884
AN GAODHAL.
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
Considerable talk has been indulged in lately
in relation to "the pernicious effects of the spoils
system in our polities."
The ostensible object of the advocates of Civil
Service Reform is to lessen the political activity
of the government officials by making their tenure
of office depend on good conduct, etc., no matter
what change might take place in the head of the
government.
This idea is very good were it not that it would
tend to beget corruption in public life and be a
source of danger to the stability of our republican
form of government.
What is called the "Spoils system in our poli¬
tics," is the salvation of our republican institutions
because it creates in the mass of the people a keen
idea of party politics and sets one party to watch
the other and be thus alert to detect and expose
any mismanagement in the government depart¬
ments, whereas without such stimulus the people
would become careless and inactive, so that a
few designing politicians could run the govern¬
ment of the country in their own interest.
Now, to put a stop to the political activity of
placeholders and to their shameless wire-pulling
in getting bills to increase their salaries passed in
the legislature, at the expense of the general pub¬
lic, we would arrange civil service in this way —
We would confine the tenure of office of all ap¬
pointive official under the general government,
high or low, to four years, and those under the
city government to two years, excepting veterans
of the late Civil War, and would have the
appointees selected from the followers of the suc¬
cessful party, except the board of elections and its
subordinates, who should, for obvious reasons, be
equally balanced between the two parties.
In a republican government like ours it is unjust
and impolitic to give any citizen a life-tenure of an
office to which others as well as he are entitled;
and under the test of a competitive examination
more than a suffiency of fully qualified men
could be had to fill such offices.
The foregoing plan would put a stop to "the
pernicious activity" of placeholders. It would also
cause party officials to properly conduct their de¬
partments so as to have them in proper shape to
hand to their successors, because no matter what
party on the day, the official should vacate at the
end of his term.
This plan, too, would lessen bribery at elections
because the source from which the bribe comes,
(the officials) would be dried up.
We would put the laws concerning the above into
effect after the next national election, in the na¬
tion, and after the next mayoral election, in the
city.
The Mercury, San Jose, Cal., is a very spright¬
ly daily, containing all the news, near and far.
Its able editor, Mr. Shortbridge, gave the GAEL a
very flattering notice the other day, for which we
return our sincere thanks.
The Independent, Shingle Springs, El Dorado
Co., Cal., lies before us: It is well stocked with
the news of the day, and contains many short
stories, etc. It is edited by M. A. Hunter, and
promises success.
The most lamentable sight which an Irishman
could witness was presented to his view on last
St. Patrick's day. It was the parading through
the streets of the city, in two bitterly hostile col¬
umns, of the Ancient Order of Hibernians. We
find no fault with the leaders of the Hibernians,
(who, it is said, are in the pay of Scotland Yard)
but we do with the thousands of patriotic men
who permitted themselves to be made cat's paws
of by them.
Had his Honor, the mayor, the presence of
mind to refuse a permit to march to the leaders
of the warring Hibernians until they could agree
to march in one body, he would have earned the
gratitude of every self-respecting Irish-American
in Kings county.
We hope the rank and file of the A. O. H. in
future will see to it that if the leaders cannot a¬
gree they will be permitted to march by them¬
selves.
NEW PUBLICATIONS —
The Voice, San Francisco, California is the
best and most newsy paper published on the Pac¬
ific Slope. Its able editors are Capt. A D. Wood
and Rev. Geo. Morris. It is in its fourth year.
The Democrat, Redwood City, Cal., contains all
the news of the day, besides many short stories,
sketches, etc. It is in its fourth year, and prom¬
ises success. The other day it contained a very
flattering notice of the GAEL. Thanks.
It is with sincere regret we have to
record the death of Mr. Terrence Mc¬
Cahill of this city, a native of Beltur¬
bet, Co. Cavan. He was a true Irish¬
man.
R. I. P.
P. J. O'Daly has severed his connec¬
tion with the Boston Irish Echo, and
the veteran Irish scholar, M. C. O;Shea,
assumes its editorial control. Thomas
Rice Kent & co. are its publishers and
Mr. James its manager. It is hoped
that all Gaels will accord it generous
support. It does not reflect much cre¬
dit on the Irish element to see the few
Irish journals of which they can boast
struggling for the want of support,
and yet they have the audacity to
pose as "Irish patriots." Yes, patriots
for swag. You, genuine Gaels, are nu¬
merous enough to push the language.
Let us have the language, and the lip
patriots the swag
