The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-04-08
AS TO THE .oFFICEs.
A Republican Veterans idea of Civil Ser,
Ice Reftrh,


A Republican Veterans idea Of Civil Serv-
Ice Reform.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRISUSE: Civil Serv-
ice reform is evidently "a hard question to
settle satisfactorily to all The citizens OF this
Republic; especially with portion of the
class who have come ambng us from foreign
shores in the last Decade No matter how
truly loyal they become, the idea that the
laws of the land wheacea they came are far
superior to those of their adopted country Is
never fully eradicated from their minds.
Their ideas Of administering the affairs OF
the Government is Invariably inimicai to o
republican form Of Government, for, believ-
ing that life-tenure office-h0lding Oligar-
chy is the best, and that the President shall
have little to say as TO who shall constitute
his political advisers, whether they shall be
selected from among his political enemies or
friends, seems to them to make but little
difference, SO long rs they pass the routine
examinations promulgated by the CIVIL
Service oligarchy.
At the Civil Service Reform meeting
short time since the fact cropped out that
there were men at the meeting who had
voted for Mr.. Bryan; for when n resolution
came before the meeting and was about 10
be adopted, censuring him for advocating
anti.Civil Service doctrine, it was promptly
sat down upon. The fact that there were IN
that meeting men who had voted for the
candidate who advocated anti-Civii Service
reform, fixing up a code of ethics to govern
the present Administration, is, to say the
least, queer proceeding from party stand
point.
1t is conceded by all thoughtful citizens,
without regard to party, that the dominant
l. To- crpf
administering the affairs of the Govern
ment, as the President is supposed to carry
ont the wishes of the party as enunciated in
the platform of the Convention that nomi-
mated him. IF he does not, he is recreant to
the trust delegated to him by the repre-
sentatives of the people.
Party men believe that there are men
within the lines Of the dominant party ca
pable of administering the affairs oil the
Government, and that the examination Of
candidates for Government positions should
be confined within the lines Of the party lii
power This would seem to be In accord-
ance with republican form of Government.
Few Presidents have been elected TO pre-
side over the destinies of tue American peo-
pie who did not expect TO have honest and
capable officers to assist them in the admin
istration of public affairs. Often, however,
men have been selected TO fill high positions
who pass No. l examinations who utterly
fail or prove to be frst-class rascals. AS
soon as their misdoings are discovered they
are invariably dismissed. That the Presi-
dent should have men OF his own political
party to assist him in carrying out the prIn-
ciples of the party that nominated him IS
conceded by all fair-minded men.
If so, why should the President be ham,
pered by Office holders who hold and advo-
cate different political opinions? Free
traders for instance, holding Office under a
high protective tariff President would
hamper the Administration when tariff
questions were being discussed, etc. They
might not be perniciously active, but their
presence in the family would be pernicious.
| Some of our reformeTs seem to think that a
republican form of Government Can exist
without party organizations. All sensible
people know that it is impossible. There
will be two or more parties 80 long as the
existing form of Government remains. II
the party in power fails to administer the
affairs of the Nation In satisfactory
manner, they will be relesated to the rear
| and another party given an opportunity.
As many people rs are required TO admin
! ister the affairs of the, Government have a
right to aspire to positions under Govern
ment for the people sand by the people,
young men are graduating from our schools
/ every year who are taught patriotism, aud
love Of country, and the flag of the Nation
floats over nearly all the schoolhouses north
of Mason & Dixon's line, and soon, we
hope, will be south of that line. The flag
| is pointed to as an object lesson of patriot
ism, and an incentive to pupils to study anG
fit themselves for the higher walks of life
Especially are they taught that If they are
capable, when Of the proper age, that they
are eligible to fill any Office in the gift o
the Government, from the lowest to thu
highest.
This being fact, there certainly is abun
dant first-class material in the dominan
party to fiji all the positions. AS heart
an old politician say The political wood
are full OF people that are capable of fillinl
all the Offices from Pathmaster up 10 Presl
dent as well as the present incumbens.'
Let the relormers confne their cOmpetitiy
examinations within the dominant party
give them tenure during good behavio
and the life of the party. BY so doing the.
will avoid the tendency to an office-ho'din
aristocracy or oligarchy. -WM. p. Dun
NINaToN, Co. A, Cd Cal. Cav, Redwood Fails
Mimi.