Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1885-08-07
Civil Service and Real Reform.

your correspondent, the most pressing ext
gency in the long list of needed reforms
confronting the administration, is apparent
in our present law of the civil service.
The government owes to itself no higher
duty than to guard with vigilant care the
dangerous fallacy of inefficient officers
Every claim of partisan service, every con-
sideration of personal ties, ought of right
give way to the primary principle of efficient
qualification. Not only so, but it may be
righteous and highly laudabe that pre-
MUM should be placed upon intelligence.
But what legislative power, what dignity
of judicial authority, what inherent right of
any class, consistent with the spirit of our
constitution, can justify a law pressing with
unequal force upon another class, compare
lively worthy in every way to enjoy the i'm
munities so restricted? A law, in so far as
it operates, virtually cropping the wings to
every specious prospect of any who may
think Jupiter smaller than the moon, or all
who have never presumed to calculate their
distance from the sun.
Under constitution pledged to equal
and exact justice to all men," laws looking
to the amelioration of class already favored,
to the disparagement of others already tram
meled by popular prejudice, If not untenable
and imperative, must in their influence be
exceedingly baneful. Astringency in the
elements under government is always pre-
ferable to needless distension. AS, while the
brawny sons Of toll may have neither the
time nor inclination to pander to every new
tangled notion of abstruse and often mis-
taken scientists, we should never fail to
recognize in the sun-browned element a
potent factor in the stability and support OF
popular government-as indispensable as
ha laorpad coho1ar ha tu cto N
the valiant warrior.
We cannot afford to sacrifice the back
bone for the benefit of the spinal cord-they
are each dependent on the other in their use
fulness. And now, in view of the above com
parative equality how incomparably more
important than the average mass of inlleXi-
bic conceit and smiling politeness annually
turned loose from our colleges and semina-
ries. Besides, polite erudtion can never be
construed key TO either moral worth OF
intellectual capability.
| On the one hand, it is often the travelling
cloak for the vlest depths of human de-
pravty. The subterluge of vanished vii
lainy TO screen character of brutal degra-
dation. Again, on the other hand, it is some.
times surprised by the towering fight of un-
tutored genius-some Daniel or Joseph sud
denly raised TO the dizzy heights of unfair
nished fame by the secret springs of casual
fortunes. And so, tried in the crucible Of a
civil service machine the proudest names
that emblazon the annals Of our race might
want the honor of letter-carrier. The vista
has closed in the face of the plebeian. An
insuperable barrier is added to blunt incom-
potency TO estop the precocous march to
sebaceous Office neligbility on the grounds
of not being flcdged in the mystic revela-
| tinno nf crianpa M hauinn apnvprQnl with
Cicero not knowing In the classic stories OF
ancient mythology. Mental capacity, moral
worth, party utilization, the generous i'm
pulses and benevolent ties of friendship are
as nothing in point of effectiveness TO this
essential and all.sufllcient requisite.
In transferring the responsibility Of max
ing iudicious appointments from its proper
and legitimate centers, (the heads of depart
ments, and trusting il TO the random methods
of the examinations, the relative confidence
of the public is at the mercy of unknown
and often irresponsible functionaries Dc
this, and designing demagogues may nc
longer betray the confidence of their con
sttuents by degrading the federal means in
their power to the political prelerment; bul
you are thus giving defiant challenge IL
cupidity and fraud of every complexion
An appreciative public has failed to recon-
pense our bookish proclivities-lhey must
be encouraged by legal force even at the
peril of the equanimty of our institutions
Applying the principle in an important pri
vate business, IA criterion because involving
the immediate and direct interests of the
parties concerned,) and its absurdity is APP
parent. Again, to the great national issues
of state and we have an exceedingly danger
GUS system. What reasoning then can justify
4, | a rrin nc in HAIh al
mediocre importance, dangerous if not de
structive in its application to either extreme
of our governmental theory standing in its
present application only as it is wedged in
between bulwarks of sound common-sensC
policy. Assuming that it was enacted in
pursuance of its prolessed end, even the at
tainment of such an end would hardly jus
tiy the means. In the light of political eX
pedience the spirit of the times in which il
was introduced barely furnishes an excuse
When in the dark days Of Radical rule a
saving JUNCTION was needed to purge tho
misty mazes of corruption, it was intro
duced in the hope Of restraining the inebri-
ate use of the means of federal patronage TO
traffic in the principles of men, against
which prurience no considerations of love
or duty ever prevailed. To the purblind
eyes of our party leaders the civil service
law seemed the purging hyssop.
Then it may be wondered that the domi-
nant party should cooperate in a measure
directly tending to hamper its functions
However much that party may have DIES
pissed the principle, they could not despisc
their peril. A glance behind the folding
veil revealed in their loathesome lines the
signs of disease and death, and with full
sense of their retrogresson they seized OF
the measure with ayldty--a final stroke Of
administrative policy that should rivet thcii
claims to the public crib when the awakened
conscience ola discriminating people should
relegate them To the sober realms of private
security.
Bot old things have passed away. 1t i!
no longer necessary To cling 10 the less evil
adopted 10 avoid the greater The cause,
which conspired To its unrighteous enact
ment have vanished like vapor in the sun
shine. The fragrant act imposed on the ere
dulity of murmuring nation is destined Il
go down 0oei populi For those who per
sistently hold to the specious idea an intel
lgent public has decreed 10 suffer the con
dign fate of their lavorite doctrine and re-
tire from the Legislative business
The perniciOus idea is miserable farce
standing in the way Of the true spirit OF re-
form, already begun when we have PLACED
the helm OF the grand old Ship of State il
the hands Of honest men
"Men who their duties know,
But know their rights and knowing dar,
maintain,
Prevent the long aimed blow,
And crush the tyrant while they rend tn,
chain"