Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-09-05
FEDERAL PATRONAGE.
An opirfon Upon Mr.. Brynn's Position
on Civil service Reform

From City and Stntc
We are strongly of the opinion that the
question of civil service reform should be
brought sharply TO the front in the coming
presidential campaign. That question is
as fundamental the currency question
although its Importance may not he so i'm
medlately apparent. IL touches the springs
OF our national life as truly as does that
question which determines the yaIue of The
rational dollar. Civil service reform saws
in a word, that the .epuppo appointiy,. Of
noes OF he federal service, which in their
salaries represent some sixty million dol
lars shall be used honestly: that key shall
bc open only TO those who give reasonable
evidence OF fitness 10 ill them, who by rea-
son OF good character and technical train
li.s are qualified TO perform the business
Cf the government. The Spoils system is
Precisely the reverse of this orderly and
honest method of conducting the routine
no n-politcal work Of the government: il is
gambling and scrambling in its spirit and
method. In the distribution of the inn
;Eense patronage of the country il sees not
d sacred trust which must be admniSt. red
with The utmost care in the interest OF The
peopl'-not only because they must have
The best public service possible, but far
mere important still. hat the country may
lie guarded from a source of corruption
that in All history has proved dry-rot
capable, ultimately. of destroying national
life itS'lf-but il s"es SO much spoil to be
captured by political craft and force and
then distributed TO those camp followers
v no have played often the most deSpicable
par; IN the struggle which preceded victory.
In the end, the Spoils SYST I'm always works
INTO power the most diSrs pUtabl.. and dam
x rous members of The community -toushs,
thieves gamblers, ballot-boA suffers de-
faultCrS, under its sway. inevitably acquire
an influence ana position in political life
hich is denied TO honest men. IlluS<ra-
tions might be given OF This simple truth
al nauseam. Were Illustrations needed.
For the overthrow OF this SpoilS system,
which President Lincoln told uS would
overthrow the government il il were not
itself oNcrthrown, civil service r.formers
have baer working for the last twenty-five
VARS with very marked recognition and
success 50 far as the federal service IL COM
Ct rned, and with AN encouraging advance
IL the state and municipal field. NJ con-
graduated ourselves tnat the cu;ir. conn
Try had recognized the value OF this re-
form, and had determined thai il should
take its permanent and honor.a place in
American politics-that thos. politics should
at last Toe cleanSed of their greatest stain.
But the whole question of the reform is
cpened airesh in the pr, som campaign.
The republican platform * clear ana uli.-
qUivocal in its utterances Oh this subject.
Ii The country ratilies that platform. al
though We have plenty of dangerous SpDilS-
men iii the republican party. We have ", a
sonable assurance in the character OF Mr..
Mckinley and the sentiment which kiss
i'll the party Itself tina; We may look Tor the
retention of ground already occupied and
cpie. ON the other hand, the Chicago
platform, in its confused and suspicious
civil service plank. SaNoring .-lrongly of the
spoismoneor in its phraseo!ogN. for-warns
Us of d distinct reaction in the event Of Mr..
Rryans election, and Of the loss of all the
ground won after so much struggle. Moth
ing which Mr.. Bryan has said since his
nomination has tended TO modify TINS i'm
Preston. lie mas said but little. and 50
las suggested either "A contcmpluous inGif-
ference 10 a very important topic. or stud
led conc"ament OF "A spoilS policy which
the platform anu the party which he rep
reS.ntS intimat.S only too strongly. lie
did not even mention The matter in his New
! ork speech, which was supposed TO be
fun statement OF his position. and which
was sufficiently long and pr msditatcd TO
have included fundamental qucsti
OF policy. But there have been several in
dications which show plainly that Mr..
Bryan makes a direct bid for favor to that
element which hungers and thirsts, not for
The Righteousness OF a wise administrative
system, but for the spoils and salaries OF
Office.