The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-07-31
Tho President and His Pledges

The republican press and the civil service
reform league have been persistent IN
asserting that the President has violated
the civil service reform law and his pledges
relative TO civil service reform. The league
has not been SO sweeping in its charges as
the republican press, but it has been equally
as effective in conveying IA false impression,
because it pretcnds to be impartial, and is
supposed to be friendly to tho President A
careful investigation, however, shows that
the charges of neither the republican press
nor the league are well founded.
1t is well known to every one who
is acquainted with the civil service that it
is divided into the classified and the un-
classified service. The former is within the
jurisdiction CT the civil service law, and
the latter is not. 1t is doubtful if a single
instance can be found where an employe of
the government in the classified service has
been removed except for causes recognized
by the civil service rules, or a single EN-
plove appointed except in accordance with
those rules. If this bo the case, how can it
be truthfuIlY assorted that the President
has violated tho civil service lawl
When those who charge the President
with violating the civil service law are re
quested to point out an instance Of its viola
ton they are unable to do so, but they take
refuge in the assertion that though the civil
service laws have not been violated, their
spirit has been by the removal Of republi-
cans and the appointment of democrats in
the unclassihed service. This shifting of
the issue is of itself sufficient proof that
the charges relative to violations of the
civil service law are untrue.
But, as a matter of fact, the President has
not removed competent aud faithful repub-
lican officials to make room for democrats.
The most of tie officials in the unclassified
service are appointed for term Of four
years, and the President permitted all who
were worthy to remain to the end of their
terms. When their commissions expired,
he filed the vacancies with democrats. This
he had right to do. Neither the spirit of
the civil service laws, nor any pledge he
ever made, was violated by such appoint
ments. No sane man expected that, as be
tween democrats and republicans, he would
give the preference to republicans when no
had favOrs TO confer.
But II is SAID That he has violated his
pledges with regard to civil service reform.
1t is easy to make an assertion of that kind,
but it is difficult to prove it. He virtually
pledged himself not to make removals ex-
cept for cause, aud that pledge he has kept.
But he has done far more than that There
are thousands of republicans now holding
government places who are not in the CLASH
fed service. They have been retained be-
cause they are faithful and competent. If
the President were not sincerely anxious to
promote civil service reform, and if he did
not conscientiously believe in that reform,
the places of these republicans would have
been filed by democrats long ago.
Give the President his due. Deal with
him candidly and honestly. Give him
credit for what he has done and what his
whole course shows he intends to do. II he
is judged fairly and honestly it will be
found that he liz not wanting The asser-
tions of a partisan press, or OF a league of
reforners who are aiming at an ideal cond-
ton Of things are not to be accepted with
out much allowance. When instances are
cited wherein the resident has vIolatedthe
laws and proved untrue to his pledges, it
will be time enough to condemn him.