Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1882-04-20
THE Hon. WAYNE MAcVEIGH pre-


sided the other evening at the annual
meeting of the Civil Service Reform
Association in Philadelphia. In the
course of discussion which took place
Mr.. MacVeigh had occasion to refer
to President Arthur's civil service
profession, as also incidentally to those
of the Fraud President who made his
administration ridiculous by the pro-
mitigation of orders which he had no
intention or desire to enforce--a mere
outcrop of the hypocrisy which dis
tinguished him and the period of his
fraudulent service. Mr. MacVeigh in
remarking upon the position of both
"His Accidency" and His Fradulen-
cy' said: "a man does not change
his political opinions after he is 30
years old. What Mr.. Arthur was in
the the New York Custom House n
few years ago President Arthur is to-
day in the White House. He is the
same courteous, genial gentleman,
ever ready with bland words. But he
has practiced the boss rule in politics
all his life, and will continue in that
rut while he is President. Although
in his letter accepting the nomination
for Vice President he declared for
civil service reform, he ignored this
pledge when elected, and was engaged
in the most disreputable work for boss.
ism when the shot was fred that made
him President. It required the echo
of an assissin's pistol TO remind him Of
his pledge, and when he again had oc-
cason to write for the public he re-
affirmed his position. could have
laughed in my sleeve had | been in
the mood for amusement when | saw
the delight certain good-hearted peo-
pie extracted from President Arthur's
soft words on civil-seryice reform in
his inaugural address. Our cause has
bad some severe blows, and from least
expected sources. | will say that
President Hayes did me the honor to
consult me in the preparation of his
civil.service reform order, but when
the time came for his crucial test he
listened to the words Of evil advisers
and appointed dishonest men to posi-
tions of trust in reward for party work
in Louisiana. The last days of his al.
ministration were worse than the first,
for then We saw John Sherman using
the Treasury Department to secure
his own nomination to the Presidency
in face Of his civil.service professions.
As | see the Republican party of to-
day, it has but three animating prin-
ciples. The first is the spoils system,
(which | don't approve, the second
is bossism. which is distasteful to me,
and the third is the repudiation of the
State debt of Virginia, which / like no
better than the Others. So you see |
am a Republican under difficulties.
My advice to the association is that its
members make their influence felt by
votes. In that way they will com.
mand attention, and their memorials will
receive more respectful consideration
than the one recently sent to the Ex.
eCutive Mansion"
The remarks of the ex.Attorney
General is neither complimentary
to his party or its representatives, aud
ought 10 elicit the sober reflection of
honest men, whether he does not truly
state the case when he says the Re.
publican party, as now operated, has
but three animating principles" which
he designates "the Spoils system" the
Boss system" and the "Repudiation
Of state debt" as illustrated by IFS
union with Malone and his repudia.
ton party in Virginia.
WoRKTEGMES PRorEsTINal The
xY-l.----g - N