The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-01-05
Hon. Thomas A. Hendricks Writes a Char
acteristic Letter-His Views on
the Civil Service.
A Brief Address from Ex-senator
Mcdonald.
He is Non-COmmittal on the Civil Service
Issue-No Especial Impetus Given to
the Mcdonald Boom.

yesterday morning, with quite a large
representation of the Democratic press OF
the State in attendance, among the
number being j. B. Maynard, Sentinel; Hoa.
John B. Stoll, Ligonier Democrat, W. NJ. Moss,
Bloomfield Democrat; Josiah Gwinn, New AL
bany Press; Isaiah L. Mcdonald, Columbia City
Democrat; Alexander Chomel, Martin County
Democrat; Thomas f, Richmond, Fowler Re-
view; A. S. Parker, Kendallville News; NJ. A.
Barnett, Madison Herald; LOUIS B. Fulweiler,
Peru Sentinel; Luther Short, Franklin Democrat:
Thomas Collins, Mt. Vernon Democrat; Royal
E. Purcell, vlncennes Sun; Oscar Henderson,
Kokomo Dispatch: John NJ. Goar, New Castle
Democrats; Harry Francis, Michigan City Dis
patch; John W. Tindall, indianapolis Independ-
ent; Col. Forsyth, seymour Democrat; William
swint, Boonville Enquirer; william Mitchell,
Hancock Democrat, and J. Up. Applegste, New
Albany Ledger.
The morning session was devoted to the trans
action of miscellaneous routine business, and
the annual election of officers resulted as follows:
President-Dr. w. H. d. Hunter, Lawrence
burg Register; first vice-president, K. L. Purcell,
Vincennes Sun; second vice-president, Colonel L.
B. Mcdonald, Columbia Cisy Herald; secretary,
W. j, Turpin: corresponding secretary, DIR. A. S.
Parker; treasurer. Luther Snort, Franklin Demo-
crat.
Executive Committee. P. Applegate, New AL
bany Ledger; Colonel J. B. Maynard, Indianapo-
lis seutinel; w. c. Ball, Terre Haute Gazette;
John B. Stoll. Liyonier Banner; E.A. K. Hackett,
Fort Wayne sentinel.
At u wellattended session, held last evening,
speeches were made by Senator Mcdonald, Hon.
Bayliss Hanna and others. A feature of marked
interest was the reading of a letter from Hon.
Thomas A.. Hendricks, who was unable to be
present on account OF ill-health. 1t had been
announced that the special feature of the even
ing would be an address from Senator Mcdonald,
aud the letter of Mr.. Hendricks, which makes a
hid for ann air QPnf inn n tho napFu m N n M
seems to have been unexpected by one who is
supposed, just at this time, to
BE- holding the bride rein to the Democracy of
In Indiana. The letter is IA political document cal
culated to attract some attention, ami it is GER
family evident that the writer is not content yet
to pose as a retired statesman" Upon calling
the meeting to order DR.. Hunter, the president
of the association, announced thata letter had
been received from Mr.. Hendricks, which was
read by John W. Dodd. After expressing mis-
regret upon mis- inability to be present at the
meeting Mr.. Hendricks says:
Mr.. HENDRICKS LETTER.
The Democratic press of this state has been
uniformly harmonious and strong, but it is now
evident that your association contributed to its
union and efficiency. You organization Of the
press stimulated the organization in the field for
the campaign of 1882, Dlscord disap-
peared, harmony prevailed and victory
followed. At the close of the day when
the Republican banner went down, it stood de-
cided that there should be a thorough and real
reform in the administration of public affairs,
and that no mans private property should be
taken and confscated upon The demand of any
supposed sentiment without compensation,
= the struggle was between opposing
opinions. 1t was without parades and demon
s%tratiQns, The press was a most powerful
agent,
It seems to me that the leaders are already for
tifying their broken camp and seek to use Demo-
Gratis on the work. Will not the Democratic
press give the note of warning? The victory
must have its legitimate fesults-the Judgment
pronounced by the people must have complete
execution. l would not claim it as a purely par
tissn victory. Democrats, CONSERVATIVES, Nation
ais and Liberal Republicans adopted the Demo-
cratic organization ANA rallied under its
banner, ami thus carried the day. They united
for important reforms, for reductions of revenue,
tariff adjustments, for reduced expenditures and
for integrity in the departments When l had
the honor TO address your association before the
election, l said: Genuine and efficient reforms
holders, in official salaries and in
appropriations" Who. at that time,
thought that "A law regulating the manner OF APP.
pointing aud renewing subordinate officers
would accomplis the will and demand of the
people? But since the election all other propo-
sitions OF reform are ignored by a large class of
partisan newspapers, or confused in the clamor
for the regulation of otficialteEure. We should not
be misled-the purpose is not to i'm prove the
civil service. 1t is to save the party from
harm. By Unprecedented majorities and over
vast regions OF country the party in power and
its management of public affairs have
been condemned and repudiated. At
ohCh Ppf"tt jus
ment unreserved, we are told that
it is craftsmanship and an assurance of better
government to provide by law that the office
holders, who have been the party agents and In
struments i'll maintaining the measures and
policies so condemned, shall be made more per-
manent and secure i'll their offices than ever be-
fore. We know thatthe struggle for the control of
the patronage has disrupted a powerful party,
hut the people who followed the banner OF re-
form cared naught for that. They are for the
improvement of the civil service, not the
strengthening of the party. If par
TALLY and favoritism have so pre-
vailed that States and sections are
denied their just proportions of the patronage,
let it btVeguiated by law. If it be found ex-
pedient TO appoint examiners after the manner
OF the school system, let that also be done. [
will have faith in it when 1 see its fruits. But
when the office-holding class is made
permanent by law, or the removal made
difficult, l will expect frauds to become more
secure and reform more difficult. Changes in the
agents that transact public business facilitate
the discovery of whatever ought not to be con-
cealrd. To guarantee a pure republic | do not
believe we need to establish an office-holding
class During many administrations by the Demo-
cratic and Whlg parties, official funds were almost
unknown, with the absolute power Of appoint
ment and removal in the hands of the President
and his secretaries. When Mr.. Guthrie was Secre-
tary of the Treasury Ii did not require that he
should be stripped of the power OF removal to
keep the employees of his department from mis-
appropriating the public money. In accepting
the nomination of the st. Lonis convention for
Vice-president, said what then
= For more than twenty years the Re-
publican party has been in power. 1t has been
pr0script1ve, exclusive and selfish. From year
to year, and from administration to administra-
zion it has become more conspicuously so. To
provide places for the increasing demands of its
followers 1t has added to and increased
the number of public offices and employments
until now those engaged in the civil service of
the country and paid out of the treasury exceed
100000. In the army of "a hundred regiments
of ohioe-holders no Democrats are allowed.
Upon the demands of partisan hate and greed
they are remOrselessly excluded. None but par
tisans shall stand upon guard has been the watch
word, and "to the victors belong the spoils''
has been the demand and memorable policy. II
has served a man for naught that he has been
known as honest and %faithful. 1t has been all
the same that he has fought for his country in
war, won laure.s and suffered wounds. In the
distribution of their country's enployments,
and in the enjoyment Of its honors they are
pushed aside only because they have moi
aaryed the Marty and ifa manaOarsl