The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-12-29

is what the Chicago Democratic platform plainly
teaches, and it is what President Cleveland will
make the policy Of his administration.
While there has never been any room to doubt
that Clevelands administration will be Demo-
cratic, and that there will be changes in the po-
htical complexion of the federal Offices, no
one could hear him discuss his civil-service pol
icy without understanding that he will make
haste slowly, and that he will make the eleva
| ton Of the ciyilservice paramount to party.
He is positive believer in practical eivil-service
reform, and he is no new convert to it. He be-
lieves that the first duty of a public officer
IS to regard Office as a public trust and make
both yarty and personal interests subordinate to
that conviction; and none who know him Will
doubt that he will resOlutely apply his precept5
and example in every department Of the govern
ment. That is not what Democratic spoilsmen
expect, but it is pretty certainly the only feast
to which they will be invited and they will profit
by cultivating their appetites to enjoy the enter
tainment 1t should be remembered, also that
this practical civil service reform likely to be in
augurated by President Cleveland, gives little
promise to the bulk of the present federal
officers. Cleveland's standard applied to them
woul d dismiss ninety nine of every hundred of
them, for they have, as a rule, hagrantly
offended every principle of an honest civil
ment will probably be less in the removal Of the
hosts of federal officials who have prostituted
political power to base partisan uses than in the
character of the men who succeed them; and
orally prevail over those who follow the trade of
politics to harvest the spoils. do not mean to
convey the idea that Cleveland despises the act
i've politician He is too broad, and practical
and honest for any such folly But it is not
difficult to draw thesline between reputable and
| disreputabe men; and when it is remembered
that the disreputable of all parties are always
most active and importunate in demanding party
| rewards in the shape of Offices, the distinction
between an honest civilservice and the sublime,
impracticable, non-partisan administration that
| some dream of, but none practice, must be ap-
parent to all.
know as much about the new Cabinet as
any, outside Of the few who are in closest conf
| dence with the new President, and that is moth
ing at all; but expect the Cleveland Cabinet to
| be wholly Democratic, but wholly honest, able,
| and commanding public confidence; and the prob
lem the new President must solve is whether
| a Democratic national administration can make
the Nation Democratic by deserving the consid-
crate approval Of the people. If he shall be
successful, the measure of success will repeat
the history of Monroe and jackson, who dis
| armed opposition by the sweeping commenda-
ton of the country; and if unsuccessful, the
failure will entomb Democracy for another
quarter Of century, if not forever.
The new President will be progressive. He
will be conservative, and progress with care,
but he will progress. He will not turn his face
back upon the past to learn the new duties the
| new occasion imposes upon him. He will let the
dead rest, and look forward to the living issues
of to-day, to the multiplying issues of the hope
| full future, and to purer and better govern
ment for the reunited people of our grand Re
public. The best aims and efforts sometimes
fail, but if patriotic singleness of purpose and
| treless and honest endeavor can crown the
| Cleveland administration with success, the
! Nation will point with just pride to the day il
made Grover Cleveland President.