The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-04-19
THE MEMPHISAPPEAL
APRh 10. 1880
"THE CIYIL SERTIcE LAW.n

Pertinent to a work under this title from
tho pen Of William Harrison Clarke, OF
. New York, copy OF which recently
reached US, comes the interviews with Ger.
tain Southern Senators rs 10 official ap.
pointments and the disappointments they
so often give rise TO- We publish these
interviews this morning in order that our
readers may see how fast belief in the
relief that civil service affords our rcprc-
scntahycs has grown since President
Cleveland gave vitality TO the civil service
law by is enforcement Mr.. Clarke Ia
his work shows that this law promotes
education, efficiency and economy and
that il is in harmony with tho teachings
Of English history and the position taken
by the fathers and founders Of the Repub.
lie. all Of whom confessed the degrading
effects Of a scramble for public Office on n
change Of administration. Some Of the
Senators interviewed referred 10 this
aud distinctly declared that II IL q
hindiancc and not help 10 political
parties, and that ior the man pleased by
securing oilioe. there are scores dsap.
pointed who become active partisans
against the Senators aud Representatives
who, dispensing public patronage, fur.
nish occasion for their disappointment
Mr.. Clarke cites the offering Of the army
and navy, whore capacity aud fitness are
the rules, but the Senators say nothing
about IT, They can only soc as Senator
Faulkner, OF West Virginia, says, that
patronage creates discord and Is source
oi weakness" But even on this basis the
riyi service whose history Mr.. Clarke
traces 30 clearly in aud from the mother
country through colonial times down to
the present, Is a most desirable reform and
me that shodld be carefully nursod
until Il Is practically beyond assailmont.
The course Of Senator German In op-
position 10 civil service, the only ono OF
the interviewing senators who ds.cnts,
furnishes a point In proof which we find
we'll stated by The Chattanooga Tina
which, commenting ON the Senatorial la
tervicws, noles that There arc seven ia
the affirmative Of the proposition that
patronage Is weakening TO the power that
distributes u, and tho one who dissent.
illustrated his method Of welding patron
ago iosircngthcn his party when ho ioistcd
Mr.. Eugene Higgins on the Treasury a
head Of the Appointment Division. Il q
only necessary for an intelligent man {,
recall tina, appointment aud the character
oil tho appoinioc 10 enable him to ap
prehcnd exactly what Mr. German mean
when lao says tho Offices ma,
be 10 distributed as 10 strengthen
the party at the head Of Affairs That tn,
selection by him Of Higgins, the Baltmor
hooler, and Indian Agent Thomas, the bal
loi-box siuilcr. ior the offices conferred OF
this precious pair strengthened the Dem
ocracy in the city OF Baltimore among IN
element from which the appointecs wor
taken, will not be questioned. Such ap
pointmonis delight tho slums. Ever
gambler, roundor and professional war,
politician Is gra,idod when his class
recognized and honorcd; but did those Of
pointnents help Democracy In Marylan
asa party9 wha, eject did they have o
the vote In other Stales1 Tho returns
1884 and 1888, for Maryland, show that 4
the first Cleveland had 62i per cent
the total vote, whereas he had but