Year: 1872

A Pledge to be Redeemed.


From Harpers Weekly.


The election is over. The coun-
try has declared it's general policy
for the next four years-and the APP
peal to the people was made upon
the platforms OF both parties. If,
therefore, there be any particular
measures which both parties urged,
such measures must be assumed to
have the unanimous support Of the
country. 1t can be only an assump-
ton, but it will be Significant
There is, as everybody knows, one
reform to which both parties were
pledged by their declarations, and
which was naturally especially en-
phasized by the advocates Of Mr..
Greeley because they were out Of
power. We mean civil service re-
form. The Cincinnati platform de-
olared that "honesty, capacity and
fidelity constitute the only valid
claim to public employment" and
that the offices Of the Government
should cease to be "a matter Of IA
voritism and patronage" And the
Philadelphia platform unequivocal-
ly declared that eve therefore favor
a reform of the system by laws
which shall abolish the evils of pa
tronaee, and make honesty, efficien-
cy and fidelity the essential qualifi-
cations for public position"


We have Il very moderate faith
i'll platform professions; but they
are always useful as weathercocks.
They show the way the wind is at
least supposed to blow; and often,
also, which way it is believed that
it is going to blow. The emphasis
which both platforms laid upon this
subject showed tie belief that there
was very positive public senti-
mcnt in favor Of the reform. And
of this there is no doubt. But the
feeling is not yet general; and it
certainly is not entertained by the
working politicians, who are the
first persons to be affected by the
considerations which commend the
reform to independent citizens. We
have now, however, to deal mainly
with methods of administration
The election has determind the gen.
eral principles on which party. dit
ference will now surely and not
slowly expire. 1t is perhaps use
less, although natural, to speculate
upon the new political combinations
which must necessarily follow such
a campaign as that from which we
have just emerged. But one thing
is plain: and that is, that it is the
very moment for every friend OF a
thorough reform in the civil service
system to make his hostility to the
present system effective.


The opportunity is the more in
viting because, under President
Grant, a real beginning of reform
has been made. Public attention
has been carncstl y directed to the
subject. Arbitrary removal for par
tizan reasons is more difficult and
more scandalous than it was. Po-
litical assessments have unquestion-
ably been obstructcd. The princi-
pie Of promotion in the service is
more steadily regarded. Appoint
ments to the departments at Wash
inyton have been strictly made OH
prescribed and honest examination.
Under immense difficulties, known
only to those who are familiar with
the circumstances, sincere reform
has begun. Those who find that it
is only beginning, and who cite
instances in which there is an e,i-
dent disregard of the principles Of
reform, and who sneer that such in
stances prove the whole movement
to be dishonest and a fragrant sham,
merely prove themselves to be ex-
tremly foolish. a system intrench-
ed in the traditions and convictions
Of the country for forty years
which is most heartily approved by
the vast majority of the chief APP
pointing officers in the service, and
which is sustained by an enormous
majority of all parties in Congress
is not to be suddenly changed or
reformed, or even modified. 10 cx-
pcct the President alone to refoNn
it, is to expect the Pope to reform
the Church.


It was constantly and falsely al
legged during the campaign that the
civil service was never so corrupt
and never SO required reform as du-
ring the administration of General
Grant; and Senator Trumbull was
guilty Of one of the grossest moral
delinquincies in quoting the report
of the Civil Service Commission of
astDecember as evidence that, by
the confession of the Presidents
chosen friends, his administration
was so corrupt that a quarter Of the
revenue was annually lost or stolen.
Senator Trumbull knew perfectly
well the explanation Of the para
graph which he cited to sustain his
assertion, nor did he profess to be-
lieve what he was willing to try to
persuade others to believe. In the