National Republican., 1885-11-23

The People Have Decrced It.
~ take It you mean to be sarcastic"
writes correspondent, "when you say
I'VE are coming upon time when there is
likely to be something like stability in the
tenure OF departmental Positions
Our correspondent is in error. The RE-
PUBLICAN used the words quoted to con-
vey a serious impression honestly enter
tanned. This belief rests on the confidence
we have in the growth Of n healthy public
sentiment in relation to reform in the civil
service. That confidence is fully justified
by the events Of the past eight or ten years.
He who cannot see that there has been
continuous and vigorous advance Of the
opposition to the spoils system and the
Identification Of the federal and party ma
chimes, has failed to note the most conspic-
uous phase of the political situation. the
most significant sign Of the times.
Our correspondent indulges In some
very pointed reflections on a number Of
changes recently made In some OF the de-
partments, and concludes that "thero will
be a clean sweep OF all the Republicans
in all the departments before the close
of President Cleveland's term" It's un-
doubtedly true that the changes referred to
are violative of the spirit of civil service re-
form in that they are made for political
reasons only. They retire experience, ca
pacity, and fidelity, and put incxperlencc
aud uncertainty In place thereof. They are
not such changes as prudent business men
would make in the conduct of their own
affairs. They are n concession to the Bosses
division of the spoils in the old and con-
demned way.
But we must remind our correspondent
that not one Of the removals he cites vio-
latos the letter Of the civil service law; not
one of the appointments he names touches
the text of that statute in any manner. 1t
may be said, further, with absolute truth,
that, with the three or four exceptions in
the general land Office, nota single appoint
mCnt to the classified service has been made
in violation Of that act. There have been
some cunningly devised evasions of the law
whereby manifest injustice has been done
and the service has suffered serious detri-
ment, but 1t is true, nevertheless, that the
law has been generally respected. 1t is
true, also, that good many officials and
employees who do not come within the pur-
view Of that law are still in their places.
An interview with the President pub
lishcd some weeks ago was understood by
sundry Democratic organs as declaration
by the President in favor Of pass examina.
tions. If such a plan were adopted it
would practically nullify the intent of the
ftrn - lou al ,rI,,v l,,11 Il
have this effect we have heretofore ex-
planned.
But the President, through Col. Lamont,
private secretary, promptly repudatod the
Interpretation which the organs had placed
on his words. lie says that the Sterling
case was purposely made an exception, and
lie gives no hint of any intention to make
such amendments of the rules as will open
the civil service chute to the bosses and
spoils hunters.
1t is well known that this law Is entirely
dependent ON the President for success or
failure. He can amend the rules controlling
its operations at his pleasure. He found
the law doing good work under friendly
administration. Thus far he has not made
any amendment of which the friends of
civil service reform can reasonably COM
plain. What may be done in the future we
do not undertake to predict. II he should
act in accordance with the demands Of his
party he would strangle the law and tram
pie on all his pledges Of reform. But 1t Is
not fair to suppose he will take that course
In face of his declaration that he has no
| such intention.
To come back to the original text, "We
are coming upon time when there is likely
to be something like stability in the tenure
of departmental POSITIONS" we have only to
say that, whether this administration should
in the end prove true or false TO the civil
service law, the reform which that law was
intended to promote will 90 on. An un.
friendly administration may impede but
cannot stop 1t. No party or combination OF
parties can kill it. The people have decreed
its consummation.
Sooner or later, and not many years heuce
at the latest, we shall have a non-partisau
civil service, so far as 1t relates TO all minol
officials. We shall have, too, n complete
divorce between the great central govern
ment and the party machine. The people
will have the full enjoyment of the right OF
local self-government, and they will efrectu
allyinsist that the federal government shall
keep its hands clear OF their local elections
They will insist that the men who are hired
! TO do their work under the federal system
shall attend to their business, neither sacri
fcing by their appointment their rights al
citizens, nor incurring thereby obligations
TO take charge Of state campaigns.
The federal government has grown tc
such immense proportions, 1t is such a vas
power, reaching into every neighborhood
controlling such enormous revenues and
employing such grand army of men, thai
its restriction to its own business is abso
lutely essential to the existence of liberty.
1t will be thus restricted, for the people
have willed 1t.
The civil service law is the first long ster
toward the dnal contamination of this
great reform. The party that does violence
to that law will commit suicide.
Tho Irish Cause.
4 II. ~ VI