Arizona silver belt., 1888-12-08
CIVIL SERVICE.

While speculation is rife as to what course General Harrison will pursue in relation to the civil service, it might be well to allude briefly to its history Tn the United States. The idea, widely prevalent, that the issue is one of comparatively recent birth, inseparably linked with Mugwump- ism, is erronious. In reality it became subject eff warm political discussion very early in the ceuntry's history upon the accession of Jefferson to the Presidency, and was precipitated through his action in removing Elizur Goodrich, Federalist, from the Col lectership of New Haven, and ap- pointed Samuel Bishop, one of his own friends and political adhsrents, to the place, The deposed Collector was man of great popularity, and his sue scesser was united for the active dis charge of his official duties by reason of his advanced age. Although Pres ident Jefferson, undoubtedly, at that time, held the views which later in hls term he openly avowed and put into practice, namely, that political vic tory carries with it the entire federal patronage, yet, nevertheless, in this instance he attempted to excuse him. self and allay dissatisfaction by an apology, which was nothing more than a weak subterfuge MT. Jefferson was a shrewd politician as well as states man, and in order to keep his party united and strengthen its lines, he early distributed among hls partlsans the patronage at his disposal. There fore, it was Jefferson and not Jackson who was the author of the theory that "to the victor belong the spells"
 Prom Jeffsrsen's time down to the administration of Rutherford B. Hayes civil service was almost wholly dIsre- garded, although, spasmodically, it appeared as plank Tn political plat forms. It was revived by President Hayes, with a great show of zeal, but the attempt only caused friction and misunderstanding among Republican leaders, and gave to Hayes admins tration-which in many respects was able and served greatly to allay sec tional bitterness-ths name of being weak and vacilIating.
 The civil service record of the pres ent administration is familiar to all. l President Cleveland, had he ignored | the civil service law and made a clean sweep of Republicans in office, would have been less censurable than hls manifest inconsistency has rendered him. His treatment of the civil ser vice has been a travesty, which has satisfied neither Democrats ner Mug wumps, and was undoubtedly a mate rial cause of his failure eff reelection.
 What policy General Harrison will adopt can only be conjectured, but that It will be decisive and persistent ly followed is the common belief, as that eemports with the character of tho man. If the recent editorial opin- fen of the Indianapolis Journal is ac- cepted as voiclng General Harrison on this question, the law will be strictly observed.
 The most jealous advocates of,civil | service reform must admit that it has been a failure, and if the past is a | criterion, its future is not promising. As long as we have free government 1t must be administered by enc of tive great political parties, and it is neither practical nor desirable that persons opposed to the party Tn power should i be lntrusted with positions of respon- sibl!ity, for the proper conduct of which the Administration is answera- ble. Applied to the minor clerkships civil service IS both feasible and meri- torieus, but beyond that its exercise is not in accord with common sense or good government.