The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1891-10-01

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| ter in New York necessarily affect the
execution of that policy, in order. NOR
ally, to justify the removal of per-
fectly and satisfactory officer, because
of his views of that policy. If the
postmaster's official duties are in no
degree dependent upon his political
views, his removal is as gross pub
lie wrong and as great violation of
public principle and policy as Jack
sons despotic dismissal of his Cabinet
because the wives of the secretaries
would not visit woman whom Jack
son favored.
Ten years ago this truth was very
indistincjly perceived. Today it is a
very general conviction. The en,ire
prac6icab;lity of reform, that is to saw,
the practicabiity of retaining, with
the greatest benefit to the public SER
vice and with no injury Whatever to
any part Of our political system public
officers OF proved and satisfactory
ability, is the secodd great achieve
men6 ofreform within ten years.
Another happy advantage of the
reform in this retrospect has been che
character and efficiency of the Ma
tional Civil Service Commission. The
prosperity of the reformed system de-
pended almost wholly in The begin
ming upon the sincerity, the special
knowledge and the tenacity of chose
to whom was entrusted the duty OF
putting it into opeiaIion. To farm
out the inianG TO an enemy would
have been to smother it. 1t was easy
for President Arthur, aiGef he had
approved the bill, to paralyZe reform
by the appointment of commission
ers who had no faith in the law
and no heart in It's proper eoiorce-
ment. But be honestly placed at the
head of the commission one of the
most conspicuous, intelligent and
invitation of President Hayes, had
made complete study upon the spot
of the English system, and whose re-
port is the most important contribu.
ton ever made to the literature of the
subject; who had taken leading part
n the preparation OF the reform law,
md whose large familiarity with the
question especially qualified him to
organize the practicai operation of the
law, Mr.. Dorman b. Eaton. Cordi-
ally sustained by President Arthur
in The novel and difficult work, Mr..
Eaton aud his colleagues lad the Sc
cure foundations upon which their
successors have wrought in the same
spirit.
President Cleveland; to whose per-
sonal interest while governor of New
York the passage Of the reform law in
this state was chiefly due, had demon
strated the sincerity o. his purpose by
the appointment o. state civil SER
vice commission, whose personal char
acGer and ability and unswerving
fidelity to the cause were not only the
earnesG of the honest observance OF
the law, buG commended the reason
and the essential value of reform to
the sound Judgment OF the state. AS
president, Nj. Cleveland enlarged the
range of the classified service, revised
and strengthened the rules of The
commission and sustained it in the
firm enforcement OF the law. Presi-
dent Harrisol's selection of civil ser
vice commits siOners, also, was in strict
conformity to the spirit OF the plat
form upon which he was elected, and
to his own professions and pledges as
a candidate, and he also has extended
somewhat the classified service.
The enforcement OF the law through
the commission by the three presi-
dents who have served since It's pas
sage has been honest and honora ole.
1t is certain thaG neither OF them has
struck at reform by en- trusting the ex-
ecu5ion of the law to it's enemies.
They have not adopted, indeed, all
the progressive recommendations OF
the commission, but political pres
sure for the practical betrayal of It's
work, OF for the dismissal OF any ac-
Gively aggressive commissioner has
been manfully resisted by them. Thi
is we'll done, for can imagine com
missioner of so high faith, so alert a
mind, so aggressive temperament, a
public officer so impatient of hum
bug, lies and hypocrisy, and with so
shrewd an eye to see and so sharp a
sting to avenge even sena-
Gorial violations and sneak
ing cabinet evasions of the law,
that he must be as welcome to lofty
official delinquents as swarm of hor-
nets to crowd of Sunday school boys
on high fence stealing peaches. I
can imagine such senatorial and cabi-
net delinquents seeking by The base
est appeal to personal interest and
partisan serviliGy to persuade piesi-
dent to dismiss such commissioner;
and such commissioner can imagine
sometimes in great doubt whether he
should long retain his official head
but never in the least doubt that he
should always retain boGh his person
al and official honor. Such firm and
self respecting public officers dign.iy
office and restore the public service to
universal respect and confidence.
l am speaking only of the fidelity
of the three Presidents to the COM
mission. The league has pronounced
its Judgment upon the conduct of
each of The administrations since The
passage of the Jaw in regard to civil
service reform in general. 1t has
tested them, as was It's duty, by the
principles and spirit of reform which
apply 20 the entire excl else OF the ap-
pointing power ald to every branch
of the government, and which have
been especially approved by the plat
form o. the present administration.
The moral obligation OF reform, as