The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1883-02-06
THE WARFARE on PENDLETON.
An Open Letter of RemOnstrance
to the Anti-Pendleton Democrats.

CIxoIExATI, Jan "a j. H. Putnam,
Of Chillicothe, descendant OF Israel
Putnam. ard power N the State De-
mocrscy, hss written au open letter to
the proprietor Of the Cincinnati Ecqu,r-
er in which he SHARPLY criticises that
j,urnal and the ansi-Pendleton clique,
which /, represents, tor tho opposi,i on
which ia beng shown to the Civil Ser.
vice Reform bill. The letter ls signif.
cant Tor the reason that it represents the
feeling Of large and influential class
of Democrats, who, whils they have
not spoken, are regarding with deep in
dlgna,ion, the unressoning and seldsh
warfare which is bsing wagsd against
Mr. Penlletoa. The letter Of MIR. Put
nam says:
"In regard to your demand that the
Democratic pa,tS shall espouse your
quarrel and assist in the hu N illstiou and
destruction OF Mr.. Prndleton. | have
this to say: II the Democracy, follow
ing your lead, disavows, opposes or re.
fuses to indorse tho principles of Civil
Service Reform as enunciated In this
sw. it will make bat little difference to
whether there is civil service Law or
not, for they will not be called upon to
execu:s is Are you so blinded by the
frenzy of yonr bate shat you do not see
the certain drift Of events, and that il
the Dem acratic builders reject the stone
the Republicans will make it the chief
corner in their platform next year2 Or
would you, like blind Samson, drag the
whole temple down II you may bury
Pendleson uuder the ruins2 In oppo-
sition to civil service reform, we cannot
carry a Northern State. To say to The
forty millions OF people who are no,
politicians and do not recognize your
claim to hership 10 the earth and its
tulness that the Democratic party has
been perpetrating Sham and false
pretense for 10 years, while its papers
and stumpers have been ciamoring for
civil service reform and its platforms
have been emb!szoned with its promises
is to inpeach ourselves with the most
s.olid ,tupidity, or, what ia worse, with
Inconsistency, which, in the light OF re.
cent election events, would be disgrace
ful aod criminal.
"Can party expect The confidence Of
the public which would fasten upon its
opposition power system wh,ch it in
stsntly refuses to accept for itself when
the mere shadow Of approaching power
falls s!hwars its path way7 II the poll
,icians constituted the voting force Of
the country, in . party aspect such in
consistency might be trivial, but there
are many millions OF citizens not tied
to party aprons Sho exercise the fran
chise and pay the buls Of the taxes who
will object to their hard earned treasure
becomlug the "spoil". Of political wran.
gle. Tue corruption Of the Civil Service,
which led, through devious ways, to the
assassination OF President, more than
all else contributed to the Democratic
successes Of last year. Tue people were
disguste with the rule Of the present
system, lost confidence in the pledges
OF reform so frequently made by the
Republicans, and, accepting the prom
ises Of the Democracy, turned to them
for relief A distinguished and trusted
Democrat who had faith that his party 8
pledges wore sacred, having oPportuni.
Ity, embraced il, to put them into law
He was joined by a large majority ol
bis own party in the Senate and House
aud the prestige was gained for the De-
mocracy Of hsyipg kept its faith and
made tine 6rst practical step in the III
rection Of this needed reform. Ite ban
ner was planted upon principle. no
pluuder, aud that principle will win, nc
matter who carries the standard. AHf
now you ask the party TO desert the ase
and run away from Its vantage. As vel
ask an army to surreuler its fortress tc
the enemy and asssil il ON an open
oronnd -