Clearfield Republican

Presidential Ideas of Civil Service Reform.
Gen. Grant's anxiety for the reform of the civil service is curiously illustrated in the appointments which he has made. Upon the theory that reform, like charity, should begin at home, he has appointed to public offices nearly all his own and his wife's relatives. His next move in the direction of civil service reform was to bestow offices upon those from whom he had received the most gifts, as for instance, A. T. Stewart, Mr. Borie, and the Hon. Hamilton Fish. As a further indication of his regard for the purity and elevation of the public service, he conferred important offices upon persons who had rendered him services in securing votes for the ratification of the Dominican job. A son-in-law of Senator Cameron and a clerk of Senator Pomeroy thus became beneficiaries of this branch of Presidential civil service reform. Another instance of the Executive solicitude for the reputation of civil service is his retention in office of the notorious bribe-taker, Bancroft Davis. Mr. Motley on the other hand, upon whose integrity there is not a shadow of a cloud, has been dismissed because he was recommended by a Senator who is opposed to the Dominican job. If Gen. Grant is in earnest about the reform of the civil service, he has no one to blame but himself if it is not carried out. He declares emphatically that he wishes the proposed reform to apply not only to the clerks of the Departments, but to the persons appointed to office with the consent of the Senate. By whom are these persons appointed if not by the President? It is his duty to appoint only fit persons, and he is responsible for unfit and disgraceful appointments. He has notoriously disregarded this duty, and appointed hundreds and thousands of persons with reference not to their fitness, but to his own personal advantage and that of his relations. Having thus debased the public service of the country, he now imitates the runaway pickpocket, who hopes to escape from the hands of justice by crying "Stop thief," and throwing his guilt upon innocent parties. —N. Y. Sun, Radical.

Stable Government.—The new Constitution of the State of Illinois provides against the evil of special legislation, from which that State used to suffer so much, and from which many States still suffer. It forbids the enactment of any but general laws for such objects as granting divorces, changing names of persons and places, incorporating cities, towns, and villages, granting the right of laying down railroad tracks, or giving any special or exclusive privileges, immunity, or franchise whatever. In this respect we in Pennsylvania have much yet to do to perfect our system of government. The maxim, The best government is that which governs least, is founded on an eternal truth. The nearer we can assimilate our laws to those of the Divine Providence, which makes no exception, and never requires amendment, the better it will be for the community. Nine tenths of our political troubles come from the efforts of a few individuals to get some advantage over their fellows; and if our laws could be so framed as to put every citizen on an equal footing with every other citizen, and keep him there, it would be the best possible state of affairs.

Exit Victor Hugo.—The French National Assembly knows Victor Hugo no longer. Yesterday he tendered his resignation and abruptly quitted the Chamber, because he was hissed for advocating the legality of Garibaldi's election. It is a peculiarity of Victor Hugo and the other French radicals that they advocate in all seriousness what seems very absurd to everybody else. Garibaldi is an un-naturalized foreigner, and one would have supposed that the invalidity of his election to the Assembly would have been recognized and admitted even by the men who voted for him. Not so Victor Hugo and the Universal Republicans of France. They hold that Garibaldi, being a Republican, is a citizen of the world, and is, consequently, eligible to legislate for France. The absurd idealism characteristic of Victor Hugo has caused him to collapse temporarily. We expect, however, that he will recover himself in a few days and astonish the world by publishing an address to the French people, abounding in expletives and inflated rhetoric.

Of County.—The Gazette announces the arrival of Mr. O. P. Anderson, a colored gentleman six feet high, "who accompanied the martyr John Brown on his memorable expedition to Harper's Ferry." The hope is expressed that this devoted Republican and distinguished visitor will be induced to deliver an address during his visit. Certainly. Why not? Any one who accompanied John Brown to commit murder upon peaceable citizens, to cut the throats of women and children in Virginia, should be made a hero. The laws of the land condemned John Brown as a murderer, and those who were with him may have escaped the gallows, but they cannot escape the condemnation of all who are opposed to the willful and deliberate murder of those who may differ with us in politics or religion. Let us see who else will champion the acknowledged companion of a man who publicly avowed his intention to murder in defiance of the law of God and man. —Pittsburgh Post.