The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1885-07-22
.oLD-FAsHIosED DEMocRAcY.v

II ana IOr UudU TeabOu We IcPIouuCo y
The writer expresses, beyond a doubt, the
sentiment of every politician-Democratic
or Republican-in the country. Rotation
in office is a good rule under any govern
ment, city, county or state, and it would
be difficult for anyone to find good reasons
why it should not apply to National
affairs. But we will let "Old-Fashioned
Democrat" speak for himself:
"Sir: To what end is the appointment OF
| Mr.. Hedden, or that OF Mr.. Beattle, when
the bureaus they represent practically re-
main Republican organizations, and the
men who talked and voted for Mr.. Cleve-
land, and gave money and energy to the
| organization OF Democratic clubs and the
prosecution of the canvass . OF 1854, are
left to console themselves with the barren
reflection OF having done their duty as
Democrats? If l speak too strongly in the
! premises, permit me to beg pardon in ad-
| vance OF all concerned.
but it seems SO absurd-so farcical-so
pitifully ridiculous-that a Democratic Adj
m~inistration, elected by Democratic votes
in q anvas of the bitterest and hercest
description, brought to asuccessfullssue by
the zeal and money OF Democratic workers
all over the country, without the resources
afforded by the assessment OF pubic 1unc-
tionaries, should curl, like a whipped cur,
under the criticism OF Mugwump journals,
and be controlled by a little clique of Re
publican partisans, high civil service com
m~issioners, headed by Mr.. Dorman b.
Eaton. This gentleman | heard, one even
ing several years ago at d pubic meetlng,
employ the singular verb with the plural
noun or ronou three times in the course
OF five minutes, not to mention other lapses
OF syntax. My personal acquaintance
comprises scarcely a single strong, lntelll-
gent, lifelong Democratic voter who Is not
heartily ashamed OF the existing state OF
affairs. Ii it is timidity. it is weak and con-
telnptible; ii it is a deliberate part OF the
policy OF the Administration to retain Re
p%ubiicans in office, then, whether 1nten-
tional or not, it amounts to a betrayal OF
principles that have governed the Demo-
cratic party from the days OF Jefferson and
jackson; OF it's historical policy and ira
ditions, as well as of its present interests.
To the victors belong the spOils is a max
i'm, necessarily true i'll politics as in mill
tary operations. How are political can
vases to be carried on, conventions held,
voters aroused n brought to the polls Oh
election day, expenditures l~lquldated, II the
points and the materials OF war
are left in the hands OF the enemy? Are
the men who bear the burden OF the can
vass, contribute in money and personal
endeavor to it's success, aid in organizing
and m%arshalling the forces, and give days
and weeks of active effort to the election OF
their candidates and the triumph OF their
party, expecting honorable recognition OF
their services when the struggle is over and
the triumph secured, to be rewarded with a
barren Thank you, my brave boys, you
have lone your duty, and now you may
rest in that sweet conviction until your
are wanted ~again?" Is there not
an implied contract in every politi-
cal canvass, that the men who help to win
shall be rewarded with the emoluments.
they have fairly wrested from their OPP
ponents?
Pigment, delusion, platitude-call it what
you please-was never invented, that is, IN
more obvious a%ntagonism to the spirit OF
American institutions than this civil ser
vice business, as interpreted by it's most
blatant expositors. LIS there anything oc-
cult or mysterious in a treasury depart
ment or a, postoffice clerkship that a man
should retain it for life because he has bef
come familiar with it's routine-a thing o
a few days only to any person OF ordinary
intelligence? 1t follows, OF course, whether
democratic or republican, that persons
who are unfit or incompetent should not
be appointed to official posts. This rule
is lust as essential in the conduct OF a gov
eminent bureau as it is in private affairs,
and sinecures can neither he created nor
tolerated by an honest administration OF
either party.
at will be asked, when a man has well &C.
quilted himself in the duties OF his office,
why not leave him there, and let well
enough alone? B e I. r 99taf III dt 9ttiee
and because the creation OF a permanent
official class is at variance with our system,
which admits of nc privileged persons or
families, as a factor legally created and up
held. Given a civil service in which the in
cumbent holds for life, and venture to pre-
dict that it viii! not be many years before
the granting Of pensions to retired, aged, or
disabled public servant will be advocated,
and probably established, for Il permanent
oftice-holding class fundamentally become
a great social and political force-possibly,
Il very oppressive one.
"And upon what grounds are the people
OF the United States asked to create and
perpetuate such an anomaly? Is it because
any special training, education, or intelli-
gence is required to perform the function?
What are the requisites OF ali efficient letter
carrier? Ordinary intelligence and a good
pair OF legs. OF a clerk in the Treasury De-
partment or elsewhere? A little facility in
and satisfaction and a good hand
writing. And so on through the whole list
Government employments, with the ex-
ceptlon OF a Very few positions demanding
fitness IND special training. True,
to the civil service examinations,
a letter carrier must know that Cape Horn
is not oil the coast OF Greenland, or that it
is not proper to use a singular verb with a
plural noun or pronoun. The latter is es-
pecially indispensable to the aspirant for a
certificate, though not strictly so to the
hand ~ 4I~ H. .a hNs 0 |
said, occasionally exercises the largest liber !
ty III respect to the agreement OF the nouns
and verbs.
"If then, in the majority of Government
there is nothing occult or
difficult, why should not the party that
obtain possession OF the emoluments
of victory? If rotation were incompatible
with efficiency in the public service, the doc
trine of civil service reform, SO called, would
be entitled to serious consideration; though
even in that event, the creation of a perma-
nent office-holding class would be question
able propriety.
But in point OF fact: rs experience has
rotation is an element OF efficiency.
of routine tend to render men perfume
tory in their work, especially if they are sus.
tanned by a sense of security such as is fos- |
tered by the civil service delusion; and, to
mind, the very first requirement OF re-
form in the public service, when the present
administration assumed the direction OF
was to sweepthe departments clean
of the parasites and ~perfunctory servitors
during a quarter Of a century of
rule, and effect a complete re-
organization of the whole business, except
ing, always, a few posts in the customs ser
vice and certain other bureaus in which
requirements and special training
are necessary. Have Democrats no legs,
that the Postoftice Department should be
served by Republican letter-carriers almost
under an administration alb
solutely Democratic: Are there no Demo-
able to pass examination as to the
whereabouts ofCape Horn or the use of the |
verb singular with the noun plural, that
such a spectacle as the kellar affair must
be tolerated with complacency? Are there
Democrats competent to the office of
director OF the Union Pacific
railroad, that one Of the greatest statesmen !
the party has ever produced-Samuel j.
Tilden-should be insulted by the rescue
from merited obscurity of a man like Ed
ward F. Noyes OF Ohio, who helped to steal
the vote OF Florida in 1876 from the right
ful President of the United States.
"Now, clearly, with these illustrations of
the civil service affiliations OF the national
administration dampened the ardor of its
q. H. ~.& u-..11 |