202 Civil Service Reform 



fairs of the State and its municipalities ; and the fol- 

 lowing spring the great city of Chicago voted, by 

 an overwhelming majority, in favor of applying in 

 its municipal affairs the advanced and radical Civil 

 Service Reform Law, which had already passed the 

 Illinois Legislature. Undoubtedly, after every suc- 

 cess there comes a moment of reaction. The friends 

 of the reform grow temporarily lukewarm, or, be- 

 cause it fails to secure everything they hoped, they 

 neglect to lay proper stress upon all that it does se- 

 cure. Yet, in spite of all rebuffs, in spite of all dis- 

 appointments and opposition, the growth of the 

 principle of Civil Service reform has been contin- 

 ually more rapid, and every year has taken us 

 measurably nearer that ideal of pure and decent 

 government which is dear to the heart of every 

 honest American citizen. 



