Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-08-06
CURTIS on CITIL sEHVICE aEFoHM
The Mugwump Leader Endorses ana Ex-
| cusss the President.

The Mugwump Leader Endorses ana Ex-
cusss the President.
NEWPORT, K. l., Aug. 6--George William
Curtis delivered an address on Civil Service
Reform Under the Present National Adminis-
'ration," here last evening, before the annual
meeting OF the National Civil Service
Reform League. The address was mainly
taken up in endorsing the ad-
ministrstion and excusing the President
Tor the bad breaks he has made since he has
been in the Waite House. tleferring to the
Higgins appointment Mr.. Curtis said:
But under this administration also there
have been violations OF sound principles,
serious mistakes and Inconsistencies, un " Ise
appointments, and equally unwise removals.
These, however, are not necessarily proofs OF
'reachery or OF hostility During the late
republican administration and after the
passage OF the reform bill there were con-
stantly acts which we're absolu ely inconsis-
tent with it's spirit and principles But it
would be folly tor that reason to
charge deliberate bad faith upon
the republican president or to
allege that reform was wholly disregarded
under his administration. When, therefore,
we are considering what has been gained tor
reform upon the whole, what progress has
been made while as yet neither party is truly
reform party, the word "lIlggins" is by no
means conclusive remark. The Higgins ap-
pointment, indeed, was a signal illustration OF
the abuse that We would correct. 1t WAS the
appointment of per oa publicly and respou-
sbly accused Of disreputable political prac-
tces, the explanation of which, il there be
oue, lie not known, and an appointment
made mainly AT the request OF a senator,
a tah 80,
and which experience and reason show to be
made presumably for a personal and not Tor a
public purpose, practice which promotes the
most fragrant corruption. This is the Hg-
gins case, and know no satisfactory ex-
PLANTATION oil it. 1t is the ordinary case un-
der the spois system, ye, 1t is now
made the occasion OF especial and
continuous remark. II however. il
fairly ilasrated the general practice of the
administration /. would not be singular.
Certainly the severest censors would not as
sert that the Higgins ,p,,ointment is OF a |
kind unparalleled under other administrs-
tions; and to allege that IL is peculiarly
offensive under democratic asce endency 10 TO |
concede, what is, OF course, not intended, |
that more Is 20 be expected from a dem
ocra'ic than from republican execu-
tive. But the instance OF Higgins. and |
the whole Higgins school OF appointments, |
although absolutely inconsistent with the |
reformed system, do not prove recreancy to
reform 80 much as the infinitely more .;pni- |
fcant and important instances of Pearson,
Graves, Burt, and others. prove fidelity to |
reform.
In the course Of his speech, which was
quite long, Mr.. Curtis said;
In declaring offensive partisan nship to Ue a |
just cause tor removal, the president confirms
the views Of Gallstin and Webster as ap-
proved by his predecessors, Jefferson and
Harrison, and in enforcing those views be
acts upon the soundest principles Of reform.
believe that any un-
prejudiced observer, republican or democrat,
who considers the enormous 1.fficulties and |
perplexities OF the situation, and who looks
solely at the interest Of reform, will admit |
that since the spoils system was first gener-
ally introduced into our national ADMINISTERS
ton no president has given such conclusive
evidence both OF bis reform convictions and |
OF his courage IN enforcing his convictions as
President Cleveland