Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-08-05
PROGRESS OF REFORM.
The Civil Service League Meets In
AnnesI Convention az Newport,
Rhode Island.
address ~ George william Curtis, WI"
Cpugrn,uiates tho League on the WORK
Dons and tho victory at Hand.

Service league met lcfc bV-uoJ NibN "
1asge attendance comprising many Of The
leading men of the country. A Aur.bei
OF prominent ladies' we're In atisufanc,
as members Of the league. George Will
lam Curtis delivered the opening actress
aud ead
The EARLIEST historic legend Of gie state
~ whlca we are assemblies IS that Of The
Indian greeting Roger Williams. As he
coastcd along the western shore Of the
Setkauk river ~ the hoad Of the bay, he
heard suddenly greeting 10 his native
tongue ''What cheer N0tOp, what
cbecf1n Il WAS the voice Of friendly IN
dams welcoming him 70 the state that he
fOuaded, aud which, remembering bis
courage and hts faith, has wisely chosen
for its emblem the anchor, and Tor us le-
gomd, tho words fgn God wo Hope" II
now minded Of the cause which brings
M 20 the shores Of Narragansett bay, we
should ask each other OF clyll-servce re-
form, what cheer, brothers, what cheeri
y, for one, should answer promptly, bet
tor and better cbeori such cheer, indeed,
as no association like our sever enjoyed at
its nfth annual meetings never were the
skies 20 bright, never was tho future 70
fair.
am fully aware OF the other view
which Is YociferOusly urged I read
every day Ia some newspaper that civil
service reform " now at last finally dead
But I have heard IL 30 often, aud have
been 80 constantly hidden 70 the OBJ
sequiea, that am very skeptcal Of It's
actual decoaso IL is now twenty years
SINCE that worthy son OF Rhode Island,
Thomas Allen Jonckos, opened In con.
gress the great debate Tor reform, aud at
least half n dozen times since that happy
day have heard that reform was aa dead
~ tho allen aud sgdtion laws or the
United States bank. When congress re-
fused the appropriation to President
Grant was sympathetlcally assured that
the pretty bubble had burst When
President Hayes felt that his Views were
those OF Il small minority, but an exceed
iDgly awkward squad for the party man.
agorS, and his action accordingly was
very cautious, II was announced again
that the humbng was exploded. when
the house Of representatives In 1889
for half an hour merrlly kicked and cuffed
reform and cut down the appropriation
which President Arthur had asked, H. was
evident 10 many delighted observers that
bnnday.schoOl politics were "played
out" When u large body OF oiyil-sery-
ice rcfOrmers supported Mr.. Cleveland
for the presidency Il was angrily alleged
that reform was betrayed aud murdered
10 the house OF lie false friends. When
lnexplcable appointments, and arbitrary
removals, 1nd IN apparent want Of con
slstont adherence TO principle have been
pointed out under the present administers
ton, tho situation has been described asa
Wild Aaturnalia OF Apola around the
corpse OF reform. Indeed one thing OF
which In many willing minds there has
beon no doubt ever since tho reform was
born, Ia that reform IN dead. II u were
80, 1t would certainly prove that death
loves shining mark, aud he IL supposed
10 he sure marksman. But this time
hu has missed
Public opinion upon this subject was
never so aroused, 40 enlightened and 40
determined, The wholesome purpose
and sound reason of reform were never
80 generally and 40 clearly perceived,
nnd " was never 40 plainly pressing
public question. There was never such a
rattling of amazement and CONSIDERATION
among the dry bones OF Bourbon party
politics. never such hystercal protesta
tlon upon the part OF puddors Of patron-
age that the deugo would not be much of
shower after all never such shudderng
certainty In the minds Of political money
changers, that the people viii presently
hcourgo them with wrath out OF the TEN.
pie OF liberty, PolitlCpl assessments the
blRckmail Imposed by party tree.
Dootera upon the employees OF
the people, nave boon 10 great part
suppressed, and have been permanently
stigmntizod as desplcable. Arbitrary re-
movala which were the accepted and nm
IuVatipnnl npuVtlpA al hn
Vice have not ceased, indeed, but thoy
are now instantly challenged and cx
posed, and thOro * distinct public
sense OF wrong In the act, and dIsnnsi.
tiou TO deal vigorously with any admins.
trauon which Is guilty OF the offense.
inc recent debates In congress upon the
subject OF reform, the eloquent silence of
many leaders, no less than tho hostile
speech OF others the oagorness on one
aide To prove ialsity 20 reform against
the other aud the rccrlmlnation that
tho pot, when IN power, had been as black
as II now alleged tho administration
kettle 20 be, the ncrimony, the sullon.
ness, tho avoidance OF the vote on one
ddei the banter, tho accusation, and the
sarcasm on the other, al showed In that
assembly, which talks always with its ear
turned toward tho people, a universal
tonacluushuhs th0l n was dealing with "A
question In which the country was nro.
foundly Interested and which would ak.
ert 3 powctol influence upon the alee.
lion.
TWAS quite Hight, Tho prlckod bubble.
the exploded humbug, The played.out
Sunday school game, the aristooratlo de-
vice, the mDnarohlcal plot the trick Ia
rotaip Republicans IA o0lco, the an.
American reform, slain and thrice slain.
aud dead as the hank or tho ombargo,
VIII he for the drst time LEADING
question In the congressional elections
ot this year On one side support OF the
administration VIII mean support of no.
forms on the other, opposition 60 the ad.
minlStretlon will moan douunclation of
us lnndoliW 90 reform The Democratic
candidate this year neod not protest the
soundness OF his Views upon state soy. |
ereignty and revision OF the tariff, nor
snlemnly affirm his Jeiiersonian prlncl. /
pies, but he must announce his approval
or dlsapproval OF the presldent's course. /
aud 80 deliue distinctly his position upon
reform. Tho Republican need not dlinte
upon protection and gold standard a
An an. a a 81. a