Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-12-05

not be laid on mathematics, nor should pro-
hclency therein be held to establish the
right of entry to a corps d'elite The typ
ical American officer of the hest kind need
not be a good mathematician. but he must
be able to master himself, to control 9TH
ers and to show boldness and fertility Of
resource In every emergency.
Action should be taken in reference to
the militia and to the raising of volunteer
forces Our militia law is obsolete and
worthless. The organization and arma-
ment of the national guard of the several
states, which are treated as militia in the
appropriations by the congress. should be
made identical with those provided for
the regular forces. The obligations and
duties of the guard in time of war should
be carefully defined and, system estab-
lished by law under which the method OF
procedure of raising volunteer forces
should be prescribed in advance. It is
utterly impossible in the excitement and
haste of impending war to do this satis-
factorily if the arrangements have not
been made long beforehand. Provision
should be made for utilizing in the first
volunteer organizations called out the
training of those citizens who have al
ready had experience under arms, and es-
pecially for the selection in advance OF
the officers of any force which may be
raised; for careful selection of the kind
necessary is impossible after the outbreak
of war.
7 That the army is not at all a mere In
strument of destruction has been shown
during the last three years. In the Phil
ippines. Cuba and Porto Rico it has prov
ed itself great constructive force.
most potent implement for the upbuilding
Of a peaceful civilization.
The Veterans.
No other citizens deserve so we'll OF the
republic as the veterans. the survivors
OF those who saved the Union. They did
the one deed which If left undone would
have meant that all else in our history
went for nothing. But for their steadfast
prowess in the greatest crisis of our his
tory all our annals would be meaningless
and our great experiment In popular free
dom and self government a gloomy fail
ure. Moreover they not only left us n
united nation. but they left us also as a
heritage the memory OF the mighty deeds
by which the nation was kept united. We
are now indeed one nation, one in fact as
well as in name; we are united in our de-
votion to the flag which is the symbol of
national greatness and unity, and the
very completeness of our union enables
us all. in every part of the country, to
glory In the valor shown alike by tho
sons Of the north and the sons of the
south in the times that tried mems souls,
J The men who in the last three years
have done SO well in the East and in the
West Indies and on the mainland of Asia
have shown that this remembrance is not
lost. In any serious crisis the United
States must rely for the great mass of its
fighting men upon the volunteer soldiery
who do not make permanent profession
of the military career, and whenever such
a crisis arises the deathless memories of
the civil war will give to Americans the
lift OF lofty purpose which comes to those
whose fathers have stood valiantly in the
forefront Of the battle.
The Merit System.
The merit system of making appoint
ments is in its essence as democratic and
American as the common school system
itself 1t simply means that in clerical
and other positions where the duties are
entirely nonpolitical all applicants should
have a fair field and no favor each stand
ing on his merits as he is able to show
them by practical test. Written competi-
dive examinations offer the only availa-
BILE means in many cases for applying this
system. In other cases. as where laborers
are employed, a system of registration
undoubtedly can be widely extended.
There are, Of course places where the
written competitive examination cannot
be applied and others where 1t offers by
no means an ideal solution, but where
under existing political conditions 1t is.
though an imperfect means. yet the best
present means Of getting satisfactory re-
suits.
wherever the conditions have permitted
Tue tppLCutOu VI tut bySteIIl III It's
fullest and widest sense the gain to the
government has been immense. The navy
yards and postal service illustrate proba-
bly, better than any other branches of the
government the great gain in economy.
efficiency and honesty due to the enforce
ment of this principle.
l recommend the passage of a law
which will extend the classified service to
the District of Columbia or will at least
| enable the president thus to extend 1t. In
my judgment all laws providing for the
| temporary employment of clerks should
hereafter contain a provision that they be
| selected under the civil service law.
1t is important to have this system OBJ
| tain at home, but It is even more impor-
| tant to have 1t applied rigidly in our insu-
| lar possessions. Not an office should be
filled in the Philippines or Porto Rico
| with any regard to the mans partisan af-
| Citations or services, with any regard to
the political. social or personal influence
| which he may have at his command. In
short, heed should be paid to absolutely
| nothing save the mans own character
| and capacity and the needs of the service.
| The administration OF these islands
should be as wholly free from the suspi-
cion OF partisan politics as the admins
| tration of the army and navy. AL that
we ask from the public servant in the
| Philippines or Porto Rico is that he reflect
| honor on his country by the way in which
| ne IudlkSS hLltt Il btHShI "
the peoples who have come under It This
Ia all that we should ask, and we cannot
| afford to be content with less.
The merit system is simply one method
of securing honest and efficient admins
| tration of the government, and in thu
| long run the sole justification of any type
of government lies in its proving itself
both homes; and efficient.
| The ConsuIar Service.
/ ! te ,iaad
/ under the provisions OF a law passed in
1856. which Is entirely Inadequate to exist
ing conditions. The interest shown by so
many commercial bodies throughout the
country In the reorganization of the serv-
| ice Is heartily commended to your atten-
ton. Several bills providing for new
| consular service have in recent years
been submitted to the congress. They are
based upon the just principle that APP
pointments to the service should be made
| only after a practical test of the appli-
| cant's fitness: that promotions should be
governed by trustworthiness. adaptability
| and zeal in the performance of duty, and
that the tenure of office should be unaf-
fected by partisan considerations.
The guardianship and fostering of our
| rapidly expanding foreign commerce, tho
| protection of American citizens resorting
TO foreign countries in lawful pursuit of
their affairs and the maintenance OF the
dignity OF the nation abroad combine to
make it essential that our consuls should
be men Of character. knowledge and en-
terprlse. It is true that the service is nov
in the main efficient, but a standard o.
excellence cannot be permanently main
tanned until the principles set forth in thu
bills heretofore submitted TO the congress
on this subject are enacted into law.
In my Judgment the time has arrived
when we should definitely make up oul
minds to recognize the Indian as an indt