Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1897-04-24


my, have philosophical themselves
into positions at ratio OF seven
tenths of all the places filed by the
examining boards. No wonder SEN
ator Lodge advocates civil service,
though it be so Numerically at vari-
ance with our Republicanisn.
The Force Bill, so-called, was one
OF the great factors in bringing about
Harrison's defeat. Shall the great
Republican party, whose mission has
always been one Of peace, and whose
emblem is the very synonym OF pros
perity stand idly by and see itself en-
tangled in inextricable folds with a
gigantic iniquity foisting itself upon
the country, that will prove more
deadly to the success ofthe party than
the Force Bill could possibly be?
The Republican platform Of 1896
declared in favor Of civil service re-
form. honestly administered, but in
the great distress in which the coun-
try had been placed by unwise tariff
legislation, civil service was SO OBJ
served and lost sight of that it was
not an issue, though the Democratic
party declared in opposition to it.
But not so in 1900. II the deformity
should still be alive and doing busl-
ness, its merits and dement's will be
brought before the public with an
interest not to be obscured by any
international questions that might
arise.
If civil service is to be extended as
Mr.. Mckinley said in his letter OF ac-
ceptance, and the Republican party
should again adopt it IN their plat
form, the party would be inspired to
fight the battle with the certainty, II
successful, of having President with
Cabinet and other high-salaried
officials. If the Democratic party
should go before the country with an
anti civil service plank in their plat
form, with the certainty, if successful
of having not only President, but
filing over hundred thousand ted
eral positions, does it require a proph-
ct or the son of a prophet to fortell
the result of a contest 50 unequally
waged2
When the American Eagle spread
his wings over the British Lion at
Yorktown and our independence was
assured, King George, a life-tenure in
office, civil service and all kindred
ties were knocked out The genius
of our government declares that all
men are equal before the law, and onr
public servants were either elected or
appointed from the successful party,
and were held responsible for the
administration of its affairs. We are
now getting back almost where we
started in 1916. The British govern
ment was composed of King,
House of Lords who enjoyed certain
exclusive privileges and honors.
The members are either Lords tenn
poral or spiritual. The spiritual
Lords are bishops, and hold their
office for life. The temporal Lords
enjoy their seats from hereditary
right. The head of the government
being hereditary and for life the sub
ordinate positions in the various de-
partments are a life-tenure or dur
ing good behavior. Chambers, in his
admirable work on the different forms
of government, says 1.-the manner in
which the administrative functions OF
government are executed depends
upon the industry and honesty of
officials, not responsible to public
opinion and not liable to be dismissed
unless convicted of gross dereliction
of duty and of whom their chief asks
little more than sufficient attention
and skill to save them from successful
examinations. Again, ''nien united
for any purpose, the pursuit of either
a business or a pleasure common to
them all, Immediately contract what
might be called a clannish or corpora
ton spirit. They act and feel as
having a common interest opposed to
the interests of all who do not belong
to their body. This clique, animated
by the love of ease and self, more or
less natural to all men, has a tenden-
cy to convert every organized govern
ment into a knot of oppressors." So
much for Great Britain and civil ser
vice as viewed by Chambers.
Again we are told that civil service