Patronage Monopoly and the Pendleton Bill [pp. 185-207]

THE PRIJNCE TO.N RE VIE W.
to open the examinations, and hence the gates of office, to all
persons of apparent capacity, regardless of politics, influence, and
all the labels and threats of the monopolists. The way must be
made open, free, and clear for all, on the same terms, to prove, if
they could, that they were the most worthy to hold office. In
the language of Mr. Gladstone, "the public service must be made
public." The monopoly would be destroyed by restoring to the
people the common opportunities of which the monopolists had
deprived them.
Somne examinations in Great Britain had, in a small way,
been opened to all by heads of bureaus in mere self-defence, as
,early I think as I850. The superior officers which such exanlinations secured were manifest from the beginning. The labelled
favorites of the monopolists-the superannuated stewards, the
electioneering henchmen, the muddle-headed cousins and flunkies of members of Parliament, lords, bishops, and great politicians, which made up a majority of them-were easily distanced
by the young men of courage, character, and capacity who, for
the first time, could offer themselves for examination. The
monopolists became ashamed of the disgraceful record of their
favorites. Public opinion on the part of the intelligent, untitled
citizens soon began to be strong,-as it is now growing strong
with us, in favor of free, open examinations,-for these fivefold
reasons: (I) that they were founded in justice; (2) that they
crushed an odious monopoly; (3) that they give better officers
for the people; (4) that they opened a free way to office for
their sons; (5) that they powerfully stimulated popular education.
As soon as the examinations were made open and free, it
was as easy as it was natural to examine many together, so that
their merits could be compared and the best of all applicants
could be selected. To refuse to ascertain and take the best,
from those seeking places through examinations, would have
been to repudiate the principles and records on which all examinations are based. The middle and lower classes rejoiced as
much as the monopolists and aristocrats grumbled at these triumphs of justice and intelligence over birthright and monopoly.
It is but just, however, to say that true statesmen among the
nobility aided this republican reform -a more disinterested
patriotism and a higher courage than have yet been shown by