New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-09-23
KEEPING UP THE STANDARD
REPUBLICANISM AND CIVIL SERVICE RE.
FORM
THE STATE CONVENTION EXPORTED TO MAIN.
TAIN THE HIGH PRINCIPLES OF
THE PARTY

70 the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: On behalf OF numerous Republicans desire
10 thank you for the stand which you have taken In
opposition to the outcry against the Civil Service Re-
form Law as set forth in your article entitled
Fresh from College,
signs multiply showing the necessity on the part
Oh the Republican party OF again asserting the purity
OF It's doctrines and principles against hercsies and
u'sSensons in its own ranks. The last similar out
cis was when In the greenback and silver craze of
Io'4 10 1878, the principle of Honest Money for
hohest Mem was successfully maintained IN the face
Oh opposition led by of the res and most tried
republicans, reinforced they by every dishonest
ueOtor and cheap demagogue In the land The prin
cpc now at stake, and which to-day IS attacked with
as much misguided honesty and unquestioned
uehagogism as honest money was them Is Civil
service Reform-thc substitution OF the merit system
for the spoils system.
The National Convention Of 1888 made certain what
Republican leaders had so often claimed before TO
W.T. The impossibility Of being a free-trader or a
sportsman and Republican at the same tlme.
men have voted the Republican ticket although
they oppose the tariff for proteetion-they
could nor however honestly call themselves Republl.
cans from principle. Similarly many of the blatant
opponents Of Civil Service Reform to-day supported
republican candidates last year; it s however,
erroneous, II not dishonest for them to claim to be
republicans. The committa OF the party to the
'N"'i"i 10 eApTcSSeu IN the platform, is the most
emphatic possible and after Just censure OF those
Republicans who deserted the party IN 1884 It tains
the noble words We will not fall to keep our pledge
because they have broken theirs or because their
candidate has broken his therefore the declaration of
1854 Is repeated with approval This latter declara-
ZION was at the time cordially Endorsed by Mr.. Blaine,
and General Harrison, in his letter of acceptance
equally outspoken. II the Republican party Is not
thoroughly committed to Civil Service Reform in its
WIDEST possible application. IN
every antagonism to- or limitation Of the principle,
iheh words have lost their meaning and political honor
sincerity and consistency things Of the past
The honest opposition to the reform IS grounded
upon ignorance, or complete mlscOnception of the
evil and the proposed remedy for example General
ropes article in The North American Review You
have ably exposed the silly alsehoods about young
men fresh from schools and colleges and foolish
questions not pertinent 10 the service IN which they
are seeking employment Comparatively few oppo-
nentS Of the reform are honest enough to
acknowledge that their real cause OF COM
plant Is the fact that smaller stream of patronage
swn runs into the particular little trough belonging
10 their own district. The Civil service law is not
ketect: Administered by its enemies, it was and is
liable 10 become a farce, but when honestly Upheld
II Is al least protection against some Of the worse
features Of the old spOils system
Hostile journals and demagogues claim with great
confidence that public opinion is against the law
III THIS were true it would only prove the need Of
DetUer political education OF our voters; but It is
nOt uue 80 far as 1t Is known and understood, the
Ia" - Mccarthy supported Dy the sturdy common
sense OF the people; No cause has more claim TO
be loved " for enemies which It has madc' Every
" Dunmet' and heclel' I'm the land, in
either party, whose participation tends lower the
tone OF politics, Is more or less outspoken opponent
OF civil Service Reform. On the other hand the
American people know that there Is nothing more
thoroughly American than the spirit of fair play
ana GOOD business sense upon which this law Is
based They have no sympathy with the of
dSappolnied office seeker, or the vows of vengeance
clearer than today Ii IS not the substitution Of
one officer by another which the trouble. II
is the habit OF intrigue and of base sbserviency, the
abjcct " boot cggug7 after every one who is sup
| be. the thousand promises made with intention
| Of keeping them, the tens Of thousands
| Of lies, ISLANDERS and malignant insiIaiiOns-thrse
are the true causes OF Generalization which would
the Republican party and of the people is sound and
true,
Once before I'm 1882 the Republican leaders saw fit
10 discari the warnings OF conservative leaders and
Journals. foremost amcng the lator being The Tribune.
| Tho result Is well known. This year the same policy
| excluded Endorsement OF Civll Service Reform
IN the platforms Of Iowa. Ohio, Pennsylvania and New
Jersey New-YOrk has yet to speak, and the oppor-
tunty for the party is grand II the State Con
vention shall clearly and fcarlcSsly insist upon the
sacred fllhnent of the pledges heretofore made. with
| the motto " No step backward for the future Now
| York Republicans VIII do the country a service
a. great the rescue OF the party In 1884 from
the lunacy OF Grecnbackism. Tho attempt TO compen
protesting sociiude for other moral and Intellectual
improvements of sociey-sobrlety and education, re
| LYON and sabbaarlansm-will surely fail The poo
ple look 10 the Republican party for the leadership
In the battle publication of politics. Let us hope
that so far as WORK IS concerned the state Con
ventlon will give forth no uncertain sound l am
| sir with great respect, T. W. H.
New York sept. 10, 1eSS