, 1876-08-08
l1R. HENDRICKS ON C1vIIrsERVloR RE.
E0RM

Perhaps tho coolest political utteranco Of
tho dog-days may DO found in tho following
extract from 1lr. IIENpn1cKs letter of accopt-
anco:
In the reform of our civil Hcrylcc most hearth
ly inIorsr that toct'on Of tho platform which du-
clares that the civil service ongfit not TO 1s "suh.
Jet 70 changs u every election" md that # ought
hut ought 10 ho awarded for .provel competency
and held f.r fidelity a. T. thu pnblls enlloy hope
osa s S With as
tho Administration Of the Inst eight years.
Such sentiment would bo incougruous
enough coming from tho lips OF my Demo-
cratic politician, but, coming as it does from
m Indiana Democrat, and, Of all Indiana
Democrats, from 1lEaDn1cKs himself, it Is
utterly prepos.otous, if not actually intended
aa q joke. Probably the Indiana Democrats
nre the flercest partisans and the ,noat per-
aistont apoits- hunters ia the entiro lind, and
1lESDn1ogH has for years been thoir apostle,
thoir spokesman, aud thoir main hope. II
tho Democratic party, aud especially that
portion Of it which finds local labitation
in Indiana, thought for single moment TINT
IEapa1cKs meant what 10 says in tic extract
above, mud will uso his influence in TINT
direction IL elected, thoy would no
moro support or vote for him than
they would cut of tho;r dear right hands.
Nay, It tho Indiana Democrats did not feel
assured that 1lENpnrcKs has already pledge
from TIIpEN Of largo slnro Of tho public
patronage 10 DO divided among his Indiana
brethren, they would not lift finger to carry
the State. Anybody who is at nil familiar
with tho character, traditions, anil purposeu
OF tho Indiana Democrats will concur fully
In this statement of tho case.
Examining Mr.. IIESnn1cKs' assertion OH Its
merits, wo would like to nsk him who it was
iHaugurated the 'rcnorsolosa prescription
for political opinions which ho now hypo-
critically lamcnts. Did not JACKSON invent
mil pronulgato TIN political motto Of thu
Democratic pnrty, "To tho yictors belong thu
Hroils"? Ie IL universally recognized NJ tho
paront mud sponsor OF tho "Bpoils system"
mud the Democrats lnnintainol 1t steadfastly
III long as they wero In powor. During eight
years OF JAcKsos'a Administration, during
| four years of VAN I'uHEs, .lnriny nearly four
yoars Of JoMH TYLER, during four years of
Polk. during four ycars Of rignor,
/
cight years IN all,-low many Whiga OF
Republicans were appointed to tho Federal
oinces2 Wo challenge A1r. 1IEspa1c1H to
ramo twenty-vighs instances, Or ono n year
for all that timo, among all the Federal up.
po!ntments. Wo laye mover heard Of sin.
gla caso in which II Democratic Atlministra.
ton appointed political opponont to Office.
Was this 'eruel mud 1omorscoss prescription
for political opinions, or WIS 1t not?
Take tho State and local Governments in
this country which aro now under tho cou.
troll Of the Democratic party. aud how many
Republicans are holding offices over which
Democratic Governors, Legislatures, Aay'
ors, or Common Councils, hayo the powol
OF appointment and rcmoyal7 How many
Republicans not elected by tho people arr
thore in office In the fourteen Southern
States, and tho cities thereof, which have
pissed into tho hands of tho Confelcrates
How many Republicans has tho presen
Democratic House OF Representatives ap
pointed to tho positions Of its command