Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-05-21
SECRETARY FAIRCHlLD,s SPEECH
The Administration View Of the Civil.
Service Rules and the Tariff Question.


Service Rules and the Tariff Question.
The Assembly Rooms OF the Brooklyn Academy
ofMusic were gorgeously decorated Saturday night
with bunting and flags, and adorned with palms
and lilies, in honor OF Secretary Fairchild as the
guest OF the Brooklyn Democratic Club. At its
urgent request he consented to tell them some
thing about the financial policy of the Administra-
ton, and after charming dinner, Mr.. D. A. Body,
president OF the club, introduced him to the two
hundred and odd diners The N. Y. Sun says that
Secretary Fairchild In the course Of his speech,
after sketching the gigantic business carried on
by the Treasury Department, with its 10000 en-
ployes said:
.The civilservice law. as It IS found upon the
statute books, has not only been ngidly enforced,
put It's application has been extended by Execu-
tive rule and Its spirit has been observed without
tion in certain large branches OF the Treasury De-
partment, In some OF which the most 1agrant
ABUSES OF the power OF appointment and removal
other Departments; and yet we are sorrowfully
tod that the Administration has abandoned civil
service reform. II has not yet been extended In
Its practical application so far asmany Of US hope
that IL may be In time, but the members OF this
administration are TOO much impressed with Its
value 10 the country and TO their party 10 enter
tain the idea OF it's abandonment, or 10 concede
That II can be q failure. The present system OF
competitive examination probably cannot De ex-
tended much beyond present limits But hope
TO live to see the day when the great majority OF
the public off1cers shall be non-political All OF
those orces, the distribution OF which upon purely
party grounds can fairly be said TO strengthen the
party In power or be necessary to enable it to as
sumo full responsibility ought TO be, and without
doubt will be. always regarded as political But
when this rule Is honestly applied 1t will be found
that not many offices are or that character. IL
Will but lew be found to dissent from the saying
that 30 the yfctors belong the spoilS.'"
The democracy, he said, had freed the country
from that unreaSoning and unreasonable dread OF
nameless evil TO come, which, before 1885, pos
SeSSed the minds OF good and patriotic men when
the possibility OF democratic rule In the Federal
Government was suggested The country Low
knew that 1t could exercise its Judgment; that 1t
could dismiss party when dissatisfied with II, or
with Its nominees and leading men, without uire
disaster This was an immense gain.
On the tar1n question he said: 1.-THE words sur
plus revenue are OF Ill omen because we have been
doing what we ought not TO have done; because
our Lawmakers have violated the fundamental
principles OF democracy. There is but one way out.
That Is To face the other way, TO follow the advice
OF Presidents Arthur ana Cleveland and Of Secre-
tarleS Folger, McCullOch and Manning, and care
fully and patiently strive TO release the Govern
Is the work which fate has given TO the democracy
OF to-day. IL IL Is true 10 ITSELF TO It's faith all
Will be well with IL ! know there are timid
men In our ranks who wish to avoid issues and
questions; TO shirk responsibility. III their
sci We're followed, dry rot would attack us. Poll
tics would become kind or lawn tennis, In which
little Offices were knocked back and forth by little
men Calling themselves politicians sometimes
failing Oh one and sometimes on the other side OF
at nghtfan or when there were signs OF rain. The
President has done his part; his advice Is before
the country. MIR. Manning did his part bravely
and ably; all democrats love to honor his memory;
how better do IL than by honoring his teaching?
The democrats OF the ways aud means committee
have done their part by framing conservative,
careful bill, following in It's general features the
ADVICE or your President aid or Manning, your
great democratic Secretary OF The Treasury.
"The democrats OF the House have supported
this bill In debate With rare ability and unanswer-
able logic. The question involved Is hot free
trade, but whether we have free Government,
free people. We are too proud OF our party, we
have too much reverence for the memory OF our
great leaders. not TO believe that democracy has
principles and convictions which cannot be salts
ned by merely ni.ing Government places with men
Labelled democrats. Gen. jackson, although
giving up office forever did not cease 10 be DEM
ocrat when he issued That farewell address with
nothing In 1t but democratic doctrines evolved
from his lifelong experience. Either our princi-
pies and convictions are ill-founded, or we are
iusUneraDly concerted when We suppose that the
mass OF the people cannot understand and appre-
ciate them Let US trust the people, let Us believe
tlat they know as much as We know, and, in
trusting them, We Will Dc true to our democratic
faith No party deserves success which Is not
willing 10 meet defeat rather than give up its
1aith. Let Us be thankful that the democracy OF
to-day does deserve success"