, 1886-08-29
THE PREsIDENT,s REFORM
n

The London Times of a recent date
has the following on President Cleveland
celebrated order: air+@4
The reform of the United States civil
service has been long called for in the in
terests Of political purity. The need has
been recognized in words by several sue
cessive candidates for the presidential Of
lice. To President Cleveland belongs the
honor Of having been the first to put his
hand in earnest to the work. He began
by allowing competent place men of the
opposite party to his own to retain the
posts they held. This breach of estab
lished usage be has now followed by issu-
ing an executive order f%orbidding the ex
cessive Interference Of the oficeholding
class generally in the political movements
of the day. A reform OF this
kid, if carried out in earnest, will be
nothing less than a revolution in Amer.
can party politics. Its a contradiction OF
the old rule hat the spoils belong to
%victors, and that an official post is at once
a reward and a retaining fee, that it has
been earned by good service to the party,
and that it is held on the condition OF fur
Their service as often az the occasion comes.
While this rule obtained, duty and inter-
est went well together. Office holders
we're bound by the strongest ties to do all
in their power to serve the party which
had appointed them, for they were per-
fectly well aware that if the opposite side
prevailed they themselves would be at
once and of course turned out, and their
place taken by the new president noml-
nees. Men whose livelihood was At stake
were not likely to be over -scrupulous in
their choice of means 10 insure a success
which carried their own safety with il. II
the fortune of war changed, if Democrat
succeeded Republican or Republican Dem
ocrat. the certain result was that every
Office holder was displaced, from the high.
est to the lowest, from the secretary Of
state to the village postmaster. Rti~
Ii is a bold thing for President Cleve-
land to issue an executive order opposed
TO the tradition and custom of his coun.
Try during the past half a century. To
do this is TO make bid OF a higher kind
than politicians of Mr.. Blaine's STAMP
can be expected to initiate or to under
stand. 1t marks a resolve to put an end,
as far as possible, to the unworthy arts OF
which American politicians have been toe
ready to rely. and which they have en-
Outraged to the detriment aud degrade
ton Of politics and Of all who have en-
gagged in them. A periodical scramble
for Office. and for the rewards and spoils
attendant upon it. gives poor promise o.
s~tatesmanship deserving of the name
The result has been that in the United
States the name of politician has become
4 by-word of reproach, and has meritec
the stigma which has been attached to it.
Such is the state Of things which Presi
lent Cleveland has found, and is doinl
what he can to remedy. He has no pow
err 10 interfere with Independent party wiz,
puller, or with the percentages On who's,
account they act. Order what he may
there vii be dirty work done and low mo
tves appealed to at popular elections
Bot b. c4cs holders he can make bimsel
obeyed. They al least must submit to b,
hound Nv more strict rule OF decency thar
hitherto, and it will be at their peril tina
they will disregard these. II Il
for the common sense of of6ceholden t,
dscoyer the meaning which underlies III,
presidents words. OF this they may b,
sure. that they will do wisely TO keep Of
the safe side, and by al means to stee
clear Of the Questionable methods aeains
which he order Is directed. They know
somethinG Of the mar whom they have I,
sati5sf. ard they viii be aware that h
will Be- better pleased II they are remiss /,
fheir party services to him, than If the