Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1885-12-11

widows of those who served in that war. r..
2Is About one man In ten OF oil those who
enlisted in the the late war are reported as
receiving pensions, exclusive OF the depend
ON tho ist OF July, 1876. the number of
pensioners was IA s2i, and tho tncreaso
within the ten years next thereafter was
1l0,3lt Whlo there ia no expenditure of tho
public funds which the people more cheer
fully appropriate than that made in rocogni-
tion Of the 81 services of our soldiers living
joct should not be yitlated by tho Introduce
tlon Of any fraudulent practices. Therefore
be cieansed Of T ali those & s Who % by % frand have
secured q place thereon, as thnt meritorlous
claims should be speedily examined and ad.
Ing the bus ness OF this bureau, which have
lately been innuRurated. promise better
results in both those directions. ~
PoLYGAMY.
In the Territory OF Utah the law OF the
United States passed for the suppression of
polygamy has been energetically and faith
meosuraby good results A number OF con.
victlons have been secured for unlawful co.
habltaton, and I'm some cases pleas of guilty
imposed upon a prom SO by the accused that
they would not again offcnd aga nst the law,
nor ady SO, counsel, aid, or aoot IN any way
mss oners express the opinion based upon
such Information as they are able to
obtain, that but few poygamous marriages
during tc last yesr They fSrndr ropoT
that while there can not be found upon the
registration list of voters the name OF n man
of that class are holding offices, yet at the
lust election In the Territory all the officers
elected, except In one, county, were men
tice of polygamy, subscribe to Tho doctrine
of polygamous marriages as divine rev.
slatlon and a law, unto all, higher and more
binding upon the conscience than any
human law, local or national. This is the
strange spectacle presented of u com.
munity protected by q republican form OF
sustaining by their. sufrrages prin.
clple and belief which sets at naught that
Obligation of absolute obedience TO the law
republican Institutions Tho strength, tho
perpntuity, aud the destiny of tho Nation
rest upon our homes, established by tho law
by parental author ty, and sanetihcd by pa.
rental love. These are not tho homes of
polygamy. Tho mothers of our land. who
aid guide the actions of their sons, 1.-Two ac-
cording to Gods holy ordinance, and each.
secure and happy In the exclusive love of
light OF true womanhood unpreverted and
unpouted upon all within her pure
and wholesome family circle. These are
not the chcoress. crushed. and unwomanly
mothers of polygamy. Tho fathers OF our
families are the best citizens of the Republic,
wife and children are the sources of patriot.
lsm, anu COHJupul anu UurcnIul uUeCtlOu
begct devotion to country The man who,
undefiled with plural marriage, is surround.
ed in his single home with his wife and chill.
drcn, has stake in the country which in-
age for its defense. These nre not the fathers
Of polygamous families There Is no feature
Of this practice, or the system which sane:
value in our institutions.
There should he no RELAXATION in the firm
but Just execution of the law now in operas
tion n I cLpntd ba Glad n an n n
further discreet legislation as Will rid tho
country of this blot upon its fair fame.
Since the people upholding polygnny in our
Territories are. reinforced by Immigration
from other lands, recommend that law
be passed to prevent the importation of
Mormons into this country.
THE CIVIL SERVICE.
The report of the Civil Service Commission,
which will be submitted. contains an account
of the manner in which the civil service law
has been executed during the last year, and
much valuable information on this important
subject. am inclined to think that there ia
no sentiment moro general In the minds of
of the correctness of the principle upon which
the law enforcing civil service reform ia
based. In its present condition the law regu-
stions throughout the country. It applies
a, test of fitness to. applicants for these
places by means Of competitive ex
to the. Commissioners as to the char
acter of the examination and many other
matters connected w.th its execution. Thus
the rules and regulations adopted by the
teal usefulness of the statute ana with the
results of its application. The people may
WITH . perfect rness and w With as to
taton as ia possible. Rut of course no re
Taxation of the principle which undorlies I
and no weaiken'ns Of the safeguards VII, Ct
in its administration will probably sugges
an amendment of the methods. of its exc
cut'on, but venture to hope that we shall
never again be remitted to the system
which distributes public positions purely n
rewards for partisan services. Doubts ma,
well be entertained whether our Government
| could survive the strain of a continuance o
this system, which. upon every change o
administration. inspires an immense arm!
of claimants for office to lay siege to the pat
| ronnge of the Government, engrossing tn
time of public officers with their Emporium!
ties, spreading abroad the contagion o
their si disappointment, and filling the al al
The elmrements of an immense mum
ber ofofIices and places exhibited to the VIC
ters of the land and the promise of thei
bestowal in recognition of partisan activity
dcbauch the suffrage and rob politica
action of its thoughtful and dcliberativ
character The evil would increase with tn
multiplication of offices, consequent upo
our extension, and the mania for olfice-hOld
ing, growing from its indulgence would pei
wade our population so generally that patr
desire for the public good and solictude fo
the Nations welfare, would'be nearly ban
ished from the activity of our party contest
and cause them to degenerate into ignobl,
selfish and disgraceful struggles for the poi
session of Office and public place.
Civii service reform enforced by law cam
not too soon to check the progress of demo
| aliZatiOn. One of its effects. not enough +,
gnrded, is the freedom it brings to the poll
ical actions of those conservative and sobe
risk attending an arbitrary and sudde
change in all the public offices with change O
party rule, cast their ballots against such
will continue to exist. Nor can 1t be denie
not disconnected with ofico.hodini
Whe patsMnshp pary e5yntnue.p btts
and pronounced and supplies SO muc
OF motive TO sentiment and action, II is nc
fair to hold public officials in charge of In
portant trusts responsible for the bcst r,
suits in the performance of their duties an
yet insist that they shall rely in coniideptis
those not only opposed to them in politics
affilation, but SO stepped In partisan pref,
dice and rancor that they have no loyalty t
cv sarvee @ rsform m "s dsss not enact ths
does it require that those in snborlinat
positions who fail in Welding their, hes
ervee or whs are shos
in place. The whining Of clerk discharge
for Incidence or inco mpetcncy. who. thoug
ganed n ms place ey the worst possiabl
covered that he is entitled to protectio
under the sanction OF civil service reform
| represents an idea no less absurd than tn
camor Of the applicant who claims the v,
cant position a. his compensation for tn
most questionable party work. The civ
service law does not prevent the discharg
| of the indOlent or incompetent clerk, but
does prevent supplying his place with tn
unit party worker. Thus, in both the phase
is seen the benefit to tho public service.
Tho people who desire good govcrnmen
having secured this statute will not r,
linauish its benefits without protest, nor AZ
they unmindful Of the fact that its full ad
| vantages can only be gained through tn
complete good faith of those having, Its ex'
| cution in charge. and this they will insis
upon. recommend that the salaries Of tn
| Civil Service Commissioners he increased /
n sum more nearly commensurate to thei
| important duties.
THE PRESIDENTIAL SUCCESSION.
| The present condition of the law relatin
to the succession of the Presidency. in tn
| event of death. disability. or removal of bot
President and vice-President, is such as to r,
guire immediate amendment. This subjet
has repeatedly been considered by Congress,
but no result has been reached; The recer
| lamentable death of the vicc-Presdent, 4
| gether with vacancies at the same time In