The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-28
THE CIVIL SERVICE.
This Writer Thinks an Important Is
sue Is Lost I'm Agitation.

CThe appended letter was printed in yes
terdays Journal, and is here reproduced
for the purpose of correcting an aggravat-
ing typographical blunder-Editor Jour
nal)
To the Editor of the indianapolis Journal:
The National Civil-service Reform League
that met in Cincinnati Dec. II has furnished
food for thought to the American people.
The cast and makeup of the officers of that
league are as suggestive as the resolutions
adopted are audacious and autocratic and
impertous. Let it be suggested right here
that this Civil-service Reform League may
be but another name for new political
party which it's promoters desire shall take
the place OF the old parties in large meas
ure and by degrees, and shall select,
through its own reform commission. GER
tain subordinate officers. And who is at the
mead OF this new political organization, and
what did the party do at it's national con-
vention in Cincinnati Dec II? Who is the
party, and what is its platform? The pres-
Carl Schurz; l do not desire to make an
attack on Mr.. Schurz. His ability as n
scholar Is recognized But who is Carl
Schurz? If he is to come to this country
and teach the American people how to run
a government and scold such able and
patriotic men as General GrosvenOr in ma
tlonal convention assembled, / thing. the
many readers of the Journal would like to
Know a good deal about his pedigree So
mere 1t is briefly abridged from Appleton S
Cyclopedia of American Biography, Vol. 3:
1a29-Born near Cologne. Prussia.
1S4S-At the beginning of the revolution as
sIstant publisher of a Liberal newspaper.
Io45-Attempted to promote an inSurrectiOn
at Bonn, i'll consequence of which he fled
from his country and became a refugee
,os and Joined the revolutionary army,
IS5O-Returned secretly to Germany to as
sIst rebel friend of his to escape.
loal-Jn Paris as a correspondent of German
Journals. Same year, taught school in
1852-Came to the United States.
iS26-Made Republican speeches in German.
lSos-A lawyer in Milwaukee. Wis. Candi-
date for lieutenant governor.
lS6O-Lecturing in New England
lo6l-Appointed minister to Spain by Presi-
dent Lincoln. Resigned and Joined the
lS65-Special commissioner to the South, .ap-
pointed by President Johnson.
lS62-6o-W shington correspondent of the
New York Tribune. -
lSe6-Editor the Post. in Detroit Mich.
lS6F-Editing the Westliche Post, in St.
1S6S~Temporary chairman Of the Remb,ic-
,o an national convention in Chicago.
iSo9-Jnlted States senator from Missouri.
1SLZ-Chief organizer of the Liberal party.
chairman Of the national convention in
Glnclnnati that nominated Horace Greeley.
ien-Appointed secretary of the interior by
IRE rbresdent Hayes +, Afterwards editor of
1SS4-A Grover Cleveland Democrat.
1897, Nov. 17-Chairman of the National
C1vll-SerVice Reform League
Who is Carl Sehurz? political refugee,
repudiated by his own country: an adven-
tuFer restless, changeable character; a
stage actor; a dramatist politically; a wan
dering socialist; jack-of-all-t and APP
parently master of none. And yet he has
and instruct Us how to run it. The greatest
government OH earth 10 be tutored by Carl
Schurz! And he is allowed to rehuke and
reprove old native American patriots who
have grown gray in honest. efficient and
meritorious government service, without a
protest. And because some of the genuine
American people. imbued with the true old
fashioned American spirit, do not feel like
failing in line with movement dominated
by sneh spirit they are denounced and
good government and pure politics. by Mr..
SchurZ and his followers.
| fear we are apt to lose sight of the i'm
portant issue in this civil-service reform
agitation. 1t is not such a serious question
as to who fills the subordinate Offices just
so they are competent Good men can be
found in any of the parties. But the seri-
GUS question Is as to who and what ele-
ments are in control of the machinery of
the government. Are they safe and COM
petent. and are they imbued and in sympa-
thy with the native American spirit? Are
government and practical politics? For in
stance, look at some of the other officers
of the Civil-service Reform League. Who
are they? Charles Francis Adams is one
a scholar. to be sure but somewhat of a
theorist. Right Rev Henry &. Potter, of
New York, and Right Rev. P: ]. Ryan. of
Philadelphia, are two other officers. Min
listers and bishops are all right in their
chosen fields, but. as Il rule, are not prac-
teal and well equipped Tor the rugged ana
intricate work of steering ships of state.
Another suggestive character and leading
spirit in the movement in Charles j. Bona
parte, a. distant relative of the imperial di-
rector Napoleon. Rev. p. Ryan, a good
and great man, surely, but he is u church
man and not a StateSmn. Is the eye
strained that thinks it sees in this civil
service reform movement difused the So
cialist spirit of Germany, the ecclesiastical
spirit of Rome and the military spirit of
France? If ii is it cannot be denied that
three of the leading lights are Schurz, Ryan
and Bonaparte. Socialism, ecclesiasticism
and mlitarism seem naturally to follow in
the wake of the names
That our national politics i'll both great
parties and our government service are lot
as perfect as they might be, and need re-
forming and improving, every one will ad-
nit. But that the national parties are not
capable of reforming themselves, that
America is incapable of self-government no
one should admit. 1t is rather remarkable
how easy we as nation, fall under the
dominion and influence of uncertain and
divers doctrnaires and teachers with Itch
ing ears. None of us wants to go backward
We all should want to move forward, but
our forward and upward movement should
be along safe and sufficiently conservative
lines to make us feel that we have dis
tinct nationality and are securely enough
rooted and grounded to prevent us from be-
ing shaken and made to totter on our base
by every strange wind of doctrine and the
ory that blows from foreign shores.
JONATHAN KEITH.