, 1889-10-17
CURTIS THEORIES.

George William Curtis, the bright
and shining light of the mugwumps,
has just been making his annual civil
Ecrvicc reform speech, at the meeting
of the league in Philadelphia. As was
to bc expected, the burden of his speech
was an attack upon the Republican
ply with what he, Curtis, conceives to
have been the pledges of the party.
He finds, he says, that eminent MEM
bers of the party, official and other
wise, openly scorn such reform, and he
declares that there is little that shows
any effective party regard for the prem
ises of the platform.
Near the close of the Cleveland adj
ministration Mr.. Curtis was compelled
to admit though with extreme reIuc-
tsncc, that the Democratic party had
come very far short of his expectations
of what they would accomplish for
civil service reform, and that Mr.
Cleveland himself, the object of the
mugwump alteration, had forgotten af-
ter getting into office the solemn
pledges and promises he had made
when candidate.
1t would seem, then, that civil ser
vice reform, as Mr.. Curtis understands
it, does not commend itself to either of
the great parties as the Overmastering
| element which he deems it. Both ap-
pear to think that there are other mat
tiers of more importance to the country
and the truth is that the people think
50 too, for unless they did the party
leaders, who are only echoes of the
opinions of the people, would not en-
tertain that view.
Mr. Curtis has in his own opinion, a
mission to convert the American peo-
pie to civil service reform. 1t is with
him, or seems to be, matter of princi-
pie. Why, then, does he not organize
a civil service reform party, instead o.
hawking his theories about from one
party to the other. and transferring hi:
allegiance to the side which will max,
him the most promises. No great prin
ciplc in politics was ever established by
being peddled around and offered fol
votes When the abolition of human
slavery was first agitated there was (
Free Soil party, and the doctrine wa
taken up by the Republican party o
its own accord. Prohibition, too, ha
its own party, and woman suffrage anC
other ideas; but this purity theory O
Curtis is held out, after the manner o
the piece club, to see which side vii
make it the best offer. The only kline
of fighting that Curtis and his fol
lowers do is bushwhacking, which i
not recognized as legitimate warfare
even in politics.
) Unless Mr.. Curtis can organize ney
party upon the issue of civil service re
form, he may be certain that it is no
of so much Importance as lac consider
it. The people of the United State
are by no means slow to recognize rea
] anu Niidi iSSuNS' Inv tuSSIOll vi itS
trade, for example, had been scarcel.
heard of in this generation, and We
when Mr.. Cleveland threw down tn
gauntlet in his message, it was take'
up at once, and the issue joined with
out delay, because the people knew AM
felt that 1t was vital issue and that
had to be met; and it is safe to say ha,
not the Republican party taken it up
or, rather, Teassumed it, there woul'
have been IL new party, with proteC
ton for its watchward, which woul,
have sprung into prominence at once
Mr. Curtis may as well make up hi
mind to this, that when the American
people really want civil service reform
they will have it; but that until the.
| do he is wasting his time and bringin,
discredit on the cause by his eagernes
to transfer his allegiance at moment
notice from one side to the other, II N
thinks he can serve his chosen caus
by SO doing.