The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1890-05-31
OLARKSON TO LOIGE.


WASHINGTON, May 36-Mr. Claskson,
the FIRST Assistant Postmaster general,
returned to Washington from Boz Jon to-
day, and was asked if he had Cen the
reply to his speech in Boston, as made by
Congressman Henry Cabot Lodge, and
sent to the Associated Press.
He said: 81 have, and, while MIR.
Lodge is Enthusiastically courteous, the
force of habit OF the 81 called reformers,
of always stating the other fellows posi-
tion instead of accepting it as he stated
it himself, seems to have ruled with him
in this case. / did not attack civil service
reform az principle. and distinctly said
that the Republican party was committed
to it, aud it had come to stay. did say,
however, that it was a mortal affair, and
still open to discussion among the plain
people as we'll as the reiormers, and that
l was in favor of amending and matur.
ing it into something practical and chang
ing it away from English into American
spirit and form. l declared that all
holders of official places should have fix.
cd tsnures, v hich the present law does
not give; that all applicants should be
subjected to thorough and practical ex
animation by the departments which
they desire to enter, Instead of beihg
chosen, as now, by these who neither
knew anything of the practical workings
and needs of the different depaI tments,
nor, have any responsibility for their
conduct; that promotion should Do made
on merit anu that all people in the federal
service should be retained as long as they
are found faithful, and useful, just as
the people themselves return the most
desirable men to elective offices.
my objection to the supertine theory
Of Mr.. Lodge aud others is, that it SO
largely suppresses both the elements Of
PATRIOTISM and practical sense in office
seeking and office holding, that its logi
cal effect is to make a man in office for
swear partisanship and all zeal and activi
ty in behalf of party principles or in pub
lie affairs. His theory would make "a
poor citizen of a man in order to make
him good officer. Instead, l believe
that the highest character Of citizenship
should be represented in the offices, and
not the poorest.
Under his system the man accepting
an Office would accept it as bride,
that took away his political birihrignt
and made him neutral politics, without all
opinion to express or maintain. l am
opposed to any such plan OF decitlZanls
ing free Americans. am not lonesome
in this position. The American people
believe in it, and they are good company.
They believe that the interest of the
average man must be kept alive in pub
lie affairs both politically and person
ALLYN order to make the republic sue
coed. and in the million of offices which
they control, large and small, averaging
some thirty to each township in the land.
they change the occupants every two Or
four years. In my belief, they will
never change from this principle
established by the fathers, and proved
to be good by century of successful
trial. love progress, but | find it by
staying with the people, rather than by
going with Mir Lodge and his brilliant co
theorists of transcendental clubs and
ultra new fashions of craftsmanship"