Great Falls weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1894-1???, 1896-09-04
CIVIL SERVICE A FRAUD.

Major Mckinley, in his letter of ac-
%ceptance, made special reference to the
high esteem in which he and his party
held the civil service law. Words. empty,
hypocritical words, and Mckinley knew
he was uttering an untruth when he
penned them. Civil service, in it's true
sense and spirit, means that appoint
ments to federal positions shall be based
upon the merit Of the applicant and not
as a reward for partisan services; that
the tenure ehall continue during the
competency of the incumbent. 1t was
not intended that the possession of a
petty place should deprive a citizen Of
his manhood and political rights, but ii
was intended that the vast power of
federal patronage should not be united
in a political army and used as Il ma
chine for the advancement or perpetual
ton Of any party, In theory, the civil
service law is good and wholesome; in
practice, under all administrations, it
has bccu an a~bomination, II has
drifted far away from it's moorin-a and
notably 80 under the Cleveland admin
istration, VT, strange as it may seem,
the most ugcu and fragrant violations of
the law ON the part of the democratic
administration were for the benefit of
the Mckinley goldbugs. No need TO re-
mind the readers of the land of the act
i've, offensive, partisan part taken by the
federal Office holders in behalf of the
gold standard during the campaign that
preceded the national conventions.
That is history, and such his
tory would make d man less
shameGaced than Clcyelandh hide himself
from public view forever. This is what
the democratic Cleveland did, now let
us see what the Mckinley crowd are do
ing, This is the crowd whose spokes-
man and candidate declares, favors civil
service and stands for q government
honestly and economically administered
in the interests Of the people, a party
that for months has done nothing but
pirate about its honesty. Here is a sam
pie of its honesty. The republican CON
%gressional committee is now sending out |
as a campaign document more than a
million copieso of a speech alleged to have
been made by Representative Sherman of
New York, and which includes the repub-
lican platform and the speech of Sena-
tor Thurston at the st. Louis conven-
ton. This document is printed at the
government Office, is made to appear as
a part of the congressional rec
ord and is sent under the frank
of Representative Apsley of Massa-
chusetts. The fact is, congress adj
two days prior to the
meeting Of the st, Louis convention and
consequently it was impossible for either
the platform or the Thurston speech to
have been made a part Of any speech on
the floor Of the house. The entire affair
is a barefaced steal ard a fraud, and a
and diggraceful violation of law.
1t Is q robbery Of the government print
ing Office and an outrageous abuse OF the
privilege. Yet in the face of
such practices as these, the republican
nominee who is the beneficiary has the
to face the American public,
proclaim its honesty of purpose and
practice and impiously call upon God to
Deatow favor upon such proceedings, ard
those who indulge ia and hope to be
benefited by them. For a MAJ vino
processes piety and practices deceit,
breaches morality and INDUCES ia fraud.
prociaims honesty aud assists in treach-
cry, commend us to Mckinley. His
Hanna has at least the advantage
Of bting BRAIN in bis conduct, he is not