Sacramento daily record-union., 1888-11-14
HE IS NOT A sPoILsMAN.

1t was reported IN our local columns
Monday that certain Republicans who
believe in clean sweeps" ana "the
award of the spells to the vicsors," de-
clare that there is nothing in tie way of
General Harrison's making complete
and prompt Office delivery o. all Demo-
cratic incumbents, because he was not
elected upon civil service platform. But
he was. The Chicago platform reads:
The men who abandoned the Republican
party in 1884 and continue to adhere to the
Democratic party, have deserted not only the
cause of honest government, OF sound finance
of freedom OF purity of the beE OF but especially
have deserted the cause of reform in the civil
service We Will not fail to keep our pledges
because they have broken theirs, or because
their candidate has broken his We therefore
repeat our declaration of 1894, to wit The re-
form OF the civil service, au piciously begun
under the Republican Administration should
be completed by the further extension of the
reform system already established by law to al
the grades of the service TO which it is appli-
cable. The spirit and purpose of the reform
should be observed in all Executive appoint
ments and all laws at variance with the object
of exist reform legislation should be re-
pealed, to the end that the dangers to free in
stltutions which lurk n the power of official
patronage may be wisely and effectively
That does not looI, as though the Cen
eral was free. even e he desired to become
a spokesman. But in his letter of accept
ance he distinctly and affirmatively in
dorsed the plank We have quoted. As far
back as 1882 he announced himself civil
service reformer. In speech delivered
at indianapolis on August 30th of that
year he declared himself without reserve,
and it will be noted in the quotation
below that he forecast accurately concern
ing the Democracy and what it would do
ifit should come again to power. Had he
been invested with the gift of prophecy he
could not have more definitely predicted
the course of Mr. Cleveland in the matter
of the reform of the civil service If there
are any people who are running away with
the idea that President Harrison is going
TO be another Grover Cleveland and dis
pense official patronage to bolster partisan
schemes, let them read the following from
the speech of General Harrison referred to:
I want to assure you tonight that 1 am an
advocate of civil service reform. Ny brief ex-
perience at Washington has led me to utter the
wish, with an emphasis do not often use, that
might be forever relieved of any connection
with the distribution of public patronage. |
covet for myself the free and unpurchased sup
port OF my fellow-citzens, and long to be able TO
give my time and energy solely to the public
affairs that legitimately relate to the honorable
trust which you have committed to me. It is
easy for theorists to make suggestions upon the
subject which, in their opinion, would cure all
existing evils. l assure you it is more difficult
TO frame law that shall be safe and practical
in its application. know that several RepIb-
Hcan Senators gave much thought and study to
this question during the last session. l believe
the next session will witness the enactment of
q law which, if it does not consummate will Mt
least auspiciously begin this reform. Thatthere
are sincere advocates of this reform in the Dem
ocrat party as in my own Go not deny. But
that this reform would be introduced by that
party If they were to come now in the control of
the Federal patronage, do not think any SEN
slble man believes. In some of the States and
in the Senate of the United States, the Demo-
cratic party to-day controls the patronage. Need
say that in the appointments made there we
find no suggestion of civil service reform?
Scarcely any greater disaster could be-
fall the new Republican Administration
than to have it set up the block and ply
the head-4nan's ak in defiance of the civil
service reform laws. Just so far as those
laws extend, we believe General Harrison
will observe and enforce them. Where the
law has given place to incumbents under
competitive examinations, and according
to the proceeding provided by the law, we
may rest assured they will continue in
their trusts so long as they are honest and
efficient. The rule of this Government
will be for the future that subordinate Off
cials shall not be dependent upon the poll
ticians for retention of their places nor
shall they be taught that their first duty
is to the party, but rather to the people
they serve. The Republican press, that
has already set up the cry, "Turn the ras-
Gals out" should at least modify their ec-
stacies to the limit of those offices which
the law does not include in the reform of
the civil service.