The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1885-11-26

community, bY tnlb cOuEhb yVu Will
exalt the national character and
acquire for yourself name as Inn
peTishable az monumental marble.
Consult no party In your choice,
pursue the dictates Of that nnerring
Judgment which has 30 long and 10 or.
ten benefited our country and rendered
conspicuous its rulers, Who Will not
recall the "era OF good feeling which
reigned Ia the days OF the Monroe reg
imep
In 1920, In the very vestlbule OF the
Bp0ils system, the leading men OK the
land spoke In opposition TO the potential
evil inherent In II, A Democratic com
mittee of the Senate reported against II.
A Democratic bill was proposed for q
repeal OF the Crawford act, which sig
nailed the ultimate growth OF the sya'
TEN. In 1889 the Henry Clay Repu6li'
cans, In platform phrases energetically
denounced II.
Resolution, May llh, 1882;
Resolved, That the lndiscrlminate re-
mOyal Of public officers for q mere dit
ference OF political opinion is q gross
abuse Of power, and that the doctrine
lately boldly preached In the United
States Senate, that TO the victors be-
long the ap0ils OF the yanquished,' 10
detrimental 10 the interests, c0rTuptlng
TO the morals and dangerous tc the lib
critics OF the country"
In l8ii, Daniel Webster, Secretary OF
State, addressed the following letter TO
each OF the several heads OF executive
departments
DEPARTMENT on STATE,
March Goth, l8il,
em-The President Ia OF the opinion
that II Ia q great abuse TO bring the pat
r0nage Of the general government Into
conflict with the freedom OF elections,
and that this alb lse ought TO be correct.
cd wherever II may have been permitted
10 exist, and to be prevented for the fu-
ture. He therefore directs that inform.
alton be given to all public Ofllcers and
agents In your department OF the public
service, that partisan interference In
popular elections, whether OF State 0tll'
cers or officers OF this government, or
for whomsoever or against wh0msoever
II may be exercised, or the payment or
any contribution or assessment, or sala'
ries or ofllclal compensation, for party
or election purposes, will be regarded by
him as q cause OF removal, II is not In
tended that any officer shall be restrain.
ed In the free and proper expression and
maintenance OF hls opinions respecting
public men or public measures, or In
the exercise, TO the fullest degree, OF the
constitutional rights OF suffrage. But
persona employet under the government
and paid for their services out OF the
public treasury, are not expected 10 take
an active or 0lllci0us part In attempts TO
influence the minds OF voters or others,
such conduct being deemed inconsistent
with the spirit OF the constitution, and
the duties Of public agents acting under
II; aud the President IL resolved, 10 far
az depends upon him, that while the OK.
erclse OF the elective franchise by the
people shall be free from undue lnAl
ence OF official station and authority,
opinion shall also be free among the Of
acsra and agents OF the COVER ment,"
The Democratic platform OF 1879 con.
tained tho following plank: "The civil
service OF the gov 'rnment has become
a mere instrument OF partisan tyranny
and personal ambition and an object OF
selfish greed. II Ia q scandal and 70.
proach upon free institutions and breeds
n decentralization dangerous 10 the per
pe,uity OF republican government, We,
therefore, regard thorough reform OF
the civil service 40 one OF the most
pressing necessities OF the hour; that
honesty and capacity and fidelity con
etltute the only valid claims TO public
employment; that the Offices cease TO be
matter OF arbitrary fay0rltlsm and
patronage, and that public station
shall become u post OF honor"
In 1875 that party In national c0nyen'
tion assembled, declared In these words
lts faith. "R form Ia necessary In the
civil service. Experience proves that
efficient economical conduct OF the gov
ernmental business is not possible II its
civil service be subject 10 change NJ
every election; DO a price fought for az
the ballot box; DO 4 brief reward OF par
~ zeal Instead OF q p0at OF honor as
eigned for proved competency and held
for fidelity In tho public employ. That
the dispensing OF patronage ehould
neither be q tax upon the time Of all
our public men nor the instrument Of
their ambition"
The Republican party the same year
pronounced 0n this subject ae iollOws:'
"fhe lnvarlable rule In appointments
should have reference 10 the honesty, d
deity and capacity Of the appointees,
giving TO the party In power tho places
where harmony and ylgor OF admins.
tration require lta policy 10 DO repre-
eented, but permitting oil others TO DO
Oiled by persons selected with sole ref
erence 10 the efficiency TO the public
service and the right OF oil cltiEens 10
share In the honor OF rendering faithful
service 10 the country"
But this declaration coming immedi.
ately after the sitting OF the reform
procedure, begun under Grants admin-
istration, was u mockery.
In 1880, the great political parties
again proclaimed for administrative 70.
form. In 1881, the horrible tragedy
which shocked this nation, no empha.
elZoi the public appreciation OF the vic.
ioul epoili eyetem, that remedial legis.
lation was forced from the hands OF
Congress. Then In 1884, the parties
agoln confronted the nation with plat.
forms tayorlng civil service reform. The
d mocratlc party proffered as its beat
pledge, u candidate, who had testified
his faith by his works. And % the OK.
ecutlye OF this people he has given con.
etant assurance OF his sincerity In this
lleld OF reformation. Civil Service Re.
form " no longer an irrepreseIble con.
tlct. II has won, and the fruits OF that
victory are not 10 be frlttered away. The
people will patiently investigate the
practical results OF the procedure and
agitation will compel whatever amend.
ment may be necessary 10 Improve mere