New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-05-19
SELECTIONS FROM THE MAIL
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM
AND THE RECORD OF THE PARTIES.


TO the Editor OF The Tribune.
slr was much interested, as am sure were all
good Republicans in the remarks of Mr. Curtis at the
annual meeting OF the Civil Service Reform Association
on the 9TH inst And II occurs TO to ask whether
those remarks may not be good text upon which 10
base preachment that may be. at the moment very
opposite to the thoughts Of thousands Of good men Of
both parties and Of all shades of patriotic feeling and
opinion.
Mr.. Curtis "spoke favorably Of the work of the
Civil Service Commission and complImented" its head
but he expressed strong disapprobaton OF the post
office appointments polcys; and further added what
must be TO us most encouraging admission-perhaps
he would prefer that we should say assertion: lie
chad no doubt that the Republican party held Civil
Service Reform as an OPINION but he thought 1t had
not the courage OF its opinions and had not put them
in practice" He did not believe that the party in
opposition was sounder in either theory practice
| than the party in powcra
Now I would like to ask, why not in such case,
stop right there and consider earnestly and honestly
as becomes man of honor and Of honesty, as good
citizen Of the State and patriotic son Of the Nation
what has been and what is to-day the standing OF
each of the great political parties; We judge men
and parties alike by their record and their character
evidenced by their actions. Protests and protesta
tons platforms and resolutions count for only much
acts and accomplishment may prove consonant with
them; but may at least study the history and the
composition, the past and the present, Of the two
parties, and readily think, decide which has the
nObler history which has done the grandest and most
patriotic work; into which have formerly drifted the
best men OF the nation on the whoe-boh unquestion
ably include many good men-and into which pass
most generally the brutal classes the demagogues the
wreckers, and the bride takers Where are the
ords of the life-listory of the great men Of the
generation just closedi Where are the permanent
marks of the masterminds Of the days Of 1860 to
1890, mainly Casting balance, where would man
of pure heart, of patriotic spirit choose TO got
Into the party Of prosavery proclves, OF secession
principles, Of fat money stupdlties Of traditional
TO the victor belong the spells" practice or to the
party which abolished the foulest crime that
disgraced nation that preserved country when
in danger Of disruption that met every financial crisis
by wise legislation, sustained the Nations credit
throughout period Of trial such other nation
ever experienced paid its every obligation, and finally
extingushed the enormous debt incurred despite the
protests at every step of the opposition, made the
country wealthy and prosperous enough TO raise the
Inevitable Of vultures against whose filthy
all good citizens to-day seeking to combine for the
preservation Of all that we have long fought and
worked to gain
Which party has done most to bring about that
period Of prosperity which brings with it greater
dangers than those of the earlier days Of battle To
which party should be allowed to trust the pres
that good citizen that good patriot, hesitate
at this point. We all readily which is, at
least ought TO be- the safer party with which to work
for all that every good citizen that every patriot
desires for his country.
Next comes the question, What shall We individu-
ally, do to assure our future Shall we go into or
position. and unite fortunes with party of which
the whole history is of which neither the good
citizen the patriot be proud, shall go
into further contests with the Gemagogues and traitors
of the other side VIII it be easier TO reconstruct
and purify party having constitution and record
like that of the Democratic party of 1850 TO 1890;
or Will it prove probably easier out from tie
still living Republican party the cancer that has
marred yet but spot in its mighty fOrml VIII
it be probably easier for the right thinkers and tho
good Of the Nation to reform the utterly corrupt
men who are admitted by all of us 10 have siamed
our and their, nOest political structure is IL not
which we all have such reverence and alIectOn-be
cause of what it has accomplishment unte1ly night
against its demagOgues and endeavor thus TO place
them, with all kndves and fools seeking their own
selfish interests and publishing their own ignorance
or at least on the lower seats Ali history shows
that once the honest men, once the patriots OF "a
and against the wrong wrong doors promptly retire I'M
their outer darkness and leave the men OF right
metal TO set wrongs right.
Does Mr. Curtis does any friend OF Civil Service Re
form, believe that the Civil Service Reform Ass0ca
ton backed by the best in the Republican party
and by the whole strength all the honest men in the
United states will prove feebler than the handful OF
demagogues. upon every of whom we can nov
place our fingers who happen at the mOmeIt TO have
come the front, and who seem for the moment TO
control a great paTty-one-ha the Nationl Does
any friend Of honest money believe that the best
sentiment of the Nation and the wisdom OF It's wiscst
men can always be tramped upon by a few bold
leaders in false doctrines Of finance! Does any ad-
v0cate Of prudent, patriotic wise and safe reform
of our tariff laws-not from revenue standpoint not
from the point OF view of the interests OF one, or
Of any dozen trades but from consideration Of the
best interests Of the whole peoplebeleve that the
fOes Of unqualified free trade. the seltshnesS OF
individual clamOrers for unlimited protection OF
single trade. the abstract theories Of readers, OF
dreamers utterly ignorant of the actual conditions of
business and of the ncalculablc damage to Themselves
fov does any one think that these bits Of foam
the surface Of the will ever outweigh the mass
on which they float
let lire genuine and earnest Civil SerN Ice RefOrmer,
let The rltriOc ifrcfOrmer; let every man trdy
DESTROYS Of securing prosperity for his country thou
sands Of whom stand on the outer verge wishing
themselves safely back. into the ranks Of the
better of the parties, and there fight continually
for purc1On, for It's best principles for Its nobcst
aims and no one need then fear that shall have
az graceful civil consular service much longer, that
that we shall have an sstoundingy stupid fnancalor
lack OF fnancial-polcy, or that we need then fear
pavery or folly, the attacks Of any enemy OF our
country, outside or inside borders. Let us all
take this the easiest piece Of work first; begin by
driving ont the worst elements Of our own party and
move on TO victory over every enemy OF our common
country. We can then vanquish all opposition: we
'''d Cornell University, Ithaca, May TO- 1890.