New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-05-30
A MUGWUMP ORACLE:
MIR CURTIS BLOWING HOT AND COLD.


Service League have been held in the fall, but THIS
season the leaders decided that it would be more In
accordance with the practical aims OF the reform 70
have these gatherings before instead Of after the party
conventions. In accordance with this decision tho
meeting OF 1888 begun In Chickerng Han last
evening with address on The Reason and Result
Of Civil Service Reform" by the pioneer Of the move
ment, George william Curtis.
Admission to the hall was by ticket There was a
large attendance, including leading representatives OF
the reform from various parts Of the country. Mark
Twain and the Rev. Dr.. Howard Crosby were among
those on the platform. Miss Grace Dodge, of the
Board Of Education, and Mrs. Julia Thomas, of tho
Womans Health Protective Association, occupied seats
in the audience Others present Russell 5trrgs,
II. R. Mcdonald of the Erie Railroad; A z Merritt
E l. Godkin. Lee Phillips and Il woodruff William
Potts presided.
Mr. Curtiss address was elaborate and to give 10 Ia
full would require several columns Here arc some
of its most interesting and important passages;
THE Reform A PERMANENT ONE
Thirty six years ago when Franklin Pierce was elected
President the happy end the antsavery agitation was
announced But ten years after the election Of Pierce,
Abraham Lincoln issued the proclamation Of emancipation
The course Of American history does not depend upon
Presidents but the pe0pe or that fact even the
managers Of nominating conventions aware, and there
FORE although hey Civil Service reform and insist
that It is extinct venture TO predict Of the
great conventions which viii assemble viii praise
the President for his fidelity TO reform and the other VIII
party assuming not that reform Is dead but what psr-
fecty true, that It Is moro alive han ever
Undoubtedly more had been expected OF this Admins
raOn than Of any It's predecessors because OF the
frequent and friendly declarations OF the President and
because his election By the votes Of those who were no
Oh his party authorized independence Of action which
President elected solely by the vote Of his party might
feel to be denied to him. This anticipation has been large
y disappointed. but the disappointment must not make
US unjust nor unmndul Of the fact that although the
President has done much and has permitted much that
every friend Of reform must depoe yet he has maintained
md IN thQ amin tiong he
tended the OF the classified service and he has re-
vsed and strengthened the rules Certainly this is not
all that had BEEN expected but the general and nei
gent public regret that he has done more shows how
strong is the desire Of reform in the public mind
Twenty years ago when Mr. Jenckes, OF Rhode Island
spoke here In few persons in this chapel OF
the university reform IN the Civil Service he was
like Paul in Athens declaring the unknown God To
day there has been for sx years law Of Congress EN-
body1ng his views In the Write House there 10
President elected because he held those views The
press or the opposition party assas him chiefly FOR aDa
dOng Them and opposition committee OF the Senate
is accommodating evidence prove, ne has
done even less for reform than other Presidents
therefore ought be This IS hardly
sonant with the theory of the death and burial OF reform
Party investigating committees on the eve of elections do
not trouble themselves with spent rockets.
WRONGS AFFECTING THE WHOLE UNION.
Undoubtedly TIE systematic suppression of the right Of
suffrage States and organized frauds at the polls
in others wrongs affecting the whole Union which
be safely neglected Reduction Of the surplus
and Just scheme OF tariff taxation Ike every question
OF taxation and finance demand prompt attention But
administration which pcrvers the entire Civil
Service ths destruction OF the true function OF party
which OF self-Fespeet the condition OF puo
lie employment which debauches politics and degrsdes
the National character seems TO me as vital question
be proposed 10 the country. L can imagine the
question OF suffrage States and relieved from
external pressure gradually and wisely solved 1t -
conceivable that the vigorous enterprise and marvellous
prosperity country might endure Indefinitely even
unjuss and exorbttans tariff But i is not conceiy
that the Executive patronage can increase In the
ratio Of the growth Of the last few years. unreguated
and unrestraned without the gravst peril to the Gov
ernmenL
The unwrtten law which fort1ds third term to any
President is founded IN the reason which would prohibit
second term and which great American statesmen have
strongly stated Jackson, who advised Monroe 70 be the
whole people and not OF party ouc who
when he reached the White House. was the most aosone
OF party Presidents twice urged upon Congress the passage
Of amendment limiting the Presidency to one term
Harrison pledged himself as have said TO single term
but persisted month under the fierce pressure for place.
Henry Clay In 1872 declared such an amendment TO be
the principal object Of the Wing party and In 1874 inc
Wing Convention which nominated him. resolved that IL
nseparable from tho public honor and prosperity ana
Webster gave his approval and support Charles SUM-
introduced In the Senate amendment providing for
tho inegby Of President and President Cleveland
sceeDng the nomination four years ago. added his voice
TO the earlier warnings lie said;
"When consider the patronage OF this greas ohes
tho aurements Of power the temptation 70 retain PUBLIC
party finds In incumbent whom horde OF office holders
zeal born Of benefits received and fosered by tho
hope fayOrs yet come stand ready 10 aid with money
and political service, recognize In the eligibility OF
the President FOR reelection most serious danger TO that
acteIfze q government Of the peopLs-S
TEMPTATION STRONG AND SEDUCTIVE
The tendency and temptation which in the pros.
pect he President depicts these decive and accurate
words actual experience doubtless proved 70 him to
be stronger and seductive than ne imagined The
Secretary Of the Treasury denies thas the Administration
abandoned reform and ADDS thas the law has been
rgidy enforced application extended and It's spirit
Observed But no will probably agree shss he Consa-
tuition had made the President Ineligible nor re-eeclon
reform had been abandoned the application Of the law
would have been more widely extended, and IT'S spirit
would have generally observed that no successor
OF the President would dared return 70 the old
abuses and the President himself would have happny
Identified his name with one OF the nos' Dehencens
reforms IN our annals Let us help the ffeSden1s Oh
In their tremendous struggle Even Ulysses
dare to the sirens without stopping his ears
against their song Let US save Ulysses hereafter rom
the irresistible anurement BY making 1t Impossible Tor
the sirens song ensnaFe The one term amendment
measure simple, practicable intetgble, which would
cornmand Immediately general and earnest support and
WHOSE adoption would az once both the temptation
and the danger which President Cleveland describes
nrIvep from the utterly untenable position that the
great body of the service Is essentially pouc ana 1hese-
go ma after avery election should be partisan
lofo S 20 haryonizo with the Administration the
docaes 81 the evil system forced into the last ditch
me assertion chat parties Indispensable In republic
nj that the spos system Is essential to efficient party
roanigaton This Is merely attempt 70 support an
,bsurdity upon falsehood The alsehood Ia estaDnea
Dy the experience of England Nowhere Is party feeng
stronger party purpose definite party organization
absolute and eomplsts. and nowhere are party con-
est more strenuous and uncompronsing, than In Eng
and vat Mr. ladstcne the greatest Of living party lead
49,. ~ tho English speaking race, that It impossible
"a understand why America permit the whole civil
rtce 20 be disturbed by Presidential election, and adds
mat In England change Of administration involves but
.hs removal and appointment OF few
,eores OF persons He is sorry
ercan who insists young America In Incapable Of
, practical national wisdom which old England displays
DEFENDING JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL.
Within a month I read with pain some words Of an old
political and personal friend In Congress whose unnchng
courage by my side Of great personal peril IN
he fiery crisis old antsaverJ agitation shall al
ways gratefully remember During the recent tariff debate
n the House Of REPRESENTATIVES tariff reformer
,oke OF Mr. Lowell as distinguished diplo1nast under
he late Republi san Administration, and Instantly my
risnd exclaimed: Benedict Arnold MajorGeneral
n the Continental Army Benedict Arnold held the
Military commission OF bis country and In the darkest hour
4 the Revolution sought betray to the enemy fos
ward important military post eonndsd to his honorable
are There Is blaeker crime.
ID. ma crime OF LnWaui dirnrs nv