generacy, and thus
politics is degraded from a noble science to a disgusting scramble for
spoils.

VI. Treating the civil service as legitimate rewards for partisan zeal
diminishes official responsibility, lowers the standard of official
integrity, and stimulates corruption by augmenting the means of
corruption. The rapid growth of patronage, far beyond what is required
for efficiency of administration, is readily suggestive of evil. A
spirit of subserviency is not favorable to the growth of the highest
qualities. Ceasing to regard office as a trust for the public good, the
holder loses a strong motive for integrity. Favoring servility, or
sycophancy, to conciliate superiors, very easily loosens the restraints
of conscience. Vigorous attachment to principles yields to devotion to
party. Public morals are corrupted by false maxims, by increase of
temptation, by loss of patriotism. Places are multiplied for partisans.
Contracts are let to partisans. Frauds, the logical consequence of
lowering office to be mere pay for party services, are covered up, or
palliated, to prevent damage to "the party."

If these evils be not greatly exaggerated, reform seems an imperative
necessity. It is hard to correct governmental abuses. Society is prone
to run in ruts. To suggest the supernumerariness of an office, or a
reduction of salaries, raises a howl among the _ins_ as if the
liberties of the country were imperilled. Those useful legislators,
like George W. Jones of Tennessee, and Holman of Indiana, who watch for
abuses and scent afar a "ring," are always unpopular. It is needful to
get back to first principles and to indoctrinate the public anew with
correct notions as to the object of an office and the duties of a
public officer. The Koran says: "A ruler who appoints any man to an
office when there is in his dominions another man better qualified for
it sins against God and against the State." To dismiss a faithful and
capable incumbent to gratify party resentment, or to gratify a friend,
is utterly in disharmony with the purpose of administrative machinery.
Our Government is an agency for the public weal. It is not in an
antagonistic position to "the people of the United States," but their
servant to accomplish their legal will and to promote their prosperity.
People were not created for offices, but offices for the people. As
soon as the public service ceases to be subserved the offices should at
once cease. While the office is