The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1886-08-07
THE CIVIL SERVICE.

ment may be with foreign powers,
its relations with the people at home
ought to be such as to inspire mutual
satisfaction and confidence. "A
house divided against itself cannot
stand" is n statement of holy writ,
to the truth of which the experience
of the centuries fully responds.
And an ill.conducted civil service
is invariably fertile of discomfort
among the people, while civil SER
vice managed on correct principles
conduces to the stability of govern
ment and popular respect for the
laws. These facts have, for many
years, been forcing themselves upon
the attention of both British and
American statesmen, and consider
able progress has been made in plac-
ing the civil service upon a sound
basis. Old abuses, nepotism, pur-
chased commissions and political
favoritism, are being gradually re-
moved. The doctrine that - to the
victors belong the spoils - of Office,
by the increasing intelligence and
good sense of the people, has, at
least theoretically, been pretty well
exploded. The new doctrines re-
cognize fitness for duty as an essen
tial qualification for participating in
" the spoils.' 1t is also pretty
generally held that the right dis
charge of the duties of any Office
should ensure to the incumbent
permanency in his situation, indie
pendent of the varying fortunes of
mere political parties. The third
article Of the new creed is that cam
didates for the civil service must
begin at the foot, not at the top of
the ladder, and secure promotion
by deserving it.
To the credit of the founders of
the Hawaiian constitution and polity,
it must be said that in the practical
application of the sound principles
referred to above, this kingdom took
stand far in advance of those
communities from whom it was re-
ceiving its first lessons in political
science. The affairs of state as
well as matters of local interest were
placed in charge of the most com
petent persons available for carry
ing out an enlightened and progress
sive policy. OF late, however, a
change has come over the spirit Of
the scene. Craftsmanship has de-
generated into mere political wire
pulling. Persons have been hoisted
on to the top rounds of the ladder
in certain departments, who, if ad-
vancement had been contingent upon
anything else than petty favoritism,
would never have reached the
second During the past few
months, a series of appointments
have been made which can be ac.
counted for on no sound principles
whatever. Soon after the results Of
the February elections were known
rumors began to fill the air, of pros
pective decapitations. Several O.
these rumors have been verified. Ii
no case has an appointment beer
made on the basis of fitness acquired
by previous experience, with meri
torious public service of any kind
Even Cabinet Ministers have been
displaced for no specific reasons or
which either the public or even the
Legislative Assembly have evel
been enlightened. A new cabinet
uuS DcCu lllSIuuci; pllc InCilDcIS VI
which are unable to consult to-
gether, except through an interpre
ter, and two of the members of whicl
, are not competent to hold communi
; cation with nine-tenths of the elec
tors of the kingdom. A gentleman
: of thorough acquaintance with every
: detail Of the postal department, anC
: besides of sterling integrity o
5 character, was superseded by al
officer who knew probably littl
: more about the duties of his depart
: ment than he knew about the man
) agement of the British navy. Thi
, official, again, has been succeede
by another gentleman of like pei
feet innocence of any knowledge
the functions of the postmastershiI
, and whose only possible qualities
/ tion is that being gentleman
3 good abilities, he may, by the tim
he has drawn a twelve. month
I salary, be fairly initiated into a