The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1885-09-23
SOUND VIEWS.
HOratio SeymOur's Opinion About Civil Ser
vice Reform and Politics
The Present Civil Service System Crude and
Imperfect-A Good One Would Have
Prevented the Fraud of IS16-The
National ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
New York State Election.

Special Correspondence of the Post-Dipatch:
Urea, y. Y, Sept. 16.-Horatio Seymour
lives on farm about three miles from Uti-
ca. The house commands magnificent
view of the Mohawk Valley. Apart from
his lofty character and abilities as Governor
of the Empire State and ex-leader of the
National Democratic party, Governor Sey-
mour's views always commanded most re-
spectful attention. Governor Seymour has
never swerved from the paths OF Democracy.
His life has been full of stirring events. He
has reached the summit of a great career.
His opinions, therefore, must naturally be
free from bias. Living almost in seclusion,
surrounded by a few loving friends New
York distinguished statesman is waiting for
the last summons with the calmness born of
the knowledge of a duty faithfully performed.
To-day the Post-Dispatch correspondent
drove out to his place. In the makeup of
the grounds one is reminded of a Southern
plantation: he is only reminded, however.
There is too much thrift displayed to keep
up the delusion. The road through the
grounds makes several graceful bends, and
then turns abruptly to the entrance. An
old-fashioned brass knocker, brightly pol
ished, offered its shining handle to the visit
| Or's rap. Governor Seymour was seated in
an easy char, drawn up before a window
looking out on the valley. He was dresSa''
in a rough cutaway suit of dark MATER.
An Old-style choker collar circled his neck,
| held in place by plain black tie. His large
brown eyes have lost none of their fire, and
| his face has a clear, healthful look
| Governor Seymour is too well known
to need describing. The strong lower
jaw, high, broad forehead, indicating
trmness and intelligence, are familiar to all
| New Workers. You will excuse my rising"
said the Governor, holding out his hand. II
am very glad to see you, but a little weak
ness in my legs prevents my moving about
much. You wish my opinion about civil
service reform? Well, / will gladly tell the
| Post-Dispatch my opinions. 1t seems to me
| in the first place that something should be
| done to remove the temptation of a party
/ in power To commit fraud to secure the con-
| tinuance o. power. Mr.. Tilden was de
| frauded out of the Presidency in 1876, and it
was the greed for office and for those in
| Office to stay in that led the Republicans to
| commit the crime. Everybody is learning
| the truth about the election OF 1876 now. If
we had had another SYSTEM do not say
| tile present civil service system for believe
| it TO be very crude and imperfect-then, per-
| haps, the fraud of 1876
| WOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN COMMITTED.
Twenty-Five years from now We will have
| population in this country of 100,OO00O0
| people A population of 100000 does
/ not mean simply doubling of the number
| of office-seekers, but a TRIPPING and quadru-
| ping of them. A vast army will be holding
/ office. 1t would be easy to subvert the will
! of the people with such an army corruptly
| used. The question can not be treated in
4 the way it has been in the past. Safety to
/ our lives and TO our institutions demands
| the project should be handled intelligently
| and to the best interests of the people.
| From what l can judge, shut up as / am,
| should say that there was grave danger OF
| the Civil Service Commission becoming a
greater abuse than the spoils system. l
| think a much simpler and more direct
| method could be found than that under the
present law, and one which would meet
| with the approval OF the people. There can
be no question that so long as we have a
| Civil Service Commission, its members, the
majority of them at least, being in sympathy
| with the prevailing administration. As a
business man | should not employ book
| keeper who was working against my interests
| and praying / should fail. The same rule
| applies to administering the affairs of the
| Government In the important Offices
| where Cleveland must have aid and sympa-
| thy in the execution of his policy to bring it
to successful issue, none but good and tried
| Democrats should be appointed. 1t is sur
| prising that active Republican partisans
| should expect to remain in after their defeat
last fall Then again as to the departments
| at Washington: How can fraud be detected
in the records without making removals and
| putting new men in to look over the books?
| think there should be a checking up of ac-
| counts"
Governor what is your opinion of Presi-
dent Cleveland, personality
Il do not know him. l only met him
| once, and that was at a dinner in Utica, just
after he had been elected Governor. / can
| not recall the conversation, but don't think
it was about politics. | don't, therefore
pass judgment upon him."
But have you not formed some opinion
of the man from his records
1.-The time is too short. | never form hasty
judgments. IL might be set down almost as
an axiom that you can never judge new
President until after the first year. Mr.
Cleveland has a very difficult duty to fill
believe he is trying to do his BEST I've been
somewhat interested in
THE TERM "oFFENsIvE PARTISAN"
An offensive partisan is a very good sort Of
fellow. He IS generally more inclined to be
a fair than ld-blooded style of politician
1t is good thing to have strong opinions
If should have to be tried by jury OF my
opponents / should prefer the strongest KIND
of partisans / could find to the Indifferent
Republican, who votes with his party from
| conviction, without really knowing what
that conviction is. The chances are that he
would vote without listening to the evi
dence. The strong party man would never
do that l will relate an incident: When
was Governor of this State during the war,
had a hostile Assembly to face during my
term. i believe | was called almos
everything in debate, from rebe
and traitor down. Yet the very
| men who took so much pleasure il
denouncing me would leave the Capitol
come over to my Office and enter into {
| friendly conversation. They opposed IN,
politically, but recognized what was try
ing to do for the State when politics wa
not involved. The Assembly always voted
me as much money as / wanted, and offer
more. One of the greatest outrages com
| mitted during the war the arrest o
| the New York agents. 1t was not Lincoln
fault He was much better than the mel
| who surrounded him. l asked Presiden
Lincoln to investigate my action in regar'
| TO the draft act and he refused. | thel
| asked that a commission be appointed t
inquire into the matter-two to be appointed
by him and one by me. This was agreed To
He named two army officers and l appointed