The Portland daily press., 1883-08-22
Democracy Exposing Itself.

The Democratic party has been almost as
willing as the Republican party to pass res
olutions in favor of civil service reform, and
some OF the leaders of that party have been
seriously In favor of it. They are wise
enough to see the evils of the Jacksonian
scheme OF making the national treasury pay
The debts of politicians for party services
ana have been willing to Join with others in
laoors to establish better system There is
minority of reformers in the voting
strength of the party; but practically, and
as an organization, the party cares nothing
Tor any such measure, and does not want it.
The friends of the reform from the begin
ming OF the recent organized agitation in its
behalf have been Republicans. The majori-
ty OF the earnest reformers in the Democrat
&c party are men who were Republicans
once, and who have voted with the Demo-
Gratis, mainly because they were impatient
with the inaction of the Republican party
while in power. They reasoned that the
Republican party would perceive the merits
OF a reform more clearly if there was a pros
pect OF losing its own grip on the patronage.
How insincere the Democratic party's pro-
fessions are, may now be discovered in the
course of affairs in Ohio. Senator Pendle-
ton introduced the civil service bill which
has become law. Whatever his motive,
there Is no denying the fact that he support
ed the measure consistently and strenuous-
ly, and his name is identified with it, al
though the bill was prepared originally by
members of the Civil Service Reform Asso-
citation of New York city. Mr.. Pendleton
may have hoped and expected that the Dem
ocratic party would gain prestige by his
championship of the reform, and that be
would recommend himself to the favor of
his party as a candidate who, on account of
his services to this cause, could commando
nominated for the Presidency, the sup
port of the Independent voters who have
more than once shown that they are power
ful in close contests. If he had such mo-
tives he miscalculated the real disposition of
his own party. They do not want any other
change than that involved in turning out
Republicans and giving Democrats the
place, and salaries.
From the time when Senator Pendeton
seemed likely to succeed in getting his bill
through Congress, the Cincinnati Enquirer,
the principal organ of the Democratic party
in his State, has not ceased to attack him
as faithless Democrat. 1t declared openly
that it would be impossible to hold The party
together except by the hope of the workers
that they would be rewarded with places in
case of success. Principles had no power
over them; but only the expectation of plum
der. They were Democrats for what they
could make utof the party. This has been
the constant cry of the Enquirer and of 9TH
er Democratic organs which are banded to-
gether to force Senator Pendleton out of
public life because. of what he has done to
carry into effect, Democratic professions of
devotion to reform. And they are succeed
ing. The anti-reformers have got him
down. His party in his own city of Cincin-
natl has repudiated his leadership, and he is
no stronger in Ohio than war Democrat
used to be when Vallandigham was the par
ty's idol.
hcpuDHcans may view the situation with
satisfaction. A Republican Congress passed
the reform bill and Republican admins
tration is faithfully executing it. Whatever
their motives, they are doing honora-
bly, the work which the great body of those
who have stood between the two parties,
favoring now one and now the other, have
declared it to be their chief concern IN poll
tics to haze done This party has only TO
go forward consistently to win to its support
those who were for time alienated and
who must now perceive clearly that the
Democratic party is the enemy of the princi-
pies they hold dearest, that its triumph
would mean reaction, and that the only
security OF permanence for what has been
achieved, as well as all hope of further pro-
gress, is dependent on keeping the Republi-
can party in power.