Year: 1872

Il for mnnfully saying 80. We appeal to the
People Whenever they shall see and feel as
wc do Frankng will go the way of all abatcd
nuisances. For tho present it is clear that
they do not generally care about the matter; ;
for, if they did, the House would be quick to
comprehend it and act accordingly.


As to Civil Service Reform, 1T means that
neither Presidents nor Congressman, poll
ticians nor parties, shall use the enormous
patronage Of the Government TO maintain and
extend their own power. The Hon. Member
from Buncombe likes his seat, and wants to
keep it till he can get something better But
others want it also; and he can only keep 1T
by "doing something" for Jones and ThOmp-
son and Smith, who are bcll-wethers In " the
"party," and can send to the next nomi-
mating convention delegations either devoted
or adverse to his aspirations as they
will. So he makes himself thoroughly
agreeable to the President and his Cabinet
working and voting for every bill they want
passed and against every other, for which they
nav him by filling all the post-oflices and rev.
enue colectorships in his district in accordance
with his wishes. Then he "goes In" Tor q
Mission, or at least Consulate, with two or
three Clerkships in the Executive Departments,
and perhaps COmmissiOnership to examine
newly completed stretch OF Pacific
Railroad, to bo bestowed on tho most pow
crful or most importunate of his support
ora as an earnest of what he will yet do
for Others and proof that he is appreciated
at the White House. Of course, he is for
Second Term, or whatever else may be de-
sired at headquarters; and those who have
received and those who expect fayors at his
hands applaud his preference and second his
efforts. There is no boiling, no scratching,
no demur, no discordant opinion, but every
thing is harmonious and lovely till the ma
chine breaks down or runs off the track,
wrecking all that put their trust in it.


We find no fault with these. They are no
better and no worse than other men. They
are in, want to keep in, and judge this to DC
the way. Others in their places would do just
as they do. They will admit to you in pri-
vate that the system is not theoretically per
feet; but they are satisfied with its working,
and do not see how to better it without in
curing disaster. SO they praise the bridge
that carries them safe over, and leave the
building of one ideally better to those who
have time and taste for that kind OF archi-
| lecture.


| We regard the system as radically vicious
and mischicvOus. 1t makes the Executive and
the majority in Congress partners in grand
Gift Enterprise whereby their proper inde-
pendence of each other is gravely impaired.
| The President and Postmastcr-General appoint
as they must to crafty and retain their sup
porters in Congress, who in turn legislatc and
vote in conformity to the Executives wishes,
not always to their deepest convictions. We
hope to sec the system OveIthrown and eladi-
Gated but meantime we thank the majority in
the House for voting down Mr. Wizards bill
Let us have an end of shalns and make be-
| leves. If we are not to have genuine Civil
Service Reform, let us not be amused and de-
luded by mockcry, however specous.