representative government-第55章
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ends to alleviate a still greater mischief in a case where the officer to be elected is one who ought to be chosen not by the people but for them。
With regard to that large and important body which constitutes the permanent strength of the public service； those who do not change with changes of politics； but remain to aid every minister by their experience and traditions； inform him by their knowledge of business； and conduct official details under his general control； those； in short； who form the class of professional public servants； entering their profession as others do while young； in the hope of rising progressively to its higher grades as they advance in life； it is evidently inadmissible that these should be liable to be turned out； and deprived of the whole benefit of their previous service； except for positive； proved； and serious misconduct。 Not； of course； such delinquency only as makes them amenable to the law； but voluntary neglect of duty； or conduct implying untrustworthiness for the purposes for which their trust is given them。 Since； therefore； unless in case of personal culpability； there is no way of getting rid of them except by quartering them on the public as pensioners； it is of the greatest importance that the appointments should be well made in the first instance； and it remains to be considered by what mode of appointment this purpose can best be attained。 In making first appointments； little danger is to be apprehended from want of special skill and knowledge in the choosers； but much from partiality； and private or political interest。 Being； as a rule； appointed at the commencement of manhood； not as having learnt； but in order that they may learn； their profession； the only thing by which the best candidates can be discriminated is proficiency in the ordinary branches of liberal education： and this can be ascertained without difficulty； provided there be the requisite pains and the requisite impartiality in those who are appointed to inquire into it。 Neither the one nor the other can reasonably be expected from a minister； who must rely wholly on recommendations； and however disinterested as to his personal wishes； never will be proof against the solicitations of persons who have the power of influencing his own election； or whose political adherence is important to the ministry to which he belongs。 These considerations have introduced the practice of submitting all candidates for first appointments to a public examination； conducted by persons not engaged in politics； and of the same class and quality with the examiners for honours at the Universities。 This would probably be the best plan under any system； and under our parliamentary government it is the only one which affords a chance； I do not say of honest appointment； but even of abstinence from such as are manifestly and flagrantly profligate。 It is also absolutely necessary that the examinations should be competitive； and the appointments given to those who are most successful。 A mere pass examination never； in the long run； does more than exclude absolute dunces。 When the question； in the mind of an examiner； lies between blighting the prospects of an individual； and neglecting a duty to the public which； in the particular instance； seldom appears of first rate importance； and when he is sure to be bitterly reproached for doing the first； while in general no one will either know or care whether he has done the latter； the balance； unless he is a man of very unusual stamp； inclines to the side of good nature。 A relaxation in one instance establishes a claim to it in others； which every repetition of indulgence makes it more difficult to resist； each of these in succession becomes a precedent for more； until the standard of proficiency sinks gradually to something almost contemptible。 Examinations for degrees at the two great Universities have generally been as slender in their requirements as those for honours are trying and serious。 Where there is no inducement to exceed a certain minimum； the minimum comes to be the maximum： it becomes the general practice not to aim at more； and as in everything there are some who do not attain all they aim at； however low the standard may be pitched； there are always several who fall short of it。 When； on the contrary； the appointments are given to those； among a great number of candidates； who most distinguish themselves； and where the successful competitors are classed in order of merit； not only each is stimulated to do his very utmost； but the influence is felt in every place of liberal education throughout the country。 It becomes with every schoolmaster an object of ambition； and an avenue to success； to have furnished pupils who have gained a high place in these competitions； and there is hardly any other mode in which the State can do so much to raise the quality of educational institutions throughout the country。 Though the principle of competitive examinations for public employment is of such recent introduction in this country； and is still so imperfectly carried out； the Indian service being as yet nearly the only case in which it exists in its completeness； a sensible effect has already begun to be produced on the places of middle…class education； notwithstanding the difficulties which the principle has encountered from the disgracefully low existing state of education in the country； which these very examinations have brought into strong light。 So contemptible has the standard of acquirement been found to be among the youths who obtain the nomination from the minister which entitles them to offer themselves as candidates； that the competition of such candidates produces almost a poorer result than would be obtained from a mere pass examination； for no one would think of fixing the conditions of a pass examination so low as is actually found sufficient to enable a young man to surpass his fellow…candidates。 Accordingly； it is said that successive years show on the whole a decline of attainments； less effort being made because the results of former examinations have proved that the exertions then used were greater than would have been sufficient to attain the object。 Partly from this decrease of effort； and partly because； even at the examinations which do not require a previous nomination； conscious ignorance reduces the number of competitors to a mere handful； it has so happened that though there have always been a few instances of great proficiency； the lower part of the list of successful candidates represents but a very moderate amount of acquirement； and we have it on the word of the Commissioners that nearly all who have been unsuccessful have owed their failure to ignorance not of the higher branches of instruction； but of its very humblest elements… spelling and arithmetic。 The outcries which continue to be made against these examinations by some of the organs of opinion； are often； I regret to say； as little creditable to the good faith as to the good sense of the assailants。 They proceed partly by misrepresentation of the kind of ignorance which； as a matter of fact； actually leads to failure in the examinations。 They quote with emphasis the most recondite questions* which can be shown to have been ever asked； and make it appear as if unexceptionable answers to all these were made the sine qua non of success。 Yet it has been repeated to satiety that such questions are not put because it is expected of every one that he should answer them； but in order that whoever is able to do so may have the means of proving and availing himself of that portion of his knowledge。 It is not as a ground of rejection； but as an additional means of success； that this opportunity is given。 We are then asked whether the kind of knowledge supposed in this； that； or the other question is calculated to be of any use to the candidate after he has attained his object。 People differ greatly in opinion as to what knowledge is useful。 There are persons in existence； and a late Foreign Secretary of State is one of them； who think English spelling a useless accomplishment in a diplomatic attache； or a clerk in a government office。 About one thing the objectors seem to be unanimous； that general mental culti
