Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-12-05
THE SPOHS SYSTEM.


From now on We may expect to find
that Republican enthusiasm for civil SER
vice reform will gain such Roadway that
when the next national convention of
that party shall be held the patriots will
be in the proper frame of mind to give it
the most sweeping Endorsement, just as
they did In 1888, when they pledged the
party to faithful and honest execution
Of 1t. The sweeping Endorsement of 1883
has been faithfully carried out in that
all, or nearly all. Democrats found IN
the service have been swept out for
'better material - Such was The pur-
port and meaning attached by Republic
cans to sweeping Endorsement. Great
virtue was supposed to reside in it, aud
much good OF o political character was
expected from the sweeping execution
that followed the sweeping Endorsement
of the law. But Republican hopes and
expectations were cruelty blasted and
disappointed at the election of Novem-
Der 4. There was scarcely an election
district between the Atlantic and the
Rocky mountains in which the spoils
system added single vote to the party's
strength. Nay, more, there was scarcely
single district in which 1t prevented q
fall ng off Of from tens to thousands of
votes. With full command of all the Off ces
and patronage which had been carefully
disposed of in way to do the most
good, the party sustained the most
crushing defeat every visited upon any
party since the foundation of the gov
eminent. The result of that election
has done more to discount the value of
the spells system as reliable political
factor in determining election results
than anything else that may be
thought of.
In 1888, when the Republicans were
empty handed-so far as spoils went
they won over the Democrats, who con-
have had similar experiences in this
line. Both have found that no great
weight is to be attached to a control of
the offices when an election is at hand.
All the federal officials at Indianapolis
could mott for example, prevent that
city from going Democratic at the re-
cent election, very much to the chagrIn
of DR.. Harrison, who used all the
patronage at his command to insure
different result. To infer from the fore
going that the spells system Is wicked or
vicious would be jumping at con-
illusions. Because it cannot determine
the result of an election and give the |
party in power an undue advantage over |
its adversary, is no sufficient reason
it is very distinct argument |
in favor of its retention. II the OBJ |
ject sought in giving each administra-
ton the right of appointment to all |
Federal offices was the control in its |
favor of subsequent elections, and that !
control was found to he no control at
all, as the Republicans have just found |
it would be in order to cry out "away |
with it.'' But as everyone knows |
that is not at all the object, nor any
thing like it. 1t is that each admin
istration may have a clerical force in
political sympathy with itself, upon
which it may rely to have its policy |
and all measures in pursuance thereof,
carried out faithfully and honestly.
The Republicans having control OF
the offices can very well afford to ef-
fervesce over the beauties of civil service
and bemoan, with profusion
OF crocodile tears, their own folly in
kicking it out OF their way, as some Of
them are already doing. Their tears
will have no effect whatever on the
whoever he may be, elected
10 the presidency two years hence.
They may count on that to a dead
moral certainty.
TIE MESSAGE 4 WLNDFALL TO
DEMOCRATS.