The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-05-27
Tho Chief Axeman Speaks Again.

Mr.. ]. 8. CLARKsoN was the principal
: speaker at a dinner given In his honor by
, the Norfolk Club at Boston the other evening
The speech of the Assistant Postmaster.
General was In the main a reitcration OF the
opinions he advanced at Pittsburg recently,
which brought goose-esh to the Mug
wumpS. His position in regard to the civil
service Is substantially that which is held by
ninety-nino hundredths OF the American
people. We quote the genuine civil service
reform platform:
AS the state seeks through the county and tho
township to instruct Its people In public affairs through
It's officers and as It changes them frequently both to
preserve constant honesty IN Office and to instruct the
largest possible number Of men in official affairs So
believe. should tho nation follow In tho
| Beyond this 1t was intended that this should be q
! representative government That makes 1t n party
government In no other way can public questions be
settled than by the formation Of political parties. lido
not believe that Democrats administer the Affairs OF
Republican Administration as well as Republican,
any more than believe that Method'ts carry
| Baptist anairs better than Baptlsts"
Mr. CIARKsoN again insisted upon the dis
| tinction between the servants Of q private
| business and the servants Of the Govern
! ment whose business Is carried on by means
Of political parties
"But all Administrative oces those that are in any
way to out the principles In government approved
BY the people At the polls ought to be OF belonging
to the party that approved the polls In other
words believe that tho United States Government is
political aud not business organization. Tho interest
OF tho In politics must be kept alive to
make republic succeed. II It is purely business ma
chiue many claim. then the administration OF its
Affairs might let tho lowest responsible bidder
but there something higher and nobler and greater
in government than business 1t is the guardian OF lib
sy the representative of progress the hope of all peo
pie who are its citizens"
And, again. he insisted that the ambition |
to hold Federal Office is worthy ambition:
II believe also that politics instead OF being selfish,
is really unselnsh thing and that provides school
for the discipline OF and the broadening OF humun
nature. II it is worthy of the ambition Of the farmer
10 hold the otco OF township trustee or County Clerk
so is worthy the ambition of tho farmer hold
the Post Office any Federal place This country finds
its safety time OF peril and need in who
work more for country than self II was men of this
kind that made Up the Revolutionary army and worked
for nothing when they could have made money at
home. 1t is OF this kind who have served it in
every war and every battle"
These Offices should be held in rotation
and not in permanently:
Let this new fashion come of saving that oil tho
minor Offices numbering hundreds OF thousands, and
even millions shall be held by life holding casS and
leave all the higher offices open mainly to occupancy
by rch men, ana you take the republic from Its moor
ings and put 1t on sea Of danger and uncertainty"
In opposing sham civil service reform he
supports genuine civil service REFORM
I'm saying all this do not want to be understood as
being opposed to evil service reform Indeed | ANA
civil reformer myself but OF practical kind
believe i'll giving n fixed tenure every officer and
every clerk in the pubic service so to the
elfrespect OF the occupant would office.
holder back the people renewal and approval at
east every four ears and so give him incentive TO
aithfu service. would utilize the trained in tho
department by way OF promotion. ! would have all ap
'lcans tor official places examined and thoroughly
IIniued; but would have tho examination made not
y men who know nothing practically, or even theore
ally Of the service but 10y the men who charge
4 the departments OF the service
81 believe that Cabinet officer, or the head OF q Uu.
Is only interested in the success OF tho
eryCo inrusted to him. but that lie capable to
onduct it than outside commission possblybe.
he fretfuness OF socIled civil reform proves
weakness Everybody who differs from 1t Is ,
allied dishonest and, indeed it is the only thing in
american politics which claims that 1t should not 10
iscuSsOi. 1t is thing experiment best and
those who have 1t in charge say that its
merits must not even be debated. {
THE practical system Of examination Is the one that
nsures the greatest efficiency"
Finally "the American sense and preju- ,
lice will never permit the civil service PEN
ion list to be engrafted upon our condition. y
The pendulum has gone to the outer VERGE :
t is now coming back"
Genuine Democrats and Republicans will
'ery generally agree with Mr.. CLARKsON's
IDEAS Of civil service reform. !,