The climax. [volume] (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1887-1897, 1890-10-15
THE THREE PARALLEL REFORMS.

There has arisen some unnecessary
discussion, as we think, in certain quar-
tens as TO the relative importance or
claims to precedence, as one may say, Of
the great reforms upon the accomplish
ment Of which the future prosperity Of
the country and the success and integri-
ty Of its institutions depend. The three
Indispensable reforms, are ballot reform,
civil-serice reform and tariff reform.
At the recent meeting Of the National
Civil-Service Reform League in Boston
the view was advanced by some Of the
speakers that the accomplishment of
civil-service reform must necessarily and
logically precede that Of any and every
other legislative reform, upon the
ground, apparently, that It Is useless to
expect either the enactment or the en-
forcement Of good laws for the protec-
ton of the ballot or the reduction of
taxes, until the civil service Of the gov
eminent, which is to supply the admin
are to enforce the laws, is itself placed
upon a reformed basis. With equal
FEASIBILITY, however, might the exclu-
sive adyOcates-if there be such-of bal
lot reform, ask-When and how are you
going to get the legislation, without
which neither the civil service nor the
tariff can be reformed, until YOU have
first purified the ballot-box and made
provision for fair elections, so that men
can be sent TO the Legislature who will
represent the people and not the mere
politicians, the 'bOsses" and the lobby?
And SO the tariff refOmer, in turn, if in
clined to pursue the same line or argu-
ment, might pertinently- 2sk-How do
you expect e accomplish either electO-
raj reform or civil-service reform SO long
as the power Of federal taxation is pros
tituted and abused for the mere purpose
Of maintaining party ascendancy and OF
creating a gigantic corruption fund
through the contributions Of protected
manufacturers and tariff lords, to be used
to debauch the people and the officers
Of the government alike?
It is quite natural that individuals ac-
cording to the bent Of their minds,
should take a more active and personal
interest in the progress and work Of re-
form in one direction than in another.
In particular cases this Individual pref
erence or bent may even amount to a
hobby-fortunatelY not only an innO-
cent, but a very useful and praisewo-thy
hobby. But We see no advantage in at
tempting to discriminate between the
usefulness Of the three reforms we have
mentioned, and no necessity for subor-
dinating the work in favor Of one to
that which is being carried on in behalf
Of another. In fact, the three reforms
are so allied in principle and so kindred
in nature that it is difficult to conceive
OF a man being heartily and intelligently
in favor Of one reform and not in sym
pathY with the others also. There is nc
possible conflict or antagonism between
them at any point. Civil-service reform
Is applicable to the management of ma.
tiOnal and local affairs, TO municipal
administration, State administration and
federal administration alike. Tariff re
form deals with question Of national
politics and federal taxation exclusively
Why should not the agitation and the
work IN favor of each 90 on hand il
hand at the same time and with equa
fervOr? Both, moreover, have thei
origin and find their support in the same
principle. The sincere and intelligent
advocate Of civil-service reform is sucl
because he sees the deadly effect upor
public and private morality alike, Of tn,
political corruption engendered by tn,
"spoils system" and by the infamous
notion that ''public Office is a privat,
perquisite," or, as some one has NOR,
tersely put it, "a private STEAL" and tha
all places under the government, iron
the highest 10 the lowest, are to be dis
tributed and farmed out as rewards fo
political services, and held by the ten
ure Of party fealty. The same MAJ
ought to be equally swift to recogniz,
the corTupting effect Of a tariff which
imposes taxes upon the people in excess
OF the legitimate necessities and require
ments Of the government, for the pur
pose OF ennching protected" industries
manufacturers and monOpolists, and lay
ing them under political obligations
which, in turn, viii yield an abundan
crop Of contributions, to be useC
in buying votes. If an unreformed civi
service corrupts the ofiice-holder, STAT
frying" tariff is intended to corrupt tn,
people as well. And so the civil servic,
and the tariff reiormer alike can not fai
TO appreciate the necessity, if there is t,
be any stop put to corruption in Office o.
in Legislation, in the administration O
the government or in the making Of it
laws, OF protecting the ballot and placing
the freedom and the purity Of elections
beyond the reach and communicating in.