all who walked in any of the
ways that are dark" all who are inefficient,
aud all who were guilty of offensive par.
tsanshlp," We shall have goodly list of
bad men. Not suddenly" perhaps. vet
certainly "they shall be" officially ades.
troyed, and that without remedy"
Nor are these all. The sovereign peoples
Of these United States declared on the 4th
Of last November that they desired the gov.
eminent TO be administered on Democrats
principles. On Democratic principles there.
lore ought the government 10 be admins
tered. and if there be now in Office men
holding political opinions which will. IN
any considerable degree, embarrass or tend
10 embarrass President Cleveland and his
cabinet in their legitimate efforts 10 mi into
practice the doctrines of Democracy. then
IN the name of the people who demanded
change 10 policy, all such men ought to be
removed.
Now, having named the classes of men
who, In my humble opinion, should be driy-
en- from the public crib and out upon the
bleak wilds of this wicked world, let us de.
vote few moments 10 those who. though
Republicans, should be allowed to stay, The
only claim they have upon us is the record
Of their faithful service. / do not think that
the plea for them, drawn from the action of
the Independent Republicans in the cam.
palgn, Is valid one. II Is all very well 10
give them due credit for the important aid
Mey rendered us, but when special fayors
are asked for them on the ground that 10
them MIR (,Ieveland mainly ox,.a ~. a..