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

SpecG tnan This entfenched reform
camp of Buffalo, over which the flags
of victory fly, and in which drums are
beating for further advance and the
final triumph.
The National Civil Service Reform
League was organized at Newport, r.
L., on the 1lth of August, 1881. 1t
was the result OF conference among
members of civil service reform asso-
Citations that had spontaneously arisen
in various parts of The county for the
purpose OF awakening public interest
in the question, like the clubs of the
Sons of Liberty among our fathers,
and the anti-slavery societies among
their children. The first act of the
league was resolution of hearty ap-
proval of the bill then pending in
congress, known as the Pendleion
bill. Within less than two years aft
erward the civil service law was
passed in congress by a vote in the
senate Of So yeas to nays, SO senators
being absent, and IN the house, only a
week later, by vote of 155 yeas TO AZ
nays, 81 members not voting. In the
house the bill was put upon its
passage at once the speaker
permitting only thirty minutes for de-
bate. This swift enactment of a
righteous law was due, undoubtedly,
to the panic of the party OF
administration, a panic which
saw in the disastrous result of
the recent election demand
of the country for honest politics;
and il twas due also to the eXulting be-
lief Of the party of opposition thaG the
law would essentially weaken the
dominant party by reducing its pa
tronage. The sudden and ovecwhelm-
probably had very little individual
knowledge or conviction upon the
subject. But the Instinct in regard to
intelligent public opinion was un-
doubtedly sure, and it is intelligent
public opinion which always COM
mands the future. 1t is fear Of the
same righteous sentiment, infinitely
stronger than it was ten years ago,
which today prevents the repeal of
the reform law.
, The passage of the law was the first
great victory of the ten years Of The
reform movement. The second is the
demonstration Of the complete prac5i-
caoility OF reform attesued by toe
heads of the largest offices OF admins
traUion in the coIntry. In the treas
ury and navy departments, The New
York custom house and posGoffice, and
other impol TAM custom houses and
postoffices; without the least regard
to The wishes or the wrath of 1hat le-
markaole class of our fellow citizens
known as political bosses, it is Coz
ceded by officers, wholly beyond sus-
picion Of party independence, that in
these chief branches of the public
service reform is perfectly practical
and the reformed system a great pub
lie benefit. And although as YET
these offices are by no means thol-
oughly recognized upon reform prin-
ciples, yet a quarter of the Whole
number of places in the public service
to which the reformed methods apply
are now included within those meGh-
ods.
1 say reformed methods and no.
principles, because the PRINCIPLES of
Ieiorm is applicable to the enclre pub
lie service. When under the:r oa5hs
to discharge the duties of their offices
to their best ability, and with the di-
vine AID, the president noDlinates and
the senate confirms a member of the
cabibet or minister to England, the
collector of a port OF a postmaster,
both the president and the senate are
bound to select the iittes6
agents for those high public trusts
without regard to personal or party
interests and with reference solely TO
the public welfare. For the public
service is the service of vhe people.
Its offices are not uhe perquisiGes of the
chier magistrate to whom the people
commit the appo' ntment of persons
to fill them. Nor are they the
property of the constitutional majority
of the people which selects that magic
trate. The majority which se,ecGs him
is simply the agency by which the
whole people act, and in executing the
trust of appointment to office, he is
discharging a duly, no6 to majority
nor to party, but to the whole peo-
pie; and in making the appointment
he is morally bound to consider only
for the service and no.
agreement with The opinion of the
upon subjects that do no.
a feet the duties of the office. Undoubt-
edly, our political system intends the
action of the president to give effect to
the will of the majority in legislation.
He officially confirms the policy of the
country as expressed in the election
and declared by congress, a policy
which wales with varying opinion.
But whatever the changing policy, the
actual transaction OF the public busi-
ness under that policy is unchange-
able. 1t demands only capacity, hon
esty, diligence, subordination.
This is The principle of the constitu-
tion which nowhere recognizes parry
but everywhere conoerlpIates the ge1-
eral welfare. 1t is TIE reasonable
view of the mature of popular govern
ment. To admit the practical neces-
sity of the government by the major
ity is not to legitimate despotism, as
to concede the necessity OF govern
ment at all is no5 to justify the caprice
of tyranG. The mPjority, like the
president, is the discharge ofiUs funct-
ion, is the subject OF moral obligation.
They are both bound to consult the