Daily Kennebec journal., 1901-12-04

De ap'e TO master nirns-n. 10 ror1iu vur-
ers and to show boldness and fertility OF
resource in every emergency.
| Action should be taken In reference ia
the militia and 70 the raising OF volunteer
forces. Our militia law Is obsolete and
: worthless. The organization and armaI
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 a system estab b.
lished by law under which the method of
procedure OF raising volunteer forces
should be prescribed in advance II js
utterly impossible in the excitement and
haste OF impending war to do this satis-
factorily IL the arrangements have not
been made long beforehand. Provision
should be made for utilizing In the first
volunteer organizations called out tho
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.
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 IL has prov
ed Itself a great constructive force. a
most potent implement for the upbuilding
OF a peaceful civilization.
The Veterans.
No other citizens deserve 30 well OF the
republic as the veterans. the survivors
Of those who saved the Union. They did
the one deed which il 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 as
united nation. but they left us also a s "A
! heritage the memory Of the mighty deeds
! by which the nation was kept united We
are now indeed one nation. one IN fact 4 s
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
I very completeness OF our union enables
J us all, in every part Of the country. 10
! glory IN the va.or shown alike hy the
/ sons OF the north and the sons Of the
south in the times that tried mems souls
The men who in The last three years
I have done well In the East and in the
( West Indies ard OF the mainland OF Asin
\ have shown that this remembrance is not
lost In any serious crisis the United
I States must rely for the great NE ss Of its
fighting n-H upon the volunteer soldiery
who DO not make a permanent profession
" OF the military career. ana whenever such
crisis arises the dea HESS memories OF
( the civil war VIII give to Americans the
F lift OF LOFTY p-rpOse which comes TO thos.
whose fathers have stood valiantly in the
forefront Of the battle.
The Merit system.
The merit system Of making appoint
\ rer.ts IL ia It's essence as democratic and
/ American as the common school system
itxelf. i simply means that il clerical
/ and other positions whore the duties are
entirely ronpolit.cal ali applicants should
/ have a fair field and 10 favor, each stand
/ ing on HI. merits a lie IL able 10 show
them by practical test. Written cOnpeti-
tive examinations offer the only availa-
I b!e means in many cases for applying his
system In other cases. as where laboTc-s
are employed. a system OF registration
undoubtedly can be widely extended.
There are. OF course. places where the
written competitive examination cannot
be applied nd others where 1t offers by
no means an ideal solution. but whore
under existing political conditions Il IS
though an imperfect means. yet the best
present means OF getting satisfactory re-
suits.
Wherever the conditions have permitted
the application OF the merit system in is
fullest and widest sense the gain to tie
government has been immense. The navy
yards and postal service illustrate proba
bly, better than any other branches OF tie
goverarlert the great gain in economy.
efficiency and honesty due TO the enforce
ment of this principle.
l recommend the passage OF law
which Will extend the classified service 10
the District OF Columbia or will at least
enable the president thus to extend it. 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 il is even more impor-
tant TO have it 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 |
fiiations or services. with any regard 10
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 I
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 |
tratioD Of the army and navy. All that
We ask from the public servant in the 4
Philippines or Porto Rico is that he reflect /
honor on his country by the way in which .
he makes that countrys rule a benefit 10 |
the peoples who have come under 1t. This :
is all that we should ask. ana 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 the .
long run the sole justification Of any type /
Of government lies i'll its proving Itself +.
both honest and efficient
The Consular Service.
The consular service is now organized .
under the provisions of a Ia passed in
1886. which is entirely inadequate TO exist
ing conditions. The interest shown by so /
many commercial bodies throughout the |
country In the reorganiza tion Of the serv-
ice is heartily commended 10 YOUR atten-
ton. SeveI1il bills providing for new 4
consular service have in recent years
been submitted TO the congress. They are
based upon the just principle that ap-
pointments to the service should be made
only after q practical test OF the appl
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 he unaf-
tai he, IA