The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1899-06-22
THE PASSING OF THE
MERIT SYSTEM.

dent Mckinley than they are in preserv-
ing the integrity of civil service, prove
too much, if anything be proved. There
is no force in what they say unless 1t be
conceded that the merit system is an er-
TOR. The defense of President Mckln-
ley's course is wholly on this line that
examinations and promotions initiate
against efficient service. 1t is practical
Iy saying that superior relative intelli-
gence and e1perience are elements of
d ratification.
Tho people are, in theory at least SOW
ereign The government is system OF
machinery designed to do certain things
which is essential to the well being of
the people shall be done and done prop
erly, The people select agents who take
charge of this system which of necessity
ssdividedintod departments. Theseagents'
not infreuuentlv, are more disposed to
give attention to their personal interests
affected by the positions they fill, than
to give their service with undivided pur-
pose To the interests of their principal,
the people The spoils system grew out
of this regard, making official station
an individual perquisite and securing
tong tenure of Office by distribution of
patronage without reference to charac-
ter Of service, The people paid for the
Instruments which were used to make
Intellectual their wishes as to the quallti-
cations of their employees. The detail Of
performance being outside the control
of the principal, the business of govern
ment was run by the officeholders, and
in large mesaure it ceased TO be gov
eminent by the people The conscience
of the country was against this oligarchy
of office-holders and persistent effort fl
nally resulted in checking the growing
evil The people demanded that tests OF
htness be required of those who were
given public duties to perform. 1t was
uot with them a matter of personal pref
erence or party advantage. 1t was a
matter of personal fitness, cleanliness
and character and demand that effici
ent service be recognized. There was
no other movement in governmental af-
fairs whose roots had struck SO deeply III
public conviction, and spoilsmen who
S1eered at the reform rs dilettanteism,
soon assumed the virtue of giving ii
adherence because to oppose it would be
TO invite retirement from public life.
The expressed devotion was but lip-ser
vice and the heart did not go with it.
The purpose to hold the word of prom
sse to the ear and break it to the hope
WIS never abandoned The concealed
dagger was to take the place of open
warfare and civil service reform was to
be slaughted by its seeming friends while
uttering protestations of fidelity toward
it.
The order of exemption issued by
President Mckinley is bad enough. But
il has the saving merit of being an open
assault Apologists are fawners and
shas the public will esteem them. Those
who Justify, condemn themselves. There
: no reform instituted that the means
by which is carried into effect does not
press hard through infexibility in indi
yidual cases But is it wise to sacrifice
the whole for the incident? The justifi-
cation of Mckinleys order has only this
tegsa basis-a cone of principle balanced
npon its apex with assurances of its sta
bihty spread broadcast by those who
think defense of the administration
patriotic duty even though censure be
earned.
tits an inopportune time for enfeebling
civil service by bloodlettinS, or eXcision
We are practically committed to the
colonial policy. and whether wise or not,
are assuming responsibilities without
the aid of experience and into which we
have not grown Englands colonial
policy has been successful because of the
high character of its civil service which
has attained its excellence through the
conscientious effoit and intelligent dis
elimination of its statesmen who have
repudiated spoils for generations. We
are reversing her policy and creating a
field for place hunters and enlarging the
opportunity for spoilsmen.
And yet the cloud is not without its
silver lining and it is possible the wreck
McKinley's order is well calculated to
effect may prove a source of strength.
IL i an encouraging sign that many of
tex leSlding republican papers express
styrfe9ryed and unqualified disapproval
of the presidents order, thus showing
that toe principle of reform is SO dear to
them that they feel absolved from all
ab cations to Ia late an indefensible
proceeding on the part of the chief exec
utiye, a member of their party 1t
shows that civil service reform has III
them champions ready to do battle in its
behalf against all corners, no matter in