Morning journal and courier., 1886-10-22

An Expression of Optn1on-Missfomary Work We'll on Its Way but Pr1neI. pie Not to be surrendered.
 BOSTON, Oct. 21.-The following corres- pondence is published:
 NEW YORK, Oct IS, 1886. Hon. Ambrose A. Ranney, Boston, Mass:
 Dear Sir-On behalf of the National Civil Service Reform league we beg to address you as a candidate for re- election to Congress and respectfully to inquire whether you approve the principle that employment in those posi- tions in the civil service the duties of which are administrative and not political should be open equal terms to every citizen without regard to party, whose fitness shall have been aecertained by appropriate examinations and whether if elected to Congress you would favor the speedy extension of the pres ent reformed system to all offices and em- ployments of the government to which it is applleables
 We beg further to inquire whether you favor the repeal of the laws which vacate 8 large number of non-political offices every four years. thus encouraging partisan chang es without the responsibility of removal
 Respectfully, yours,
 GEORGE WILLIAM CURTIS, president.
 VIM. PoTTs, secretary.
 BosroN, Mass, Oct. 20, 1886.
 Dear Sir-In reply to your circular letter of date the 18th inst. have to say: I am still in favor of doing everything which is calculated to and will legitimately operate to purify and elevate the civil service of the country. I favor also the extension of the present system in the manner suggested. I say yes, therefore, to the first branch of the inquiry.
 I have no objection to the repeal of the laws alluded to in the last clause of the let ter, although doubt the efficiency of such repeal. Any administration which is dis posed to make removals for partisan reasons will always find or make some excuse to en- able it to accomplish it's purpose. So the law as it's stands will, and does prove to be 8 small barrier in the way. Repeating the statute altogether would only remove what little obstacle is now imposed and facilitate partisan action. I have, however, hereto fore on the whole favored the repeal and do still. While I believe in all reasonable methods to secure good ap pointments to office would like to see less indifference as to elections to office and as to the prostitution of offices for private gain and more earnest and determined efforts to preserve the integrity of the ballot box and to prevent popular elections from becoming so much of a mockery and delu-. sion as they are now in so many quarters. I would like to see much ess of this outbreak and more of open and decided condemnation of official improprieties and dereliction of duty on the part of those holding high office even where it reflects upon and weakens an adninistra- tion which is in special favor for the time being. If civil service reform is to be used only as a pretence for the sake of getting office at the hands of any party ready to confer it as a reward for desertion or as an instrument to strengthen the ma chine of and to build up party which. in the main is its worst enemy and whose part as maintained by trampling upon the will of the people as expressed at the ballot box, the cause will soon come to naught. Missionary work is well in it's way, but when it involves an entire surrender of principle it might as we'll be remitted or cease. Respectfully yours,
 A. A. RANNEY.
 GEORGE WILLIAM CURTIS, President.
 WM. PoTTs, Secretary.