The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1880-09-09

merchants by ieet and Stocking the sanctioned ras-
canues OF Casey in New Orleans; the executive
san Domingo; the violation Of the Presidents osth
Oh once In the appointment to civil places of in
the military service; the official corruption of orve
Grant, Powell! Clayton, Gen. Babcock, Boss Shep-
nero and kindred spirits, who shared the smiles Of
the PRESIDENT; the party expulsion Of Charles Sum-
ner from the Chairmanshfp of the Committee on
CCorelgn helaaons, and the installation of Simon
Cameron in his stead; the action of the famous
senatorial group" in denouncing every proposition
looking to the reform Of administrative abuEes and
q branding as enemies Of the Republican party the
distinguished members Of it who demanded such re-
form; and the open and systematic reputation of
all attempts TO purify the civil service while falsely
pretending to espouse them. All this has become u
part Of the history of the Government, and forms
the first half Of that "moral interregnum" in our
politics which is best indicated by the word "Grant-
ism, and fairly entities it to place in growing
dictionary of Americanisms. indeed, so fragrant
did the prophets of this dispensation belle all
their professions that nearly year before the end
of Cen Grants first term the chief founders and
pre-emfnent representatives of the party were
obliged to desert it as the only of preserving
their honor and self-respect.
But the men who had SO marvelously succeeded to
the leadership of the party which sgnazed its early
life by its championship Of the rights of man had
now only entered upon the threshold of their career
Nothing daunted by their record, and holding fast
their theory that the existence of the party alb
solutely necessary to gave the country from rebel
ascendency, these bodyguards Of the President in
renched themselves behind its early achievements
and previous good character, while plotting his NOM
1nation and election for second term. e.
nominated as their standard-bearer by the National
Convention of 1872 which Incorporated its plat
form the following resolution:
"Any system of the civil service under which the
subordinate positions of the Government consid
cred rewards for mere party zeal is fatally demora
by laws which shall abolish the evils of patronage and
make honesty, efficiency and fidelity the essential
qualifications for public positions.''
On this platform Gen. Grant was nominated unan-
imously. Notwithstanding the revolving record he
had made he was chosen by 2s6 electoral votes and
popular majority of nearly $50 000 carrying thirty
of the thirtyseyen States while Horace Greeley,
for refusing to follow his party and earnestly seeking
the reform of great abuses which had found shelter
under the strife of sectons, was branded traitor,
and hunted to his by political assassins But
what was the record of the party during Grants
ond term? In comparison with it his first admins
tration next to immaculate hope you have
not forgotten the Republican ssRogue's Gallery"
which painted four years ago. You will remember
that the cvi-service rules, which had been framed
during his first term, now became e more glaring
political mockery than ever before You have not
forgotten his disgusting prostitution OF the civil
vice in connection with his brother-in-law Casey;
the prompt appointment of Shepherd one of the
Commissioners of the District of Columbia after its
Government had been abolished in order to get rid
of him; his sympathy with the safe-burglary crimi
nals and official aid to his brother Orvie in making
merchandise of post-traderships; the disgrace
Of the Department Of Justice by Atty. Gen.
Williams, which was followed by his appoint
ment as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
of the United States; the crime of Secretary
Belknap, and the unsayory performances of Secre-
tary DelanO the Presidents hostility to Secretary
Brstow and his subordinates for their efforts to hunt
down whisky thieves, and his uDdisguised sympathy
for Gen. Babcock and other criminals; his personal
lobbying In both houses of Congress for the passage
of the salary theft his defense of the moiety sys
tenn, by which the revenues of the country were
farmed out to his favortes his friendship for the
horde OF thieves and demagogues who had fastened
themselves like eeches upon the people of the South,
and were backed by the whole power of the adminis-
tration and the entire system Of carpetbag spoila
ton aud bayonet rule under which that section was
given over to lRwiessness and crime. / need not
pursue these recitals, and would gladly draw veil
over the sickening picture If the lessons of political
spectacle of our public affairs became revolving
under this dynasty of huckstering politics and per-
sonal government of groveling purposes and raven
GUS greed, of bribery and nepotism and shameless
ness, that before the middle of Grants second term
an TIE great Fspu6Eeap States Of the North were
agitate the Question Of remandjng the States Of the
South to Territorial rule on account OF their
ate contained Republican majority of "a
MEMBERS and the House of Representatives 104, but
at the end OF Gen. Grants second term the majority
in the Senate had dwindled from 81 to II, while in
the House the majority of 104 had been wiped out to
give place to Democratic majority of II. These
the inevitable fruits of Grantsm for its career
had been inaugurated in its overwhelming ascenden-
cy, and with the amplest possible opportunities to
demonstrate its capacity to govern the country.
While they completely vindicated the greaty-m
hgned Liberal Republicans Of 1872, they summoned
to the bar Of history the party whose fatal blunder
then brought disgrace upon the nation and stain
But let rs still further continue survey Of the
Republican party in the clear perspective of its his
tory. Notwithstanding the perfectly deficient repu-
daton of its professions, the party faced the coun-
try in its National Convention of 1876 with the fol-
lowing decaration embodying its confession of faith
on the subject Of reform:
"Senators and Representatives who may be judges
and accusers should not dictate appointments to of
fee. The invariable rule for appointments should
have reference to the honesty, fidelity and capacity
of appointees, giving to the party in power those
places where harmony and vigor OF administration
require its policy to be represented, but permitting
all others to be filled by persons selected with sole
reference to the efficiency of the public service, and
the right OF citizens to share in the honor Of render
ing faithful service to their country"
On this platform Gov. Hayes was nominated, and
he emphasized it in his letter of acceptance in his
inaugural address, and in his famous cvil-seryce
order, which followed a few months later. By thest
documents he unequivocaIly pledged himself tina
Senators and REPRESENTATIVES should not dictate a
pointmens and that they were no longer to be made
merely rewards for partisan services; that no of
hcer should be required permitted to take part
the management of political organizations, caucuses
conventions, or election campaigns; thetno assess
ments for political purposes on officers or subordi
mates should be allowed, and that this rule was ap
| picable to every department of the civil service
| Here were promises and pledges quite as sweepin:
| as those which had been invariably trampled unde
foot for eight years. How were they carried out b.
| the party under its new leader? Some of you ma.
| my quotation from Senator Morton, that +" in Gov
ernment Of parties like ours the President must hav
MS 1r1enQ8," and that " the administration OF an
President viii be- in the n,an what the party whic
elected him makes It," III this would prov
true in the case of NJ. Hayes was rendere
certain during the canvass. Morton, Conkling
Blaine, Cameron and Chandler assumed exactly tn
leadership if politician of their school ha
been nominated. The administration of Gen. GRAM
which had brought the party to the verge Of ruin
was indorsed by the National Convention which nom
mated his successor. The managers of the canvas
studiously avoided all reference to civ-service re
form and the letter Of acceptance OF their candida
ministration, should he be elected, would be col
tinuation of that of Gen. Grant The canvass, i
the policy of hate and the policy of reconciliato
which had so long divided the people, and unde
cover Of which the Republican leaders were still d'
termined to maintain their hold power. Go
HAYES himself serenely looked on and, if he did nj
expressly sanction this mode of conducting the cal
vass, he certainly could not have been ignorant
| the issue on which the battle being waged an
| the methods employed to secure the victory. III
election, in short, was the unquestonabe trump
of the &C machine politicians, and they had perfe
right to claim it logically redounding to their glo
and advantage.
It was not matter of the least surprise therefor
that the civil-service policy of the new Preside
proved to be perfect travesty of the party plafor
and his own declarations. Indeed, the very begt
ming Of his administration was signalized by acts
the most shameless recreancy to his pledges f
several months following the election the result W
in doubt. 1t depended on the votes of Florida al
Louisiana, and these were to be counted by State
ficials nf exceedingly bad repute. N. L. Stear
was Governor Of Florida at the time, and. contra
to law withheld from the Tlden electors the cert
Gates to which the returns entitled them, and ga
certificates to the Hayes electors, who had not !
ceived majority of the votes of the State. Stear
was defeated for Governor at the same election
which Hayes was held to have carried the State, a
was subsequently appointed one of the Hot Sprin
| Commissioners, with compensation of SO I
| day. McLin was Of the State canvassers, wit
out whose arbitrary acts in throwing out Den
5 cratic votes Florida would have been coul
ed for Tilden. He was rewarded by
Y office of Justice of the Supreme Court of n
at n IA of
another member of the Board of Canvassers, receiy
an appointment in the Treasury Department, wllit
for some reason, he declined, while L. G. Dem
I Chairman of the Republican Committee of Alach
! county; Richard Fl. Black and Thomas II. Van
l who acted as Inspector and Clerk at the election
that county; Joseph Barnes, Inspector of Elections
Leon county James Bell, of Jefferson county, a
n ]. W. Howell slippery empoye in the Office OF
T Clerk of Baker county, all received official recog