The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1889-11-05
CURTIS ON REPUBLICAN PLEDGES


The Reform League of the United
States held it's annual session at
Philadelphia last recently and Hon.
George William Curtis, the cultured
President, delivered the address.
Coming from a Republican of Mr..
Curtis qualifications and eminent
position among the leading intellec-
tual lights of the day, it must pro-
duce profound impression through
out the country. His arraignment
of President Harrison, Postmaster
General Moneymaker,th the Republican
press, members Of Congress and that
party's leaders, is much more severe
than anything that has emanated
from Democratic sources. We have
space for only few extracts:
The promises of the successful
party last year were as ardent as they were
detailed and absolute. They left nothing
unexpressed The pure purpose of reform
was depicted in the platform with touch
as glowing as that of the poet in his epitaph
upon highly respectable lady.
"Iea, Venus. Pallas. Diana and the Graces Com
pared with her should ali have lost their places"
The irrepressible platform pledged the
party to many things, but TO nothing with
such reduplicated and reiterated zeal
as to reform in the civil service and have
ing done this in the most pI ecise and pos
five words, it pledged the party with espe
scasl fervor to keep its pledges.
To The ardOr OF The platform the protest.
atoms OF the president, as a candidate, fifty
and fully responded. He declared that il
would be his sincere purpose if elected to
advance reform. He said that fitness and
not party service should be the essential
test in appointment, that fidelity and eff
cheney should be the only sure tenure OF
Office, and that only the interest ofthe pub
lie servic should suggest removals from
Office.
In republic where the government is
administered by party, if the party pledges
OF an authorized convention prove to be
tricks and lies, the party justly fOrfeils
public confidence and everv member of it is
vigorously dishonored. When its author
lied representatives in order to secure for
the party the control of the administration
declare that the spirit and purpose OF
civil service reform should be observed in
all executive appointments and that all
laws at variance with the object of exist
ing reforms should be repealed, there is no
doubt of the meaning of the words nor OF
the impression which they are meant 10
convey. The declaration is a voluntary,
definite. and solemn engagement with the
country, and those who in consequence OF
such an engagement are entrusted with the
administration OF the government are
bound in honor to fulfil it or to show ado
Quate reason for their inability to discharge
their obligations.
Our question is whether the great pledge
OF the party of administration that The
spirit and purpose of reform should be OBJ
served in all executive appointments has
been fulfilled.
The knowledge of every citizen in his
own community answers. The daily rec.
ord oi he newspapers for the past seven
months answers; The general political cor
rupton; the p''licy which President Har
rison when II senator defined as "the frank
and bold, II brutal method of turning men
and women OUT simply for political opinion;
the clean sweep which is proceeding in the
pOst-"ftice; the alarm which pervades every
branch Of The service; the open, fragrant
contempt Tor public opinion, Tor private in
formation, and for The party promise which
was shown in The appointment OF the late
commissioner of pensions; the executive re-
fusal 10 include the census service in the
rules and The removal of public officers
conspicuously fitted by character, ability
and experience, who have absolutely and
coniessedly disregarded politics in their
devotion 10 official duty and the public
service, all these facts, and such as these,
answer The question, how has the execu
tive action CONFIRMED to the marty promise
and the presidents pledge?
The fundamental principle of reform or
OF reasonable conduct OF the public service
requires the retention and reappointment
Of public officers in important places who
are especially fitted for their trusts by per-
sonal character. proved ability. by long
service, and great experience.
When the administration came inio
power upon platform OF reform, it found
two such officers in the city Of New York,
the postmaster and the naval officer Both
OF them had what is almost impossible un.
Ger the spois system-pride and enthusl-
asm IN the public service, in which both oil
them were knights without fear and with.
out reproach. The administration could
nave given no such practical proof of its
regard Tor reform AS their retention in Of
nee. One OF them. the postmaster, was
aummarilv dismiscod ~ tho av,;..,;o, -,