The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1889-04-06

fUdlHtl W liu tildl NitN ltAtti AhNh
apon persistent Importantly or
self solicited recommendations ON
behalf of candidates for appoint
ment."
Such was the ple,lgeunder which
Cleveland took office. In his in
augural address he renewed it in
These words:
wThe people demand reform in the
administration of tho Government
and the application of business
principles to public affairs. As a
means to tins end, Civil Service re-
form should in good faith be in
forced. OHr citizens have the
right to protection from the in
competency Of public employees
who hold their places solely as the
reward of partisan service and
from the c0rrupting influence Of
those who promise and the vicious
methods Of those who expect snch
rewards; and those who worthily
seek employment have the right TO
insist that merit and competency
shall be recognized instead of party
subserviency or the surrender of
honest political belief
The platform OF the Republican
party for the election Of 1855 did
not contemplate any lowering Of
the Civil Service reform standard.
On the contrary, it reaiiirmed this
declaration of 1854:
''Thc spirit and purpose Of the
reform should be observed in all
executive appointments, to
the end that the dangers to free
institutions which lurk in the
power Of official patronage may b,
| avoided"
Ia Harrison's acceptance Of tht
nomination he ind0rsed the police
declared in the platform. But tina
was before election. Now, wha
ground does he take with the re
sponsibilities of the Presidcne.
resting upon him! IT is defined i
this extract from his inaugural:
"IIonorableT arty service willcci
tainlv not be esteemed by me
disqualification for pub,ie oiiiet
: 1t is entirely creditable t
' seek public Office by propeImetho
Z ana with proper motives, and Il
S applicants will he treated wit
consideration. = Persistent in
y pOrtunity viii not, therefore, |
n the best support Of an application
n for office. = . Retrospect will |
IS Il safer basis Of Judgment tl2
G promises. We shall not, howeye
. | am sure, be able to put our Civ
l. Service upon non.partisan bas
o until we have secured an incuf
Y bency that fairmindei men Of Il
e opposition Will approve for impa
a tiality and integrity"
e Dir Henry Cabot Lodge and 9th
e Republican politicians who dcsi
a to see only the rosy side OF liar
Ie sons prospects may accept this
Ie frank and satisfactory. 10 us it
e cquivocal and ominous, and we a
2 convinced that those who are u
u blinded byplrtisAnship will rasa
se it as we do.
z Cleveland accepted the Ci'
20 Service as ne found it, althou
p exclusively Republican, and pl
ie ceeded TO apply the law to
vigorously and impartially. Ill
Y risou, although he finds tlousan
y of Republicans still in place, pl
e poses to first reconstitnte the Gt
10 ernment force to suit his own pal
y and then make use Of the statnl
~ for thc protection aud goveinmt
~ Of his fellow partisan oflicellolde
+ The Civil Service system "
not, however, be easily set asi
~ even by a President unwilling
ie sustain it where excuse 6
q be fouud for failure to do
There must be examinations bef'
appointments in the classified $
*. vice, The existing rales and rel
latiOns have the force of law Il
as must be observed. General liaI
py son will scarcely venture to ma
az open war upon the merit system
ms emaseulating it through new0rde
ne If Democratic officials will sta
~ to their posts and refusa to aid
ge Republicans by abandoning til
oy they will do their duty, not rer
re as Democrats, bnt also as patriC
Is