The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-10-15
A SILLY FALSEHOOD.
Senator MiIler's Statement That the Re-
publicans Favor Civil-Service Reform
Contrary to History.

Senator MilIer's Statement That the Re-
publicans Favor Civil-Service Reform
Contrary to History.
Mr. Warren Miller is the senior
United States Senator from New York,
and, although it would be a somewhat
exaggerated statement to allege that
he is the leader of the Republicans Of
that State,it is not going beyond bounds
to say that he is certainly as influential
as any of his brethren. In taking the
chair at Saratoga as the temporary pre-
siding officer of the Republican State
Convention, he made a few remarks
suitable to the occasion, in the course
of which he uttered the following senti-
ment: when we turned over to the OPP
position the civil service of the Govern
ment, nc better civil service existed
under the sun"
The New York Republicans, and. for
that matter, all Republicans. now that
they are out of power, find no difficulty
in resolving in State conventions in
favor of Civil-Service reform. To this
cause they have not the slightest Obiec-
ton to pledging their lives. their fort
tunes and their sacred honor. The
resolutions look well on paper, sound
well when voiced by experienced read
ing secretaries, and do no harm. because
they mean nothing so long as the Dem
ocrats have the reins of government.
But if any one has any curiosity to
know just the sort of civil service Re-
publicans approve, precisely the kind
they would set in motion had they the
responsibility, all that is necessary to
do is to grasp to the full extent of its
meaning the quoted utterances of Sen
ator Miller.
He speaks not alone for himself. not
only for the Republicans of New York,
but for the party throughout the coun-
try. When Mr.. Cleveland was inaugu-
rated mo better civil service existed
under the SUM-" according to this emil
was we all know. The Federal office
holders were organized into a vast po-
litical machine which sought first to
control the Republican party and then
the country. Under the prevailing
abuses it was as much a political Of
Tense to be Republican, if opposed to
the ruling clique, as it was to be
Democrat, no one of either stripe being
allowed to hold office if it were possible
to prevent it.
These officeholders also were re-
quired to pay to party committees fixed
percentages, apportioned according to
their salaries, to defrav the expenses of
political campaigns, and were COM
lnl ,lrr-, to h. Is
the ruling faction dictated, and to make
political speeches, if they could, and do
such other work as was demanded, under
pain of dismissal Their enforced votes
and contributions turned the scale in
1880, when their aid was so valuable
that even General Garfield asked how
the departments were doing. and made
the contest so close in 1876 as to invite
the fraud.which was perpetrated. The
civil service which the Republicans con-
Quoted, which was in existence, accord
ing to Senator Miller. when we turned
it over to the opposition, and than
which mo better civil service existed
under the sun, was the SpoilS system,
pure, simple and una Iulterated. under
which the country revolted and from
which it is to be hoped we are now free
for good and all.
There is considerable difference of
opinion among Democrats as to the
efficacy of the present Civil-Service
statutes and the ability of the men who
are charged with their execution, but
there is none as to the merits of the
civil service as it existed prior to March
+. 1885. Democrats are as much OBJ
posed to the whole system as Warner
Miller and his Republican friends favor
it. There is no trouble about drawing
the line and framing an issue right here
- Washington Post.