Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1885-04-09
The Republican Record.
New York Trib une.

New York Tribu
When the new administration enter
ed upon its duties, it was suggested by
The Tribune that those officials who
honestly desired reform in the public
service, and fidelity and eflicisncy In dis.
charge Of public duties, rather than any
partisan advantage, would 6nd them
selves plsasureably disappointed. 1t
was predicted That they would find much
less need of change in tho different
branches of Government than they had
been led to expect by the wild accusa-
tions current during an excited cam
paign. 1t was stated that the public
service had already been greatly improy-
ed, and was On the whole more pure, and
faithful, and thorough than that of any
other government. According to cor
respondent OF The Cincinnati CONNER
cial Gazette, at least one of the new
heads of departments has the eandOr to
express his surprise at THE system, the
discipline and the industry" he has
found. He "had been taught by the
reckless charges of the Democratic
press for years to believe that the de-
partments were "full Of political Great
ures and ineompetents." and needed a
complete Overhauling." But his frank
statement Of his experience in the prss-
ence of several gentlemen is thus re-
ported:
"He had become convinced that in no
private establishment in the land, no
matter how strictly conducted, was
there the perfection of system the thor
oughness of discipline, the general
faithfulnsss aud efficiency, that existed
in his department.. There are men in
the Offices who have spent their lives
there, and who are as much part of the
system as a spoke is part of wheel. |
When l want to know anything ia my
the messenger who has been |
there for many years can tell what gen.
tleman to call upon, and he will come |
in and tell me anything want to know |
do WI to the minute st points, and 20 back |
a generation in personal knowledge and |
in IL moment can lay his hand upon and |
produce Anything in the way of history. |
or written matter for my in |
formation. Now, suppose put such |
men as those out for party reasons, and |
fill their places with new men more ut |
terly ignorant of the matters of the |
than l am myself, |
DO you not soc that it would be ruin |
Gus TO the department and to the Gov
though it would satisfy some |
political workers? was surprised too |
to find what a large proportion of the
men are men of family; sober, quiet, re-
liable citizens, doing their duties stead
lily, faithfully and efficiently, rearing
families and holding their places in the |
world as good citizens, husbands and
fathers. "A large proportion Of the clerks
are Of this character, and l have not
been able to trace score Of men, so far,
placed in the department for purely po-
litlcal reasons"
This is rot a Republican testimony.
1t is not even the testimony of disin-
terssted observer. For the new head of
\ department, whoever he may be, must
necessarily have a great number Of
friends whom he would like to crafty,
and strong desire to stand we'll with
his party, and belief that most OF his
party friends will refuse to credit the
statement that there is no reason for
many changes. lie admits that he went
INTO the department with the prevailing
Impression that q general 0verhauling
was necessary. Yet less than one
months personal knowledge OF its work.
ngs, and of the efficiency and fitness Of
he men engaged in the different branch
IS of public work. has convinced him
hat nowhere in the country can equal
system, discipline and efficiency be
found in any private business, however
we'll organized. This is certainly a very
nigh tribute to the conduct of the SER
yice under President Arthur, and 1t is
but just to say, though our Democratic
friends are slow TO believe 1t, that on
he whole. and in most Of the depart
nents, the service has been for years,
wen prior to his term, in high state of
and steadily improving.
That Is the Republican record, gen
tenant Let us see, at the expiration OF
our years, how far you are able to i'm
arOva IL