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


three dollars and fraction for every
thousand dollars collected and dis
bursed during the period covering
the late civil war, when millions Of
money was paid out to the soldiers in
the field, and it had grown less and
less until during President Arthur s
term of office, the loss was only three
cents on every thousand dollars col
lected and disbursed. So the percent
age of loss does not admit of the term
spoils system being applied, espe-
cial1y when all the Irregularities and
losses that have occurred were with
those holding positions not now COW
cred by civil service. Moreover the
cost to the country Of the civil service
commission is many times more than
all the loss that the government sus-
tains by leakage. The plea that
better service would be rendered has
not proven true.
Civil service is part of an institu-
ton taken from and naturally belong
ing to monarchy and is foreign to
and detrimental to Republican insti-
tutions. Life-tenurei in office dispirits
the great body of worthy citizens,
removes the interest they might
otherwise have in the affairs of the
country, and keeps back worthy
aspiration and qualification for posi-
ton. If civil service prevails, men
aspiring to elective Offices can only
arouse the people or get their support
by means of corrupt usages, for this
must be the logical result. Monarch
les, as we have shown, are governed
by an hereditary ruler and officers APP
pointed for life. A Republican gov
eminent is one of and by the people.
Whenever a civil service board has
the power of appointing for life the
great body of the public servants, it
ceases that far to be Republican or of
the people, but returns to the mon
acbial or hereditary system. Mug
wumpery of whatever political party,
inexperienced persons and adventur-
Gus carpet baggers are dangerous and
disturbing elements and can destroy
during one administration, what has
taken years of patience and patriotic
devotion to build up.
As view it, civil service has ten
dency to centralize the power that of
right belongs to the people. I'm
iustifiable discrimination is nantes
ly wrong. Who has the right to say
where the line shall be drawn. Let
the service extend to every appoint
ment in the land or extend to pone.
Let us return TO the system establish
ed with the government by the Faith
ers whose love of liberty and ofjustice
would have forbid the thought of any
thing like life-tenure or a privileged
class. The remedy is with the people.
The Ottoman Sultan, at the time
when his greatest power, never dar-
ed to act contrary to the law of the
Koran. Henry II, of England, was
obliged to humble himself before
the religious sentiment of his
age. Let the people in every county
express by petition their views to
their representatives in Congress,
demanding the repeal of this abnor-
NAL political monstrosity, and then
there will be an avenue opened, not
to life-tenure, but to every proud
American citizen, who can stand
upon an equal footing, with just
and honorable ambition to enter the
race for preferment, standing upon
his own merit, bowling in submission
to none but his God, and ready at all
times to give back untarnished that
which has been committed to his
trust. May every West Virginian
who has received inspiration from his
mountain habitation and the mellow
air that sweeps through her forests,
and who has drank from her crystal
fountains, whose manhood and indie
pendence is his fortress and whose
virtues are his treasure, raise his voice
in condemnation of this national evil.
The best security of faithful service is
through votaries OF an administration,
anxious for the advancement of the
national interests under its policy, not
wishing 10 betray atrust, nor failing to
measure up in ability and efficiency to
that which might be required. This
is the best guarantee that any govern
ment can have of the faithfulness and
ability of her public servants.