Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1876-07-27
s.Rarren Ideality.u .

| Lt5secra.ic Hator7a.
| 1t Is an easy matter for body OF
men to resolve to do this or that In
order to gain sympathy and support
for certain men or measures. But
before intelligent persons Will accept
ms fact the declarations Of q resolu-
ton or Of a series OF resolutions, they
will inquire .what has the party, oi
whom these delegates are the repre-
sentatives, done TO insure belief
that tho promises OF the resolution
| Will be made realities?' Truly the
party which Incorporated the above
resolution In its platform has never
done anything to cause thinking per-
sons to believe that its sudden spasm
for reform In the civil service" is
genuine. Its conversion to reform Is
too sudden to be lasting. In the Ian
guage of that great light OF Ohio
Democracy, VIM. Allen. the resolu-
ton from which the above extract Is
taken is '.a d-d barren ideality."
Who can remember when or where
the Democratic party ever had a
faith such as is professed in the above
| plank, or that it considered the full
filment Of such doctrine other than
| fooiishness
History shows that the doctrine OF
dividing the political spoils among
political friends originated with the
same party which now cries SO loud
ly for reform, and that during all the
years il had control OF government
| affairs IL rewarded with positions
only those who had Iabored with and
for it. Further, no serious attempt
was over made during this long
period by any Democratic leader TO
correct the abuses which had grown
out of the system. To MIR. Jenckes,
n Republican, belongs the honor Of
the first earnest effort for reform In
the civil service, and what support
the movement has since had has
come from Republicans; and tits but
reasonable TO suppose that the final
accomplishment of the much desired
reform will come through the Re-
publican party when 1t does come.
A number OF States passed into the
hands OF Democrats in 1874, and
among these was the one In which
the present Democratic candidate for
President resides and holds the office
of Governor. If the Democratic
party were honest I'm their demand
for reform i'm the civil service we
should expect that practical Illus
tratinn of the doctrine would have
been given in these States, and nofa-
bly in New York. Have they done
it, i'm single State? Nowhere has
the slightest disposition been made
manifest to act upon the doctrine OF
the platform. In every instance the
victors have favored their political
friends, removing tried and trusty
officials OF opposite political faith to
make vacancies for their Democratic
supporters. Another instance, known
more generally, comes to mind.
When the House of Representatives
organized last winter IL was found
that majority of its members were
Democrats. Here was splendid
opportunity for demonstrating that
il was i'm earnest in tho matter OF re-
form. Did ii do ii? Were Republic
cans suffered to remain because they
were competent, honest, or trust
worthy? IL Is notorious that In
every position within control OF the
House Republicans were ousted, and
Democrats put i'm their places solely
on party grounds; and yet this j. the
party which cries aloud that "ro-
form il necessary In the civil ser
vice" A tree il known by its fruit:
by the same rule shall parties be
Judged. Professions and promises
| amount to nothing; works ARE con-
yincing. Even tho leader Of Dem
ocracy, Tilden, has never expressed
such sentiments upon the question OF
civil service reform as arc contained
in the platform upon which he was
nominated. In his own State 1t II
openly charged that he has mover let
slip an opportunity 10 use his official
patronage for political and party pnr-
poses, and the charge has not been,
and cannot be, denied.
Does any Democrat believe that
the resolution OF bis party platform
means that II Samuel j. Tilden is
| elected he IL bound not TO remove an
honest and capable official In case he
should be Republican? Will any
Democratic journal tell its readers
that this is the meaning of the plat
form? IL either means this, or IL Is
devoid Of meaning. Judging the
future Of the Democratic party by its
history in the past, il is impossible
10 avoid the conviction that the "re-
form" plank OF the Democratic plat
form IL delusion and snare; q
trap to catch the votes of those un.
wary ones who desire civil seryics
reform and will put their trust In
promises without stopping TO consid
er whether the party promising hai
ever done anything to inspire faitf
| in its declarations. Turning the Re
publican party out of power and put
| ting the Democratic in, In hopes o
securing the desired reform woult
be, putting 1t In the best possible
FORM, jumping out OF the frying pas
into the FIRE. Not from such part,
AZ the Democratic party Is known Z
be, with a leader who has Away
been one Of the most thorough parti
sans, can the desired reformation
come, and II Is folly to suppose ssiei
la thing. The day OF miracles ha
passed, and nothing but miracl'
can make the Democratic party for
get doctrine In which 1t has be
.x~ns.uslaA 1