New-York tribune., 1886-02-24

his seat. On the last day of the ensuing July 1879
! lie died peacefully at hIs home in East enuessce
among friends who had watched his prog sss iroW
poverty and iliteracy to tue highest position III ne
Republic. He was in the slxty-seventh gear oi HIS
age.
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
The settled judgment of discreet men IN boih
political parties is adverse 10 the custom OF cnapG,
grounds They believe that it impairs the efficiency
| Of the public service, lowers the standard ol
political contests. and brings reproaci rpon me
! Government and the people. 30 decided ~ this
! opinion among the great majority OF ReDnbllcalls
! and among u very considerable number OF Demo
Gratis, that the former method OF appointment VIII
! always meet with protest and cannot be petha-
/ nently re-rsta. .ished. Tie Inauguration ot new
system is hindercd somewhat by an honest ol1er-
! selecting subordinate officers Competitive OK
| animation is the method most warmly advocated,
aud lis face appears the falreSt; yet every
| observing man knows char II does not always
secure the results most TO he desired. Nothing Is
! vouched for more frequently by chleis oi GUNern-
ment bureaus than that certain clerks VINO npoh
competitive examination wOud stand at the head
do in point of efficiency and usefulness stand at tho
foot AnC ther point of difference Is III regard 10 The
pronounced rcformers of the civil service holding
that power to he essential, and believing that ~
will not be abused so long as the removing power
canpOt arbitrarily appoint the successor. ne
matured opinion of Others is that tenure of office
definitely fixed for n term of years, during which
the incumbent cannot be disturbed except npon
class of officials. They hold that u subOr mate
officer is stripped of his manhood by the conscious
ness that he may at any moment be removed at the
whm OF caprice OF some Dnc superior IN station
1t too ten brings sycOphants into the Government
Departments, and excludes men of pride and char
acter On the question OF a life tenure there IL a
similar division of opinion, which log cally follows
the two positions just stated. life tenure cannot
be adopted rule unless pensions for civil list
sb all follow.
There is also belief with many who most
anxious to improve the civil service, that tho
political influence of Government patronage, as ap
piled to the whole country. has been CONSTANTLY
misunderstood and therefore exaggerated In
certain places where the customs and postal
services are large the appointing power can no
doubt WELD great influences. New-York City il the
strongest illustration of this; and in less degree
similar influence is recognized at all the large
cities OF the country, especially the cities 0 the
seaboard But even at those points the political
influence of the ederal patronage Is far less than
that of the municipal patronage During the
manv years that the patronage, both OF Natl"nal
and State governments. has bren in the hands OF
the Republicans in New-Y York, the municipal pat
ronage steadily welded by the Democrats, has
been far more potential in controlling elections.
And throughout the United States to-day tine
patronage controlled by municipal governments
largely Outweighs IN the aggregate that OF the
General and State governments at all points where
they come in conflict No reform in the civil
service will begauable that does not release members
of Congress from the care and the embarrassment
of appointments; and no boon so great could he
conferred upon senator's and representatives as to-
relieve them from the worry, the annoyance and
the responsibility which time and habit have fixed
upon them in connection with the dispensing OF
patronage all of which belongs under tie Con
stitutiou TO the Executive. fn the other hald the
evil OF which President Harrison spOke-tne EN-
povment of the patronage by the Executive to
influence legislatIOn--is lar the greatest abuse to
which the civil service has ever been perverted.
To separate the two great departments of the Gov
ernmcnt. to keep each within its own sphere will
he an immeaSurabe advantage and will enhance
the character and dignity of both. non political
service will he secured when Congress shall be left
to its legitimate functions, when the President
hall f1fn a.ta 90
age, ana when the responsibility OF appointments
shall rest solely with ii o Department to which the
organic law Of the Republic assigns It,
TWENTY YEARS OF NATIONAL HISTORY.
Tne National Government has in these twenty
years proved its strength III war, lts conservatism
in peace. Ihe sef-restraint which the citizens OF
the Republic exhibited in the hour OF need. the
great burdens which they bore under the insplra-
ton of public duty, the public Or,er which they
maintained by their instructive obedience to the
command of law, all attest the good government of
a seli-goyeTnng people. Full liberty To crit else
the acts of pei sons in official station, free agitation
of all political questions, frequent elections that
give opportunity for prompt settlement Of all
issues, tend to insure popular content and public
safety. No Government of modern times has
States, or achieved the triumphs wherrwith the
Nation is crowned. The assassination of two
Presidents, one inangurated at the beginning the
other AT the close of this period, while of
profound National grief reflects no dishonor upon
popular government The murder of Lincoln was
the maddcncd and aimlcss blow OF an expiring
rebellion. The murder Of Garfield was the iatuuus
impulse OF debauchcd conscience If not disOr-
dcred brain. Neither crime had its origin III the
political institutions or its growth in the social
organization of the county. BOth crimes received
the cxecraton of all parties aud all sections. In
the universal horror which they INSPIRED, IN th"
majestic supremacy of law. which :hry failed 10
disturb, may he read the strongest proof of the
stability of Government which ~ founded upOu
the rights fortified by the intelligence inwr0ught
with the virtues Of the people. FOR as IT was said
of old, wisdom and knowledge shall be stability,
and the work OF righteousness shall be peace!