The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-07-18
c%IvIL-sERvIoE REFORM. :

"
the present law, is undergoing its second
severe test and trial. The first was after
Clevela nd was elected. Then Demo-
Gratis were attacking the law because it
prevented a clean sweep and rapid
changes in Office, and Republicans were
defending it. Now the situation is re-
versed. Republicans are attacking the
law for the same reason the Democrats
did four years ago, and the latter are de-
Tending it. The experience of six years
of the law and two changes of admins
tratiOn shows that the principal oppOsi-
ton to the law m from the party in
power, and its principal support from
the one out of power. This shows, at
least, that the system has something to
commend it in principle, and, if each
party thinks it a good rule to be OBJ
served by tie other, both may gradually
come to think it a good rule for them
selves.
The principle of civil-servlce reform
is, undoubtedly, correct, and the object
aimed at is of vital Importance. This is
thC OL thO WO1hlh II III t1O
civil service from the operation of the
spOils system and the recognition of
merit and fitness, instead of partisan
services, as the ground of appointments.
This rule Once established and honestly
observed by both parties would be
equally fair to both and of immense ben
eft to the service and the public. 1t
would result in some changes in
our political methods and our manner
of conducting campaigns and elections,
but only such changes as are desirable
andsas are sure to come anyhow in the
gradual evolution and improvement of
| our politics. These changes, once estab-
lished, would be a part of the benefits
of civil-service reform, which would
further appear in the improved stabil-
ity, dignity, efficiency and morale of the
service. These are objects in which all
persons, all classes and both parties are
interested. They involve something
much more important than the tenn
| porary success of either party, the rec
Ognition of any element, or the appoint
ment of any particular person to Office.
They involve the stability, the perpe-
| tuity and the success of the government.
| No government on earth can stand, and
no civilized people will, or ought to,
stand such a frequent and repeated
strain as is involved in a quadrennial
change of a hundred thousand office
holders and the unavoidable Interrupt
ton and decentralization of public bust
ness incident thereto.
Republicans who attack civil-service
reform attack the declared policy of the
party, its repeated platform utterances,
and the declarations of all its Presidents
for many years past. 1t is not asserted
that the party is thus strongly committed
to the present law in its exact form, but
to the idea and principle it represents.
To this idea every Republican, Presi-
| dent from Hayes to Harrison is fully
committed, as well as every Republican
| convention in recent years. In his last
annual message President Hayes dis
cussed the subject at considerable
length, and pressed it on the attention
of Congress as one of great and vital
Importance. Every Republican Presi-
dent since that time has approved the
system, and every Republican national
convention for nearly twenty years past
has made its Endorsement a distinct
plank in the party platform. Under
these circumstances Republicans are
bound by party, as well as by public,
considerations to favor IN honest en-
forcement of the present law. At the
same time it should be remembered that
the principle of civil-service reform is
more important than the present law,
and if the time comes when the latter
has to be amended or exchanged for
something else, the principle must be
firmly adhered to and embodied in a
better law.