Yankton daily press and Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1875, 1875-05-15
and also his self.respect, rel

fulness, and also his self-respect, re'
signed.
Mr.. Eaton then referred to the re
port of the cabinet meeting in April
1874, which approved SO highly O.
the operation of the rules, aud declar
ed that the good effects art
cordially felt throughout the
land, and therefore the rule.
should be enforced with some neccs
sary notifications. Now, however
they had began with the waning pat
riotism and morality Of partizans
whom the rules relied upon for sup
port; the salary grab law, the credit
<mobilier, Pacific mail, and othe,
me asures, indicated theirl ldemoraliza
ttion The party organs declared re
form useless. Contractors, dema.
gogues aud spoils.nen denounced il
and called for its abolition. Partizans
gorged the present President and
Cabinet with dolorous complaints ol
party losses by the reform Of annulling
the assessments nSclerks and depriv-
ing party magnates Of their appoint.
ment perquisi.es.
Republican orators and officials
were listened to while they stulti6ed
themselves and paved the way.fcr the
defeat of their party by seriously in.
sinuating that the rules were aristo.
Gratis in spirit and meant to under.
mine our institutions: But, said Mt: Mr.
Eaton, l forbear presenting any fur.
Ether evidence of decay in the moral
tone Of party dear to me, which I
trust will yet be restored to it's earlier
achievements.
He traced the progress Of several
bills proposed in Congress for the
quiet abolition Of reform; OF the eff.
forts in Congress to befoul measures
in its, support, and to counteract the
efforts Of the commission. These
congressional efforts were puny and
without substance, without debate,
without calling, and without any an
nouncement Of any other policy or as.
signment Of reasons; without one
manly protest even, the Congress of
the United States, the party iu- power
adroitly attempted, by refusing a
small appropriation, to stife meas.
ure Of reform, thus far successfully
carried forward under its own enact.
ments, for which its President and
Cabinet were appointed, and upon the
faith Of which the election had been
carried. There are no more disgrace
full pages in the records Of Congress
than those which record the consum-
nation Of this policy. The greater
responsibility rests on Congress, but
is the President faultless
Mr.. Eaton did not justify, indict
nor accuse him, but afiirms that he
gave sad occasion for criticism, and
that being hard pressed BY partisans
he yielded too much and did what he
should have repud l.ted. Still he is
entitled to praise for being the first
President who had moral courage to
attempt to overthrow the spoils svs-
ten. There were Congressman too,
who denounced him, whom they we're
bound in honor to sustain.
: After the refusal Of Congress to ap-
propriate anything to support the re-
form, the commissioners could do lit.
tie at best. The President announced
to Congress last year, elf Congress
adjourlp without positive legislation
on the civil service reform, l will re.
gard such action as 4 disapp; oval al
the system and will abandon it," Ana7
civil service form was for the psss.
ent ended. Congress repealed the
act, though having given proniss|
to make appropriations for its con-
thus ocomplishing suicide,
for the Republican party and insull|
to the President. AS to the future.
the reform is defeated temporarily
but so also are its opposers. W.
cannot continue thus. The system Of
will make its power felt.
again, and the influence will last, and
permanently. This victory. will not
be immediate nor radical. The reform
y Nhenit begins again must be more
restricted; must not undertake. too
much. There is no encouragement.
The people are with us;5 our princi.
pies are sound; we can say Of them
AS President Lincoln said of those
with whom he argued against slavery
in 1856: "These principles 81 ours
are quiescent now, but will eventually
win and they will cnd in victory when
you and are gone"
Reading the paper was followed
by an animated debate participated
inby Gollich Bradford, Elisha Wright,
and others, who took somewhat diff.
ferent views.
High minded people viii not sub.
mit-to this, and Without il an election:
is almost impossible, hence honest
men cannot secure offioe. Il il ssid
that q. ~ citizHnA ought IN t.ka -