Twelve years ago I read a paper before this association upon reform in the Civil Service.  The subject was of very little interest.  A few newspapers which were thought to be visionary occasionally discussed it, but the press of both parties smiled with profound indifference.  Mr. Jenckes had pressed it upon an utterly listless Congress, and his proposition was regarded as the harmless hobby of an amiable man, from which a little knowledge of practical politics would soon dismount him.  The English reform, which was by far the most significant political event in that country since the parliamentary reform bill of 1832, was virtually unknown to us.  To the general public it was necessary to explain what the Civil Service was, how it was recruited, what the abuses were, and how and why they were to be remedied.  Old professional politicians, who look upon reform as Dr. Johnson defined patriotism, as the last refuge of a scoundrel, either laughed at what they called the politics of idiocy and the moon, or sneered bitterly that reformers were cheap hypocrites who wanted other people’s places and lamented other people’s sins.

This general public indifference was not surprising.  The great reaction of feeling which followed the war, the relaxation of the long-strained anxiety of the nation for its own existence, the exhaustion of the vast expenditure of life and money, and the satisfaction with the general success, had left little disposition to do anything but secure in the national polity the legitimate results of the great contest.  To the country, reform was a proposition to reform evils of administration of which it knew little, and which, at most, seemed to it petty and impertinent in the midst of great affairs.  To Congress, it was apparently a proposal to deprive members of the patronage which to many of them was the real gratification of their position, the only way in which they felt their distinction and power.  To such members reform was a plot to deprive the bear of his honey, the dog of his bone, and they stared and growled incredulously.

This was a dozen years ago.  To-day the demand for reform is imperative.  The drop has become a deluge.  Leading journals of both parties eagerly proclaim its urgent necessity.  From New England to California public opinion is organizing itself in reform associations.  In the great custom-house and the great post-office of the country—­those in the city of New York—­reform has been actually begun upon definite principles and with remarkable success, and the good example has been followed elsewhere with the same results.  A bill carefully prepared and providing for gradual and thorough reform has been introduced with an admirable report in the Senate of the United States.  Mr. Pendleton, the Democratic Senator from Ohio, declares that the Spoils System which has debauched the Civil Service of fifty millions of people must be destroyed.  Mr. Dawes, the Republican Senator from Massachusetts, summons all good citizens