I have
always held to the doctrine of what is called Civil Service
Reform, and have maintained to the best of my ability the
doctrine of the absolute independence of the Executive in
such matters, as his right to disregard the wishes and opinions
of members of either House of Congress, and to make his appointments,
executive and judicial, without advice, or on such advice
as he shall think best. But, at the same time, there can
be no doubt that the Executive must depend on some advice
other than his own, to learn the quality of men in different
parts of this vast Republic, and to learn what will be agreeable
to public opinion and to the party which is administering
the Government and is responsible for its administration.
He will, ordinarily, find no better source of such information
than in the men whom the people have shown their own confidence
by entrusting them with the important function of Senator
or Representative. He will soon learn to know his men, and
how far he can safely take such advice. He must be careful
to see to it that he is not induced to build up a faction
in his party, or to fill up the public offices with the partisans
of ambitious but unscrupulous politicians.
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