Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1885-10-22
and Miss Folsom, of albany, who will
remain here for two or three weeks.
TARHEEI
SENATOR VANCE

SENAIOS VANCE
On the Admfnistration-Hfs Opinion
of Civil Service Reform, &c.
From the Louisville Courier-Journal.
Senator Zebulon B. Vance, of North
Carolina, passed through the city last
Thursday, on his way to Oldham coun-
ty to visit relatives. He was called
upon by a Co,rierJo,rnat reporter
last evening and in relation to politi-
cal matters in his own State, he said
"Politics is at dead stand-still in
North Carolina. There are no cleo
tions, and, as the people spent a great
deal of energy and enthusiasm in the
Presidential contest, they are now alb
sorbed in agriculture and in business
generally. Crops are excellent and
the State is quiet and prosperous"
"What is the feeling of the North
Carolina Democracy toward the pres
ent administration ?'' was asked.
"The feeling is not enthusiastic, nor
even favorable. The people are dis
appointed and they have good cause
for dissatisfaction. They think the ad-
ministration should turn out the Re
publican office-holders and replace
them with Democrats. The feeling is
much stronger in the Southern States
than in the North, because of the
character of Republican office holders
in the South. They are looked upon
with disdaiu and disgust by the Dem
ocrats because, in the main, they are
disreputa5le. They Gained their po-
sition by going over to the negroes !;
by becoming traiters to their fellow
citizens, and by outraging every prin-
ciple of the Southern people. These
officials are, many of them, of the old
carpet-bag element, and you can read
lily understand the feeling of antago-
nism there is against them by our pco-
pie, To be sure, there are some good
men among them, but few only"
"In what light do you view the pres
ent civil service system?" asked the
reporter.
II don't like it, and never did. I
have fought it always, and intend to
fight for the repeal of the law next
session, or at least for great modifi-
cation of it. If some one else does not
present bill providing for its repeal
or to remodel it, shall do so myself.
'Its workings from the beginning
were unjust. After the civil service
bill became law, several months
elapsed before it went into effect. Its
provisions were not to apply to those
persons in office at the time of its en-
actment, and as matter of course,
could not be applied to those receiving
appointments in the interval of enact
ment and application. The consequence
was that in this interval all Offices
from high to low, even those of floor
sweepers, were crammed and jammed
with Republicans. The result is that
now the civil service is as much under
the power of Republicans as it was
during the administrations Of Garfield
and Arthur. There would have been
some show of justice toward the Dem
ocrats if all had stood the test alike,
but such was not the case.
"Are you in favor of civil service
system favorable alike to Democrats
and Republicans ?'
'tNo, | am not. do not favorthe
perpetuation of an office-holding class.
In England such class. exists, and
there it is almost impossible for the
bright and ambitious young men to
secure positions in the civil service.
You see, that under the present civil
service law, a person appointed to of
flee receives life tenure, provided he
does nothing to forfeit his p sition,
and the authority foI judging the con-
duct of such person is vested in the
three men who constitute the board.
There is the opportunity for great
abuses. And again, whenever politics
and the civil service are separated,
then there will be no distinctive party.
Politics, in great measure, depends
upon the civil service branch of the
government. Separate the two and
politics will be robbed of its impulses,
of its ambitions. l believe in parties,
and that the good of the people de-
pends upon such conditions. IF there
is nothing to look forward to in poll
tics; if it gives no power; if there is
nothing to fight for, we would have
do great political debates and states
men would come to naught.
"Human nature will be what it is,
and it is only natural that man
should wish to appoint his friends to
office. He would be something of a
hound if he felt otherwise. The man
deserves to be rewarded who goes out
on the hustings, who works and tugs
and hurrahs for his party. But the
appointing power should be held strict
ly responsible for those it places IN
positions. Let every man be held to
strict account for every appointee, and
we shall soon have a pure civil service.
Yes, sir, intend to fight with all my
might any civil service laws which
SAVIOR of the present so-called civil
service reform"
Senator Vance has but lately re-
turned from Washington, where he
spent two weeks, and says he found
everything very dull there.
The Senator from North Carolina
! is tall and rather portly, his face rud-
dy and genial and he speaks quietly
and easily. He is kind and joyial in
disposition and is a powerful and fiery
orator, being Erecognizcd as one OF the
ablest men on the Democratic side.
p9- Try The Sentinel tiu Neae Fear
for quarter, cash.