The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1889-06-29
Civil Service Reform.


The Washington correspondent 81 she
Baltimore SHa sAys
good deal has been said And written
about Presitent HaFrisoa's views ia reference
10 rivil service reform HIS appointments %
ths cotanssssi0n warr % that character which
sei5xvrd him from criticism, and The con
mission itself. hy is Indianapolis prOuaacts-
mrnto, has become she candidate 81 favor
able consideration from che people 81 large
The modification ct civil service rule No 70
a. made b. The Presidesi cxcites. hoEeveF,
adverse eammeHss- II the eirii service rules
mean Aayihi-g. thcT signify that experienced
and sihrieut pabisc servants shall b. retained,
and that al =sw srpointses shall have the
moral. intellectual and basluess qualities
Witch So theta foT the performance OF the
duties Of their Offices. Civil service reform
does. Of course. Involve a. much ghe Dismissal
of The dronss as the employment Of the Ia
dastrioas
Ia . hardly possible Cos any one who has
not lived in Washington for decade OF Two
20 appreciate sbAi oshee ElvIag =, and hos
ar policy, on The part Of she Senator OF mefn'
Der, exceeds the merit 81 the mau OF woman
ahs thruagh congressional Iuanencs gains
the long s0aght iof place The end. aim aud
purpose ofeiYii service reform - % protect The
iaxaavsr aud 10 secure 10 the government the
most esEieient and faithful servants; in other
words, u means an application of the ord.
nary rules % individual bgsiness life 10 The
earrying on Of the government
The very phrase ''eivil service rrioFm
means a new departure, q change Of things
that ONCE existed, The object Of the change
being the elimination OF dishonest and inetfi
cieui pabiie servants and the selection Of men
and women who by competitive examination
demonstrate capacity 10 earn the salary 70 be
received and % give 10 the goScrnmeni aqH,d
pTa gao.
Reiormasory measures Of this natare, sub
ieeted 20 the evils Of official patronage, IN
viied, al the outset, changes in The diaeren,
departments. Yet, by rule No. 10, provision
vas made for the reinstatement OF persons
Z dismissed from etfice within one year after
Z The date OF the fatal missiye indicating that
T his or her services we're no longer needed.
This rule has just been practically modified
by the President IN favor Of single class OF
American citizens, TO vii. x-tederal soldiers
} The question a0ses whether or uotthis soldier
3 business IS not about reaching the climax Of
absnrdity Did not men ike Lincoln. Ste
vens. Sumner aud host OF other civilians
9ho uever bore aEas contribute as much 10
the success Of the Union cause as did the
armies which they organized, armed and
equipped inspired and encouraged Bat for
the patriotic spirit Of American hnancieFs
vho came 70 the support of the government,
. and established and sustained It's credit, the
successful prosecution OF the war would have
been an impossibility But We hear Of no
praises or rewards being offered TO the vast
army OF civilian patriots whose voices, pens
and purses did so much for the preservation OF
the Union.
Until within a comparatively recent period
i, was understood that the American soldier
enlisted through patriotism, having one great
object in view-the preservation of the Union,
and feeling that the success OF the cause and
the gratitude of his country we're the rewards
most acceptable, but it now seems that this
beautiful idea about patriotism Is becoming
more and more materialized and yulgarized
into a thing of money, and the so-called
patriots are daily making assaults on the
treasury which they once defended.