National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1885-10-17

The Republican party, with the exception
Of It's professional politicians and chronic
oiliccscekcrs, who constitute u minority of
insignificant dimensions, is in favor OF the
theory on which the civil service law is
based. 1t admits the necessity and expo
dicncy Of non-partisan civil service. II does
not believe that the offices should be re-
garded as the perquisltes Of senators, rep
rcscntativcs, or other political leaders, to he
used in paying political debts or rewarding
campaign labors. 1t holds that there
should be an absolute and perpetual divorce
between the federal public service and the
political machine. IL condemns political
assessments or any plan for inducing public
servants to contribute campaign funds
through fear Of what may happen to them
in case they decline to hand over q part Of
their salaries to campaign managers.
The right of public officials to freely ex
press their political sentiments and to vote
Just as they please is sacred and cannot be
questioned. The right of public official
to contribute as much and as often as he
may see fit to the legitimate expenses Of
campaigns is as sacred and uuquestionabc
But the theory that the holding Of an office
implies an obligation to contribute is vicious,
and the sooner the life is stamped out Of II
| the better for all interests involved. The
| public official is simply the hired servant Of
the people. His salary is the pay he gets
for doing the work assigned him. 1t is his
money just as II he had earned 1t chopping
| wood or In any other occupation.
II Is preiudicial to the public interests to
have the public business interrupted or
neglected by general participancy of federal
officials in campaign work and excitoment'
but when officials are regularly and law
fully absent from their posts, on the leave to
which they are entitled, they have us good
a right to talk to the people as they would
have If they had 10 connection with the
federal service.
The best sentiment of the country con.
dcmns federal executive interference with
the elections. The President, heads of de
partments, and all their subordnates are
employed to do certain specific things foi
the whole people. When they manipulate
patronage with view to its influence in O
state election they are using an unfair in
fluence and are oirensvcly modelling with
that which should not concern them as
officials. When they manage the employ.
mcnt Of men and disbursement Of money
on public works with an eye to an election
they are doing that which ought not to be
tolerated. No matter how old the custom
is or to what extent it may have been prac
ticed by Wings and Democrats and Other
parties 1t Is wrong. The highest right o
the people Of n state is the right to elect
their own officials without any intermcl-
ding by the federal executive mechanism
Most Of the features Of the civil service
lew now in force are approved b. the Re
publican party, but there are very scriou
objections to the methods adopted In man,
Instances for ascertaining the fitness or un
fitness Of candidates.
\ bipartisan service is desired. 1t Il
necessary that the fitness of applicant
should be determined. Competitive exam
nations are not disapproyed. But exam!
nations that take no account of the cducat
ing influence OF observation and expert
ence, examinations that would pass schoc
children and reject statesmen and practicG
business men, are not approved.
The law was experimental, was intendc
for beginning in new field. 1t has &C
complishcd much good, and the countr
: will hold on to that which has been al
taincd. The objections we have cited RI
late to matters OF detail which can be +,
formed hereafter.
And we may add that the idea of III
= tenure, or anything but fixed tenure
arouses opposition. We cannot have
civil pension list. Would II not be bette
to have fixed term and lncliglbllity there
| uftcrg