The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-01-13
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.

In noticing the favorable reception by the
press, some days ago, of the letter of the
President. elect to the Civil Ssryice Reform
League, we do not wish by any means to be
set down as subscribing to the peculiar
tenets of that association. As far as the
matter now referred to is regulated by
statute of course such regulation should be
observed, not because it is either just or
right, but because it is the law. We favor
the principle of fair rotation in Office and
we are opposed 70 any further extension of
the policy of perpstuity in public positions.
We say any further extension of IT.; because
we have already in the United States very
numerous classes of persons who hold
positions in the public service for life, or
during good behavior.
All the officers of the army are of this
class. They are not removable. as the
phrase goes. except for cause. There may
be some strong reasons for this in the pecul-
lar nature of the service. So let that pass
All the officers in the navy are held in the
same. manner. And yet we think great
naval or military commander is born such;
that is, he is born with the capacity to be-
come such, and needs not to be born again,
either at West Point or Annapolis to show
the patent of his excellence. Many passages
in cur history prove this, al the affairs of
the Federal Judiciary land they are now
quite numerous) belong to the same class.
It was said the United States Judges must
have life tenures to secure their complete
Independence and non-partissn disinterest-
edness. Yet in a recent celebrated case
these Wanted qualities failed, and the
Justices of the United States Supreme Court
in the cause submitted to them followed
unanimously, without dissent. the political
leadership of Mr.. Blaine and Governor Nor
ton, with all the subserviency of the Veriest
place men. This may not be conclusive,
but 1t is a well-knewn instance going tow
ard the decision of the question how far
perpetual official tenure has tendency to
make IFS incumbents either independent
Of, or disintered in. the conflicts of party.
1t will not be denied that in this country
the people are sovereign. The will of the
people expressed under the form OF law
should administer the Government. This
will makes the laws, and in the choice of
rulers, from the least even unto the greatest,
should execute them. To wholly sever and
separate large order of persons engaged in
the management OF public affairs from any
| responsibility to the sovereign, either
direct or indirect, mnst itself be
geat evil. and in the
end lead to much greater in the creation Of
an extensive class Of neutrals, exclusive, and
absolute masters Of the public and not their
servants.
We believe not only that all men were Gre
ated free and equal. but also, as far as law
can make them, so their rights and oppor.
| tunities should be equal Every citizen
should have the like, and the same chances,
with his fellows to the honors and profits of
official life. 1t may seem all very proper,
under pretense either well or III founded,
to provide by law that the term OF certain
| functionaries shall be permanent. But this
special privilege and favor granted to them
il, in fact, disqualification aud exclusion
| of all others. 1t is q limitation and denial
of the equal rights of the masses of their
fellow citizens The practical operation of
the present act Of Congress, said to extend to
the cases Of 1900 persons, is, whatever
it may be called, virtual Acknowledgement
of an equal number and a practical ex-
clusion Of the whole number OF all other
citizens from these positions. What chance
has now any one of given number of IA, 900
persons in private life to-day for one of
these places? An old man of such num-
Der has none; q middle-sged man has q
man who. after waiting vainly for resig-
nation. may at last abide the death of q
present encumbent. Now, we feel that all
this is outrageously wrong and unjust in a
| system of government based upon equality
| Of rights. We must abandon either the
doctrine of civic equality or this new dogma
! Of official perpetuity. We prefer to