The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-01-22
THE TIGERS CLAWS.

| THE TIGERS CLAWS.
The better class OF Democrats, those who
seem to be actuated by desire to keep up
with the progressive ideas of the times, had
INDUCED the hope that their party had some
how lost its capacity for blundering. There
was no actual foundation for such hope
but in some way they imagined that the
animal had changed its spots, and that it was
no longer royal Bengal tiger but verit-
able st. Bernard. They did not seem to re-
the occasion; that his stripes had been painted
out in order to deceive the public. They in
sisted that he was dog, and of that noble
breed supposed to drag lost wayfarers out of
snowdrifts and to perform other prodigies
almost human in character and intelligence.
These party innocents wanted the contract to
retrieve civil-service reform out of the chaos
of a Democratic rebellion, and in
their view the good dog Democracy
was just the animal to do it, and it was
SO imperative that the lost article should be
recovered, that no valuable time should be
lost in getting ready for the search. The cry
went up throughout the entire camp, and a
splendid dress parade was made to show how
anxious all were to engage in the campaign
article of reform. One of the Democratic
generals took it upon himself to draw up a
plan of operations, and his ideas seemed to
receive universal approval. A battle was
fought on that issue, apparently, and the re-
suit was a decided triumph for
the party of reform. But a
change came over the spirit OF their dream.
With things in their own hands and dazzled
with great expectations the need of reform
was not so apparent, and the dog was called
off. What was the use of being hampered by
unnecessary laws. In 1884, they
thought the entire government
would be in their hands, and
| they could manage things much better if no
restrictions were placed on the Democratic
theory of "to the victors belong the spoils. !"
The capacity for laundering was awakened
at a most inopportune time and on the very
threshold of apparent success the bummers
took command Of the party and ordered re-
treat from the field gained in 1882. History
repeats itself:
The King of France marched up the hill
| With forty thousand men;
| The King or France marched down the hill,
| And ne'er marched up again.
In 1882, before the fall elections, the Pen
dleton bill vas an earnest of Democratic de-
sire for civi-service reform. 1t was intended
to make the public service better, and to re-
move it. so far as possible, from the influences
of current political change. AT the time OF its
conception it received an Endorsement from
the party everywhere. 1t was specious plea
but it served its purpose. 1t helped
the Democracy to carry the country with a
whirl. The lawmaking body of the Federal
government barely Republican, was made
Overwhelmingly Democratic. So general
was the revolution that inconsderate Demo-
Gratis at once discounted a Democratic VIC
tory for 1854 and started for everything in
sight. Pendleton's civil-servce bill was
good enough as bid and blind, but when
it came to putting it into practice at the
c expense of a Democratic ADM nistration
it was not to be thought of, and the sun
rising on Democratic Austerlitz was OBJ
scured by the inevitable blunder for which
that party is noted,
There is a reason for this, and it is no for
| tuitous accident TO the advantage of the Re-
publican party. In all its professions in
behalf OF honesty in politics and purity in
the civil service the Democratic party is dis
honest and insincere. No sooner is the hope
of success aroused than it appears in its true
character. Dissembe as it may in campaigns,
and preach reform as it does before election,
it requires but temporary triumph to make
it throw its loudest professions to the winds
and TO go for the spoils with disgusting