The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1882-11-09

There is no need that the sphere of
duties of the Federal Government at
Washington be enlarged. The Govern
ment at Washington should not be en-
cOuraged to undertake new functions,
whether concerning railways, or tele-
graphs, or banking, or currency, or man
ufactures, or anything else which lndl-
viduals can as well perform if only left
to themselves. If that be the rule, then
the hundred thousand of Government
officials can be largely and safely re-
duced.
The evil to be remidied is, as we have
seen, a partisan removal of faithful in
terror officers without a cause that
touches efficiency or honesty or general
prOpriety of official conduct. A majOri-
ty of those who have cOnSclentiOusly
and intelligently studied the subject
are inclined to think that the direct re-
suit can be best accomplished, if legis-
latiOn is to be had, by measuring the
difficulties of obtaining an appointment,
and measuring those difficulties either
by competitive examination or in some
other form. Certainly it would be a
great gain in every way if the standard
of qualification crippled the power of
outside partisans over the executive
business of the nation, and over superior
officers, to whom alone and to whose
selection, appointment and promotion
of inferior officers.
The kind and attentive manner in
which you have been pleased to listen to
what l have had to say this evening |
take as a proof of your appreciation OF
the importance of these questions to the
country, and if can do anything to aid
in promoting the success or measures
for their proper solution shall feel that
[ am acting in accordance with your
wishes.
As to politics in this county, need l
suggest to the club to be mindful of our
excellent candidates for the State offices
and that the best efforts of Democrats
may properly be given to make old
Richmond county felt among the large
majOrities for Cleveland?
Mr.. Belmont closed amid loud ap-
plause, after which Mr.. Erastus Brooks,
the candidate for the Assembly from
Richmond county, rose and made a
speech of about half an hours duration,
which was warmly received. MIR. BROOKS,
i'll alluding gracefully to the previous
speaker, said that Mr.. Belmont had
omitted to refer to one incident of his
Congressional career which reflected
great honor upon him, with which they
were all familiar and upon which he
(AIr. Brooks would like to say a few
words. He alluded to Mr.. BelmOnt's
courageous and patriotic course in the
investigation by the Foreign Affairs
Committee of the House of the foreign
policy of the Garfield administration.
When the applause caused by this al
lusiOn had subsidized, NJ. Brooks went on
to speak at some length of the subjects
treated by Mr.. Belmont in his speech,
fully endorsing Mr.. BelmOnt's views.
Hp rafarrn1 the anfi-mnnOnOIV mnVp-
ment and the question of free cana Is
and dwelt fOrcibly on the chief ques-
tiOns concerned in the State and local
canvass. The meeting was closed by
Mr.. BisOsway, of Port Richmond, who
made a very telling and humorous
speech, and sent home his audience in
excellent humOr and high spirits, an
ticipating a sweeping victory for the
whole Democratic ticket.