1880.] OXJO [Snowden. 



may be formed, as touching the general service, but are 

 prone to take isolated instances of wrong-doing, and base 

 their opinion of the whole service thereon. 



That this is a most irrational and unjust process from 

 which to arrive at a sound conclusion, there can be no doubt, 

 and yet it is the usual mode. 



These grumbling pessimists who find no good in their 

 own country or times, are very often least fitted, either by 

 cultivation of mind or purity of character, to form a sound 

 judgment of their fellow men. 



Dismissing this class as worthy of no farther attention, 

 it must be admitted, that although our civil service fairly 

 represents the average moral and intellectual status of our 

 people, it can nevertheless be elevated and rendered more 

 efficient by means which are simple in themselves, and not 

 difficult of application. 



When I say the means of accomplishing this desired end 

 are simple and easy of application, I should say, they are 

 so, provided the people have courage and patriotism enough, 

 to demand of their political leaders, that our civil service 

 must be permanent — promotions coming through efficiency, and 

 the tenure of office dependent upon good behavior. It will not 

 do to simply incorporate these ideas or principles into the 

 political platforms of the parties, as catch votes, to be for- 

 gotten after elections are lost or won ; but let our civil ser- 

 vice be organized under the sanction of law, as are the mili- 

 tary and naval services, and thus secure a permanent appli- 

 cation of this important principle, no matter how often 

 administrations change, or parties succeed to power. That 

 the law should bind all parties in this respect — if the prin- 

 ciple is good — must be quite apparent. An attempt on the 

 part of any administration to establish such a wholesome 



