The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1882-12-21
Sham Reformers .


the role of reformers. Misinterpreting the
result of the recent election, they, for
while, Rugged the delusion that the people
had discovered some occult virtue in that
party which it was their purpose to expose
and utilize. Selling upon this, every DEM
ocratic daily and hebdomadal blazonea to
the public catalogue OF reforms which
must constitute the Democratic platform
and to the advocacy OF which the press OF
that party, and especially the Democratic
members of Congress, should devote their
undivided attention. These reform prOpO-
sitions, honestly and practically enforced,
would no doubt contribute to the public
welfare Hence the Republicans mani
tested disDosi tion to cooperate in an Ell
fort to formulate them into law and place
them upon the statute book as the express
sion of the best thought and the patriotic
purpose of both parties. To this end, sew
eral civil service reform bills, and number
of tariff and internal revenue reform meas
ures were introduced early in the present
sess ion, each party vieing with the other to
be foremost in the good work. The Pen
dleton civil service bill was made promi-
nent in the Senate, and after few days
discussion, the indications were manifest
that there was good chance for it to pass
that body. This meant virtual closing Of
spoils crib, and no sooner had this thought
taken shape and shed its light upon the par
tally benumbed senses of the Democracy,
than twenty Democratic Senators voted
against its consideration. Then followed
two noted speeches from two noted Demo-
cratic Senators against the bill ,fathered by
one of their own number, and the declara-
ton of the doctrine, to the ''yictors be-
long the spoils,'' in the event the Democ-
racy should succeed in 1884, but an equal
division ifthat should not be the case. Sem
ator VOORHEES, announced his civil service
programme TO be to reform all the Repub-
licans out of Office from the President
down, that the unterrified Democracy might
revel in the sweets of public pap and luxu-
rate upon the droppings from the public
treasury. Senator Joe Brown, with equal
disinterested fervor and unselfish patriot
| ism, stated. in substance the same idea land
bluntly planted himself on the proposition
that civil service reform laws or not, If the
| Democracy succeeded in 1884 they intended
to take possession of all the Offices and
make clean sweep of every public posi-
ton. These brash leaders builded wiser
than they thought. A few days. cogitation
has brought nearly the entire Democratic
column into this belief, much to the chagrin
of Mr.. Pendleton, who had laid the flatter.
ing JUNCTION to his soul, that he was to be
the Democratic Moses who was to lead his
hungry and hopeful party into green pas
lures and waters pure, under the covering
OF an artful reform measure, which would
be about as effective in arresting the rush OF
Democratic office-seekers to Washington,
should such calamity as Democratic sue
cess in 1884 occur, as a rope Of sand would
be in checking the swollen waters OF
the Mississippi. Indeed, there has been a
Democratic stampede from the bare thought
ing they never knew the bantling of the
polished statesman from Ohio. So much has
this aversion to the thought of the adop
ton of the Pendleton bill permeated theiI
beings, that on Saturday last they voted for
a recess of twelve days, so as to lessen the
time in which reform measures might be
matured for action during this session.
The Republicans, however, have marched
boldly up TO the chalk line. They have voted
not only for the consideration of the civil
service bill, but against the waste of time
in festive greetings, during the holiday
season, so as to enconOmize the few weeks
| in which this and other reform measures
must be shaped and adopted, in order to
meet the Democratic Interpretation of the
recent elections. And SO it Is clearly de-
monstrated that Messrs. Voorhees, and
Brown are the recognized sages of the
party. They reflected the inner conscious
ness of the posing Democratic reformers,
who, when brought to the test threw of
their disguise and ranged themselves in their
traditional attitude of spoilsmen and place
hunters-patrons of the spoils system.
While we think there is great amount OF
sham and humbug in this clamor about civil
service reform, we are very sure it is In
finitessimal, when compared with the decep
ton and pretense of the Democratic party on
th. subject. Had there been an earnest purpose
to accept the policy as that which should con.
troll legislation and the administration of the
government, Congress would have taken up
and acted upon the various suggestions which
came from President Arthur, not only in his
inaugural address, but in his subsequent mes
sages in which he invoked the earnest atten-
ton of the Legislative Department to this
! important matter. He prese nted his views
plainly and forcibly why the method of ap-
pointments should be changed-why some
fixed rule, looking to the qualifications of sp-
plicants, and the protection of the heads of de-
/ partments as well as Congressman from the in.
cessant worry they have to undergo from
persistent and clamorous contestants for lace
and pay.
| No, no. 1t is not civil service reform that
our Democratic friends are striving after
it is not simplifcation of the methods OF ap-
pointment to Office or the publication of the
public service that they desire. They are
devisiEg and scheming to win the control of
the government, and should they succeed
they do not wish to encounter any legislative
restriction, of their own creation. on ''clcan
sweep" but have the way open for immediate
and unrestricted possession of every avenue
that leads to the treasury. This is the reform
they want, and any other that may he smu-
lated from that source will be mere sham
The role of duplicity is difficult to play.
Exposure sooner or later is sure to come. The
donkey cannot conceal his true nature under
the skin of the lion, nor can men pose in the
attitude of the apostles of reform, when ex-
perence and reason and an unbrokep train
of facts demonstrate their aims and ambition
to be just the contrary.
Important Decisions.
On Tuesday last the Supreme Court of Vir-
ginia, sitting at Richmond, delivered two inn
portant opinions, both of which were in ia