Rensselaer Union, Volume 9, Number 27, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 March 1877 — CIVIL SERVICE REFORM. [ARTICLE]

CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.

Among the 846 democrat*, tndapcndetils, republicans and ttonde* •oripts who voted for the present auditor of Jasper Oounty there was not ops whom he thought was qu&K isled to he hie deputy. He had lived W tbopostjtv quite a quarter of « osatary »«d was personally acquainted with scores of people, bat euieng all of them there was not om whom ha dared trust, and fas eras compelled to import from another county a moral, honest and capable expert to do the tasks or a clerk. It will be well for each one of those 648 electors to take notice of this tact. It tcaohes a lesson p-hich all will be wise to heed. The peed of reform, radical and sweeping, could not have been better pointed out All of those 846 democrats, independents, republicans and nondescript* should go at once to learn the branches of study that tpre taught in the common schools bf our country. Education is needed. They should learn to read, write, spell, multiply, divide, add and subtract; they should learn to compute interest, work fractions, how to find the area of surfaces contained within given geometric lines, and to keep books by systematic rules. Each one of those 848 persons who voted for Mr. Barkley should also be very oaroful not to steal, cheat, swindle, rob, lie, swear, nor drink intoxicating liquors to excess. Especially ought they all to abstain from the immoral practice of using beverages that inebriate; fur no person who is a subject of this king of vices is fit to hold public office, or to do business for himself or others. A boosy dep nty is as much of a nuisance as a drunken prineipal. Drunkenness is becoming the national crime of the United States, aud no safeguards to prevent its spread can be made too strong. Let the necessities that cdmpellcd Mr. Barkley to seek abroad for an honest, capable, mor-i al subordinate be a warning to the people of this county, especially to those 6fß patriotic reformers who voted for him, by which they may all profit. It is a grand step towards civil servioe reform, which every department Of the government needs so much to-day, when men that have been promoted to office rise above those antiquated notions of gratitude that have come down to us from the dark ages, and, ignoring the claims of those whose friendship placed them in power, bestow upon strangers the favors they have to distribute, wh«*n they learn that ail of those friends have become Unfit or unsafe to trust. While to the casual observer Mr. Barkley’s policy may seem to throw a shadow upon the morality, houesty and education of those with whom he had associated for many years, deep thinkers and profound philosophers will take a broad view of the subject and practical men will see at once the need of a better education and higher standard of morals among the mass that vole. Very few men who run for office these modern days are modest enougii to see, or honest enough to admit,' their own lack of qualifications and employ experts to conduct publie business that it may not suffer from their own stupid blunders; fewer have the gift to distinguish in others at long range qualities that they lack themselves; and the number is •till le®* who have genius to introduce great reforms or the firmness to establish them among the people who, a* a rule, are selfish, jealous, and suspicious of all innovations. When men possessing these characteristics of greatness are brought to the snrftiae it is the doty of journalist* to bold up their examples a» model* for emulation. Sometime*, however, partisan newspapapers neglect this duty. The Uniox, being an independent paper, not influenced by narrow party considerations. It can to be just; to treat alt alike; and may commend that which i* noble and good wherever it is found. Besides this Tots Umox is one of Mr. Barkley** earnest sod warmest friends. It* feeble influence assisted him into office atyw hi* repeated failures of

on bis account. But its friendship Is as unswerving us truth; It i* as proud of him as a girt of her lover. His tame shall he eternal. Where Tnh Uxiox is read his name shall be sung, Tuk Union on every proper occasion will point out and explain ib a lucid manner to these 848 noble patriots who voted for if* best friend—the greatest genius Jasper oounty ever pfadaeta—the measures of civil service - reform he has adopted or may introduce for hia own protection and the public good. Meantimo let each one oi that immortal baud of 848 reformera swear off from bad habits and vicious practices, and dilligently study their school books.