The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-07-06
OFFICE AND r1rNrss.

at the last national election the voters
OF this country put themselves emphatic
ally on record in favor Of civil service re-
form as we'll as many other reforms. The
civil service reform which they approve
and demand is healthy fructifying seed,
but it has been almost buried out of sight
and smothered in the heap of chaff and
sterile husks piled up around it by the
theorists and pedagogues and doctrin>
aires.
Many republican organs, now that their
party has been discredited and elected at
the polls. contend that civil service re-
form means and requires the retention of
the great bulk of the republicans in office
and an equal chance for men of both par
ties to secure any appointive position
that may hereafter become vacant. Most
of the mugwumps substantially endorse
this view, but they go step farther and
maintain that the men who have no we'll
defined political principles and who feel
the least personal interest in party organi
cations should be prepared for public of
fee.
Now, if the republicans ought to stay
in, where is there room or occasion for
reforms If the civil service is good
enough in the main, why all this bother
about purifying and improving it? When
the platforms of both parties demanded
reform were they merely shooting at a
phantasm?
One o: the foundation pillars of Ameri.
can institutions is the principle of rota,
ton in office Except in a few of the
highest judicial positions. where it is alb
solutely essential that the incumbent shall
not be liable to be displaced by any ca
price or influenced by any intimidating
pressure, life tenures are unknown TO GU,
constitutions and statutes If it was 9TH
erwise we might as well elect our presi
dent for life during good behavior. We
do nothing of the sort, and it is contrary
to the spirit of our system of government
to build up an Office holding class A
periodical house cleaning and shaking W
is wholesome for the offices as well as fol
the homes.
This is PLAIN, blunt talk on subject
that is too frequently befogged with silly
nonsense or dishonest cant. Some of u:
are timid enough to be alarmed by the
Miss Nancys who proclaim every office
seeker "a spokesman. That word "spoils'
is d most conveniegt shibboleth, but it is
losing its potency through excessive use
What, then, is our idea of genuine civi
service reform? Our conception of it i:
that democratic administration should
place competent, upright and earnes
democrats into the offices at it
disposal Put democrats on guard
having made sure in advance thai
they are men of ability and in
tegrity. This is what the people voted
for last November. They did not vot,
merely to change presidents and cabinets
They voted for reform and responsibility
all along the line. In the next place, a
schoolboy tests are in vogue at presen
under the Eatonian plan, we favor th'
creation of new commission to investi
gate the capabilities of the republican
who have held over from the last admin
istration. What valid proof have we o
their qualifications, and why should the.
be exempt from the scrutiny which dem
ocratic candidates have to undergo?
| That is our idea and the peoples ide
| of it.