The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-10-09
Law TRODDEN UNDER FOOT
POLICY OF szNs ADMINISTRATION.
Harrison Severely Denounced by President
George William Curtis in His Annual
Address TO the National Civil
Service Reform League.

PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 1.-The annual meet
ing of the national civil service reform league,
of which George William Curtis is president,
began here this afternoon. To-day's meeting
was only preliminary 10 the general business
meeting which takes place tomorrow. The
general committee and executive committee in
joint session selected a committee to draw up
resolutions to be presented at the meeting to-
morrow and also elected an executive board
for the ensuing year.
After the transaction of this business the
delegates sat down TO an informal banquet
rendered them by the local association, at
which George William Curtis presided. Among
those present were the Hon. Carl Schurz of
New York. Col. s. w. Burt, ex-collector of the
port OF New York; Charles J. Bonsparte, Balti-
more; George A. Pope, Baltimore; +. L. God
kin, editor of the New York Nation; Gen. W.
A. Aiken, Norwich, Conn.,. Everett P. Wheeler,
New York; Dorman B. Eaton, New York;
Sherman $. Rogers, Buffalo; L. B. Swift, In
dianapolis; Henry /. Richmond, Buffalo; +. o.
Mason, Geneva, n. V, and William Potts, sec
rotary OF national league.
This evening President Curtis delivered his
annual address at Association hall. There was
large audience, many of whom were ladies.
Mr.. Curtis, in his opening remarks, said that
the promises of the successful party last year
were ardent as they were detailed and abso-
lutte. They left nothing unexpressed. Con-
tinuing he said;
ITO the ardor of the platform the protesta-
tons of the president as a candidate. fifty and
fully responded. He declared that it would be
his sincere purpose, ii elected, TO advance re-
form. He said that fitness and not party SER
vice should be the essential test in appoint
ment, that fidelity and efficiency should be the
only sure tenure Of Office and that only the
interest OF the public service should suggest
removals from Office. The significance of these
words is unmistakablc. Naturally and fairly
interpreted they forecast an executive action
absolutely incompatible with the practice
known as the spoils system. The country had
precisely the same assurance from the success
full party OF policy of honest reform In the
civil service that IL had of an administration
favorable to the policy of protection, and that
no doubt might arise from political differences
between the executive and the legislative
branches of the government the result OF the
election showed that the executive and the leg
islature would be in entire political accord"
Mr.. Curtis then proceeded 10 present at
length the general argument of civil service re-
form, and concluded his remarks as follows:
THE president has selected an admirable
civil service commission. Every member OF IL
Is sincere believer in the necessity and the
practicability OF reform, and its vigilance and
vigor are the best earnest OF It's effective serv-
ice. lie has refused also to extend the time
appointed for including the railway mail serv-
ice within the rules. and he has authorized the
publication of the eligible lists. Besides these
few executive acts the significance Of which is
destroyed by the general executive course,
there is little that shows any effective party
regard for the resoundng promises OF the
platform. The few administration senators
and representatives who have professed 10
favor reform and who dashed with singing
rhetoric the failures and Inconsistencies
of the late admiuistrQti0n when
their conviction and courage find fitting OPP
portunity, arc passive and silent. They see the
general violation Of pledges by which the party
pledged themselves They sec the principles
which they declare ought 10 control the power
OF appointment and removal openly disre-
garded. They see the abuses running riot, and
apparently with their connivance, which they
have themselves denounced Yet instead of
frankly refusing to do what they joined In de.
claring should not be done instead Of indignant
protest in the name OF their party and OF honest
politics which should alarm those who make
merchandise OF the party faith and OF the pub
lie service, they wall feebly that IL is doubtful
II the country really wants reform; that the
pressure of trading politicians is very strong,
and that there are many other important Ques-
tions.
There is, indeed, firm and strong protest
in a portion OF the party press against the
abandonment of the platform. But these
papers, like the leaders, do not condemn the
ministration. They commend the personal
character OF those who appointed TO Office
without stating frankly that it is not the mp
pointment but the removal which truly in
dicates the spirit and DRIFT Of the administn.
ton. They speak in no tone of challenge aud
command aud conscious power TO arrest the
executive and the party chiefs OF every degree
in the reckless reputation of good faith with
the country. Unwilling 10 own that the plat
form promise and the executive pledge are OF
those professions
THAT palter with us In double sense,
That keep the word OF promise 10 our
And break II 10 our hope"
They serve only like stakes planted in a current
70 show the swiftness OF the stream. One of
them only, so far as know, and that repub-
lican journal in Philadelphia, with an inde-
pendence worthy of an American newspaper,
with whatever party in sympathy, says Of the
administration what must be accepted as just
verdict: The administration, in almost every
one OF it's acts since IL was inaugurated on the
9Th OF March last, has secuted and houted
civil service reform and trampled under
foot its own promises to respect il. IL
has turned il out of doors and barred the
doors against il. That is the truth about the
matter in brief. and the administration and Its
organs could do no better, wiser thing than 10
frankly confess that having found civil service
reform 10 interfere with its plans, IL whistled il
down the wind as remorsey as ii would dismiss
Objectionable tramp
so say you, Mr.. Foreman, so say we all,
gentlemen OF the jury. There was never a
more comprehensive and significant declara-
ton OF reform made in a party platform than
that under which the present administration
came into power But no party ever broke
faith with itself and with the country more