Morning journal and courier., 1888-03-05
OWL SERVICE REFORm.

The Rev. L. HI. Squlres Advocates 1t
to Preserve the Integrity OF the Gov.
eminent The spells System De-
nOunced.
Rev. L. b. Squires preached an interesting
sermon on "Civil Service Reform" at the
Church of the Messiah last evening. He
dwelt particularly on the ''spoils SYSTEM"
carried out to great extent in these days
by manipulated" caucuses.
F'There are people, " said he, "who still say
'to the victors belong the spoils.' They are
of the Jacksonian type, and it is not to their
credit that they thus deal with the so-called
spoils This is government of and for the
people, and not for political party or par
ties. In the olden times, when nations
marched against each other, the victors took
the spoils. But the very word suggests rob-
berry and pillage. We are not barbarians
that we too should do thus. The spoils sys-
tenn irredeemably corrupts politics. Not to
serve the public, but to serve themselves, has
become the ruling motive of the most active
party workers. It has put corrupt men in
Office, bad and evil men who would stoop to
almost anything to gain their ends. When
it has become 80 that NO poor man can get an
Office, no poor man go to the Senate or House
of Representatives, and none but monied men
need apply, then we must expect trickery
| and fraud. Aye it is the corrupt and dis
honest methods of these disciples of the
spoils system that are dragging the country
| deep down into the mire. The system is not
alone destructive to the government; it de-
| moralizss those who engage in it, I would
advise young men not to enter the civil ser
| vice as the life is a most uncertain and unre-
| liable one. Of all pitiable wrecks none are
worse than the broken down politician who
| is one of the outs
"There is only serious objection to
| civil service reform, it is said, and that is
| that it would establish privileged class. It
would let some men hold Office as long as
they cared to, they say. will not combat
| their statements on this point.
Gas it is now as regards appointive, cleo
| tive and local public offices, only one person
| in three hundred has any chance of obtain
| ing Office and only one in 900 or 4 900 ever
obtain position that is alike lasting and re-
muneratiue. III my mind, it is folly for
| young men to enter the field. There is a
/ great contrast between the English and
| American methods of fitting young men for
/ the civil service. In England the young
men are educated and fitted for the Office
| they are to assume.
| "Look at our system on the other hand.
| "Take a man who wants an Office in this
| city. Is he educated, busily engaged in edu-
| eating himself for its Not at all. You will
| find him going the rounds of the saloons SIX
ing the boys and arranging for the manipu-
| lation of the caucus.
| "This is the American preparation.
eff properly trained and efficient and faith
full why should not the clerical servants Of
the government be retained! There are two
sides to tais most important question.
"First, we have a privileged class of pro
fessional servants of tho public. They are
trained and properly educated for the posi-.
tions they hold. The positions, it is true, ar,
exclusive to all who are incompetent.
Secondly, we have crowd of professions
politicians, SO called, (for all should not b.
designated thus} who are serving the govern
ment ont of purely selfish and personal mo
tives. They are the ones who are looking
out for the spoils, who run the caucuses an6
political conventions. They seize the politi
cal machinery of the government and run i
to suit themselves.
(Which is the better? The first by al
means.
1.-THE latter is the ring and spoils system
The crowd of vultares who flock around t.
seize what they can devour. They are tn
curse of American politics.
Establish civil service reform and yol
will build up massive and impregnsbl
wall around the integrity of the govern
| ment"