The Washington critic., 1886-04-02
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.

around.
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
The theory of our Government Is.
that all men of legal age are equals in
political power. Each man is an cqull
integral part of that sovereignty which
resides in the whole. Each may wear
his hat in the presence of the other.
There being no titles of nobility al
lowed by law, all assumptions of supe-
rior rank based on wealth, learning,
fashion, or anything else, are grossly
impudent and vulgar. The men who
loudly proclaim themselves "thc better
class" are fools who are eaten up with
egotism and conceit. Their demand to
be allowed to dictate the policies of
parties, the votes of citizens, and the
fruits of political victories. is coarse
impertinence, stamping them as desti
tute of ordinary modesty and good
breeding. The party leaders who
allow themselves TO be intmidatcd by
them are unfit to lead and will surely
be retired.
These "unco righteous" fellows,
who ignore the political power of the
people and aim at government by an
aristocratic few, with themselves as the
aristocrats, call themselves civil-service
reformers. They draw into their circle
many whose distrust Of the people
arises from failure to obtain political
favors at their hands. They declare
that Congressman are rogues and Presi
dents their tools, and that between the
greed Of the former and the weak com.
plance of the latter spoils- system has
grown up by which the public offices
are given to political FOUNDERS and
ward strikers. This is an infamous
calumny upon the Government aud
people of the United States. There Is
not on this earth any governmental or
business institution conducted with
more skill, smoothncss and fidelity than
was the public business of this country
before cranks, Impractical school
masters and broken-down political
hacks commenced playing at reform
with 1t. So absurd are their pranks
that they have not been allowed Sc
riously to derange it, even by the last
or the present Administration. Their
progress has been mainly limited to
proclamations vouching for their own
goody. goodness, and denouncing all
others as bogus.
They found President Arthur panic.
stricken by the Democratic tidal wave
of 1882, and Mr.. Pendleton anxious to
overbid him for the favor of this mot
ley crew Of civil-service reformers; and
SO the game was made. 1t was played
in so1ething ike the following fash.
ion:
President Arthur virtually informed
Congress that although he held the
appointing power and could contro
the appointments made by his ap
pointees, yet he and his Cabinet wer,
too weak to resist the demands of Con
gressmen who wanted rewards for thei
henchmen. Therefore, he recommend
ed the passage of law by the greedy
Congressman, which would abolisl
political influence and elevate the poit
ical eunuchs whose soul virtues are {
thirst for office, ignorance or indiifer
ence as TO the vital public question
around which parties are formed. ani
contempt for the masses Of the people
Mr.. Pendleton responded to thi
clarion call with promptness, and pre-
sented bill which was in substance
though not in language, as follows:
JPhGeds, The "better classn In the couu
try is always defeated by the more numer
Gus or ''poorer class" in all elections fo
Senators and Representatives in Congress
thereby filing the halls of legislation wit
rogues and fools, the natural representative
of the common people, and
Whereas, 1t is the natural tendency O
these representatives to stuff unfit men int
all the Offices as a reward for political sci
vices, and as an inducement to re-elect them
and
Wheeds The appointments to the clv
service are vested In the President and head
OF Departments by the Constitution, whic
was framed by ring Of machine politician
likeWashington, Madison, hamilton, Franl
lin and others, and
Whereas, Presidents are always weak an
unable to resist the opportunities Of til
wicked representatives of the people there
fore
BE u enacted That hereafter appoint
ments TO all minor offices In the civil sci
vice shall be made by men superior in char
acter to Presidents and Senators and that I
that end there shall be appointed by til
weak and incapable President, by and wit
the consent OF the corrupt Senate, boar
of Civil Service Commissioners taken fror
among "the better class" The eligiblli'
OF said Commissioners shall be determine
by their own certificates that they are be
ter than Congressman or Presidents, The
shall draw large salaries and decide who al
Teformers and who are spoilsmen.
SEC. 2. Ofllce-seekers who are reforme
shall not be deemed spoilsmen.
The bill became law by the vote
of nearly all the members of bot
parties, although many believe that
was thoroughly detested by every mem
Der of each house. Such is the power o