Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1876-08-03
Concerning the Democratic Platform

Concerning the Democratic Platform.
The burden of the platform adopted
at the st. Louis convention is the cry
of Reform. 1--WE the delegates of the
Democratic party" cry out Justify for
Reform" They demand it in nearly
every paragraph. They denounce the
Republican party for sins of commls-
sion and sins of omission, and noisily
done, with an earnestness which would
compel stranger to believe that they
are as valiant for Reform as Great
Heart or Martin Luther. If they had
been an unknown body of men, or if
they had met incognito, the whole peo-
pie of the United States might have
been deceived into the belief that they
were an earnest body of Reformers; but
when they begin with, 1--WE the dele
gates of the Democratic party" the
fraudulent pretension is exposed at
once. The horns, the hoofs, the tail.
appear. A party that when in power,
never once moved towards what it now
demands, but pursued exactly the OPP
posite course. ought not to have told
the people that the persons making
these loud-mouthed demands for IRE
FORM" were 1--WE, the delegates of the
Democratic party" 1t spoils the effect
of the utterance. Let us compare
their professions now, and their prac-
tice in the past and present.
One paragraph of this remarkable
reform" platform contains these
words: Reform is necessary in the
civil service. Experience proves that
efficient, economical conduct of the gov
eminent business is not possible if its
civil service be subject to change at ev-
cry election, be prize fought for at
the ballot box, be brief reward of par
ty zeal, instead of posts of honor as
signed for proved competency, and held
for fidelity in the public employ"
Such words from the party that Or
gained into system, the sentiment,
Ito the victors belong the spoils," are
well calculated to force a smile of deris-
ion for the hypocrisy manifested.
But it may be said that they would do
better now. They have lately been tried
and found wanting. If they believed
now in the doctrine they utter, they
might have given practical illustra-
ton of it when they organized the pres
ent House of Representatives. To the
man who was faithful over few things
the promise was given that he should
be ruler over many things. They had
charge of small section of the govern
ment, and proved utterly false to the
doctrine which they now vaunt in their
platform. They wrapped their oppor-
tunity in a napkin and hid it away.
Therefore there shall be taken away
from them even that which they seem
to have. They deprecate change in
the civil service lat every election. -
Yet when little patronage of Office
was placed in their hands, they made
change in every position which they
could reach. The old door-keeper of
the House, Mr.. Buxton, might well
have been retained for proved compe-
tency;" but they at once put in his
his place a man, Fitzhugh by name, a
former officer of the Confederate SEN
ate, who, besides having narrowly es-
capped the penitentiary for arson and
perjury, speedily became "biger man
than old Grant" and was such a vain
babbler and idle boaster that from pure
disgust the House was obliged to turn
him out. Then there was the case of
John NJ. Barclay, the old Journal Clerk
of the House, who for many years had
held the place precisely in accordance
with the words, for fidelity in the pub
lie employ" and for '.proved competen-
cy." Him they compelled to resign
and put man in his place who imme-
diately began to make his arrange
ments for the prosecution of claims
against the government under a bill
then pending, in plain violation of law
of congress. The Postmaster of the
House, one-legged, private soldier
was displaced by captain Of rebel cav
airy, to whom it was not indeed "a
prize fought for at the ballot box" but
fought for on the battlefield, under the
stars and bars. And all the subOrdi-
mates were removed. even to the low
est, even to the poor colored woman,
who took care of the ladies waiting
room, who was made to walk the plank,
for the widow of a Confederate officer.
Clerks of committees were sent pack
ing, and the new clerk to the principal
committee of the House was man
who was such an admirer of the assas-
sin of Abraham Lincoln, that three
years after that most foul of murders,
lie named son John Wilkes Booth.
And after all this, they come clamor-
ously shouting, Reform is necessary
in the civil service" Reform is always
to be sought for, and it is especially
necessary in the present House of Rep
resentatives. John Morissey, Boss Kel-
ley. Saml. j. Tilden, Fernando Wood,
Sam. Cox. Judge Buskirk, and Bayless
Hanna demanding reform i'm the civil
servicel As well might the Hamburg
Tildenites clamor for the enforcement
of law and order and the swift punish
ment of murderers. As well might
Satan go to preaching the Christian re-
ligion.
"0rth's Venezuela Fraud.0