The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-02-28
bad BOB" INGERSOLL
on CIVIL SERVICE REFORM AND
THE OFFICR-SEEKERS.
He Thinks the Democrats Have q
Right to Say Whom They
Want Appointed.

Washington special to the Cincin.
natl Enquirer: Col. Robert G. Inger-
soil has a jolly way Of saying the moe
tarcastic and cutting Of things about
10th men and tbiogs. He is often in
the Hoffman House. met him there
to-day aud asked him how he liked
New York as compared with WASH
ton life.
III don't like it as we'll as Washing
tln," he said. "But there is less and
less society in Washington every
year. The social side Of Washington
is now confined ID sHowde do p and
We'll, good day. bit OF salad and a
sip c I miserable claret punch. AS for
myself, l get:along we'll anywhere. 1
am like the Irishman who declared he
was fond OF solitude, especially when
Biddy was with him"
"How does the civil service mania
strike you2"
at smuses me to see the liars hold
ing up each others hands while they
vow they never loved before. Why,
/ have talked with Presidents and
Senators and Congressman and public
men OF all parties, and l have never
yet found one of them who was sim
cerely for civil service re form as it is
advocated and put into practice now.
l have had Republican Presidents
read me their messages upon this sub
iect and laugh at the doctrines they
declared. There was no President IN
Washington in my time who believed
what he said in his messages on this
question"
'How has it come to be so popu-
lar?"
"Why, there were a few persistent
people who talked all the time about
1t, until Republicans began to think
that they could only get their votes by
starting some such theory into prac-
tice. The Democrats are always fol-
lowing on behind the Republicans,
and they have picked it up, too"
These reformers were sincere,
were they not?"
swell, as to that, have never
known q swarm Of politicians any
where TO show as much greed for place
as they have displayed. They are the
nastiest and most disgusting and most
persit tent beggaIs for office l ever
saw. They have hung around Cleve-
land ever since he was iDaugurated
like a swarm OF bees. They have
pleaded to have this man kept in or
that man appointed for the good t
the cause What is that different
from the old cry? We used to say we
wanted q man kept in or man ap-
pointed for the benefit OF the Repub-
lican cause. The Democrats are en-
titled 20 say now that they want
a man kept in or appointed because
they want to promote the Democratic
cause. Why is it any worse to have
one OF these causes promoted than the
other? II a man believes in the cause
he advocates, of course h, wants it
promoted. Every man owes his best
thoughts to his country-to the gov
eminent. The first humbug in this
civil service scheme, and the thing
which damns it in my eyes, is that il
makes bad citizen of a man. The
government has no right 10 take away
from q man his right, his duty and his
privilege OF participation in the ma
chinery by which the government is
created. There can be no halfway
place on that proposition"
"The Pau-Electric scandal is making
quite senfa ienP"
Eyes. Every man who holds an
Office nowadays is like q monkey on
top Of creased pole, with all the
other monkeys throwing stones and
brickbats at him. The curious thing
about it is that the man who gets an
Office tries to think he is happy and
lucky"
"You haven't been engaged in the
Broadway suits?"
"No, and hardly want to be. The
lawyers Of 10 day seem to be degen-
Grating into mere go-betweens. They
are intellectual prostitutes. They take
fees from both sides in many cases,
and then sell out both sides to third
party. The legal profession needs to
be reformed"