1880.1 ^WO [Snowdon. 



It is well to remember, however, that whilst General Jack- 

 son struck a fatal blow at the civil service, and prostituted 

 it to selfish partisan ends, the service itself was largely re- 

 sponsible for the blow that was given. 



Although existing by English and American precedents, 

 it was not restrained by law within its legitimate sphere. 



The service at that time was largely composed of those 

 who differed politically with Jackson, and as it was a period 

 of bitter partisan strife, they did all in their power to hamper 

 and embarrass his administration. This was neither wise 

 nor prudent, and exhibits to us the fact that, with the ex- 

 ception of the tenure of office, the service was badly organ- 

 ized and conducted. Instead of performing quietly and 

 efficiently its legitimate functions, without regard to the 

 change in the political head of the government, it was 

 violently partisan, and used its entrenched position to defeat 

 the measures advanced by the President. 



There was, therefore, some excuse for Jackson's course. 

 lie was a positive, brave, although sometimes an indiscreet, 

 man, and accustomed, from his habits of thought and train- 

 ing, to strike an enemy whenever and wherever he could 

 find him. He struck his Whig adversaries, fortified in the 

 civil service, and paralyzed them, as a power against him- 

 self. But in doing so he inflicted an evil upon his country 

 which has widened and deepened as the years have followed. 

 Had Gen. Jackson succeeded in applying a remedy for the 

 evil justly complained of, by such legislation as would pre- 

 vent a civil officer — as the unwritten law prevents officers 

 in the army and navy — from participating in partisan strife, 

 he would have accomplished the immediate purpose in view, 

 and left to the future, this, as the brightest page in his re- 

 markable career. 



