The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1886-12-16
A BROAD DISTINCTION.

BROAO OIS trL'ilO
The English Reform of the Civl service
as Compared with That of tine Uniteu
States.
The absurd and dishonest manner in
which Mr.. Blaine following the corre-
spondent of the New York Tribune,
has tried to misrepresent the purpose
and nature of the investigation into
the English civil service has had one
good effect. 1t has called attention to
the essential features of the reformed
servics both in England and in this
country, and has led to better under
standing of the differences between
the two, and especially of the practical
nature OF our own system. The
changes that have been brought about
in the two countries have had some
things in common, but they have also
varied with the causes that produced
them. In both cases the principle of
admission by open competition and
subsequent probation was adopted;
but in England the evil to be reme-
died was favoritism, partly based on
the pretensions of aristocratic FAM
lilies and partially springing from
the use of offices to purchase votes
in Parliament. while in this coun-
try the evil was chiefly partisan
favoritism combined with a certain
amount of chicanery on the part of
the distributors of patronage. The
difficulties in which the English system
is involved do not arise at all from the
competitive principle, though there
have been mistakes in its application.
but largely from the aristocratic bias
that has survived the reform and
which has tended to form a sort of
hierarchy in the service. This in turn
has been rendered more infexible and
unmanageable by the system of PEN
sions dependent chiefly ON length of
service which is still fixed part of the
English plan. These elements have
combined to make the English service
bureaucratic, with the incidents Of red
tape, timidity, rigidity and lack of
ego" natural to bureaucracy.
On the other hand, the difficulties to
which the reformed portion of our
service is exposed and it must be re-
membered that it is still very small
portion-are of quite another character.
They spring from the innate tendency
ton to depend upon its own resources,
to neglect system and strict order. and
to depend on ingenuity, energy and
decision to meet emergencies as they
arise. The American system requires,
therefore. precisely the opposite treat
ment to the English. 1t needs clear
and uniform rules, firmly and fairly
enforced. with constant and vlgilant
supervision and the greatest cons'sten-
cy in the app ication of the rules.
There is no danger of bureaucracy here.
The men employed in public work do
not tend that way; the source of regu-
lation, namely, the legislation of Con-
gress, is too variable to permit
it, and finally the American people
| would not suffer 1t in a service over
| which they have ultimate, though in
direct, control. The common terms
used by the two races indicate the
| wide difference in their temper in
| these matters. The Englishman
growls," the American s.kicks,"
and the office-holders with us are al
ways so intimately connected with the
| general public, aro SO much part of il
and in sympathy with it. that there is
| no probability, and hardly a possibil-
| ity, of their becoming a '.class" apart.
! Moreover, the qualities our officers
have shown, even under the depraved
and demoralizing influence of the
! spoils system can, under proper regu.
lat:on. be made extremely valuable,
and this without the slightest danger
of their usurping privileges not be.
longing to them, or assuming an
offensive bearing.
| This needs, as we have said, a more
perfect and harmonious system, with
fair and uniform rules carefully ap.
piled by means of adequate inspection
and authoritative central control. Il
is noteworthy that the course of the
| Civil-Service Commission has beer
steadily in this direction, and more
markedly SO since the Administration
of MIR. Cleveland came in than at an,
time before. The present commission
has steadily advanced in its grasp o.
the duties imposed upon it and the
powers conferred by the law. 1t has
extended its Investigations, kept closer
watch on the examinations, guarded
more jealousy its own rights, both o
initiative and of Judgment on appeal
: and has striven to inspire the whole
body of officers with whom it deal
with common understanding of and .
common respect for the vital principle:
of the reform.-M r. Times.
!NGRATITUDE PERSONiFlEO.
Stone, the Ex-District Attorney of Penn
sylvania, Il the Man-Fouily Abusin,
an Administration Which SheItere,
Him Too Long.
There is no Democrat in the countr,
who will not thank President Cleve
land for the stand he has taken in tn
case of William A. Stone, Un;te'
States District Attorney for the West
ern District of Pennsylvania. 1t will
be recalled to mind that Stone was sus
pended for making campaign speeche
in Pennsylvania in the month of DC
t1ber anu that not many days siuc
he applied to the Attorney Gen
eral for restoration to office on tn
ground that his political work did no
interfere with the discharge of hi
official duties. If Stone had a particl
of manhood in his composition Il
would have scorncd a suggestion tina
he ask an Administration he had say
agely attacked for favor of any nd
| L
resorted tc more dastardly means t
cripple the Administration than Stone
who is noted for his venom and malice
and yet he had the impudence to be
of the Attorney-General that he be re
stored to the Office w ,ich he lowered b
his political action. What depth ma
must be sunk to who after ma igning a
Administration which puts bread an
butter in his mouth. has the audac
!. ity to ask it to restore him to an oI
flee he has forfeited? An Administers
ton to be strong and effective for goo
must be surrounded by men who al
in active sympathy with it and not b
fellows who leave nothing undone t
poison the public mind against il
} This must be plain to any unpredjr
diced person, and it is gratifying t
| know that the President recognizes