Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1891-07-10
Progress. of Ci,ii Service reform.

As briefly stated in an item in The Pho.
nix two weeks ago Hon. Dorman b. Eaton
contributes an incisive article to the Jul,
number of the North American Review on
the progress of civil service reform i'm thi,
country. The article is an answer to an
arraignment of the national administration
made by Hon. John $. Clarl<son. ex-assist-
ant postmaster-general, in the May number
of the Review. Mr. Clarkson's ground of
complaint was that President Harrison and
cabinet did not make more complete an
sweeping removals of Democratic office
holders. Mr.. Eaton aptly entities his arti-
Gle "a new variety of Mugwump." While
not written from party standpoint, or
drawing any comparisons between the two
parties in respect to support of civil service
reform, Mr.. Eaton incidentally corrects a
prevalent impression assiduously cultivated
by the Democratic papers, that civil service
reform has received no sympathy and made
no progress under the Harrison administra-
ton. As showing how futile have been all
efforts to block the progress Of this princi-
pie Mr. Eaton says:
Prior To his election as President Mr. Harrison
had not been very radically committed tu this re-
form Secretaries Tracy and Noble perhaps had
hardly favored II. The postmaster general was
possibly hail as hostile to il as our author himself
II the postmaster general is not yet as complete
convert TO the merit system as the public interest
requires that he should be- and as We may believe
he will some years hence wish he had ls.en- he at
least appears to be very widely separated from his
late subordinate. The President and his cabinet
have not only sustained but have extended. the
reform The examinations now cover many mor,.
offices than they did when President Harrison was
inaugunted-a fact as creditabe to himself and
his cabinet as II is nuspicious for the Republican
party. Secretary Tracy. with the courage Of his
recent convictions. has enforced its principles in
several Of the navy yarls, and is now extending
this application. Secretary Noble has promoted
the extension Of the merit system to the Indian
service. The President himself las enlarged it.,
sphere aud suppressed opportunities OF cyading it,
lhesr statesmen obviously believe that Ly sup
porting this reform they hest serve their country.
and also do the most in their power To strengthen
their party. They comprehend that public opinion
would br shocked and certain ruin would await t.
R'puni IN party should II now abandon The re-
form Pplcy It has had the chief part in establishing
Tn m are now more than 800 ofIic,.- b,vui tli.
control OF schcming politicians aud patronage
mongers- Offices which can b,, secured only by
public competitive examinations a. to capacity
aud character. More than S,1O persons hav,.
been examined for filling places thus taken out uf
sloil-system politics and made the rewards Of
superior merit 1t is wonder that selfish poll
ticians and bosses who care more for patronage.
than principle, arr hostile, angry and alarmed"
The evidence thus given is independent.
Ali 4
POUNDS his designation for men of the
Carkson stamp, new Mugwumps," on
the fact that it is the characteristic of the
old MugwumpS to assert the right to crti-
else ones own party, officers and policy,
and to act from principle in all political af-
fairs. The new Mugwumps," Mr.. Eaton
says, also rebel against their purity, arraign-
ing presidents and administrations, bur do
ing it from a motive the opposite Of that of
the old Mugwumps-bc they hate re-
forms and reformers. and hold partisan
zeal superior to political principle. Mr..
Eaton shows the absolute falsity of the
claim set forth by Mr.. Clarkson, that, in
the early days of the republic our public af-
fairs were managed according to the views
now set forth by the new Mugwumps."
Mr. Eaton also shows in what an assured
and irresistible way the principle of civil
service reform has taken hold upon the So
Der thinking element of the country, and
how it is bound TO prevail more and more
in the rapid growth of the country. and as
the office holders inevitably multiply in
number as the volume and demand of the
public business increase.