Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1884-11-21
President Cleveland's Policy.


President elects policy with regard to the
civil service, and to what extent he will
rotate the present clerical employees of
the Government out OF office and fill their
places with Democrats. Some Democra-
tic papers have also engaged in the dis
cussion and much gratui Gus advice is Of
fered to the incoming Executive as to the
policy he should adopt
Some of the Republican papers express
the fear and the belief that President Cleve-
land will make the same sweeping changes
among the government employees as is
said to have been first inaugurated by
President Jackson, and afterwards follow
ed upon the accession of the opposition
party to power, including the administra-
ton of President Lincoln, when a very
general change was made in the clerical
force of the different departments of the
government. On the other hand the in
dependent Republican papers and the ma
jority of the Democratic press confidently
express the opinion that Mr. Cleveland 5
administration will be conspicuous for the
thoroughness and fidelity with which the
reform of the civil service, which was a
prominent issue in his campaign, will be
carried out.
This latter seems to be the better opin-
ion and it does not seem probable that
any very extensive changes among the
subordinate clerical and other civil service
of the government will be made by the
coming Democratic administration The
idea of so regulating The civil service as
to give permanency of tenure to such en-
ployes as were found compe' ent for their
respective duties, and to give them per
feet immunity from contribution to partl-
san campaign funds, first originated with
Democrats, and a bill going far toward
the accomplishment OF these purposes was
introduced into the last Congress by a
Democratic Senator and became a law.
1t was the operation of this law which
gave to the 100000 federal office holders
a greater Independence during the recent
campaign and rendered it more difficult
tor the Repub leans to obtain the usual
corruption fund from that source. Atho'
the New York money kings are said, at
the last moment. t. have made up this
shortage. still it cannot he doubted that
the independence of the army of govern
ment office holders in he recent campaign
under the operation of the Pend eton civil
service reform bill was one inpor ant ele
ment of Democratic success
1t was the attitude of the Democratic
party upon this question and the record
OF Gov. Cleveland as civil service reform
er that drew to the Democratic ticket the
support of Hon Geo. VIM. Curtis, the
President Of the United States Civil Ser.
vice Reform Association, and his infu
tial following, in the recent campaign
Though heretofore a stalwart Repub lean
Mr.. Curtis aHd the influential society of
which he stands at the head have been
for years protesting against the shameful
abuse of the government civil service as
political machine which has grown up I'M
der Republican rule. 1t was solely for
this reason that Mr. Cur is and his follow
ing supported Gov. Cleveland for the Pres
idency, in preference to the Republican
nominee. who is well known for the un-
scrupulousness of his poll ical methods.
1t cannot be denied that the support of
Mr.. Curtis and the independent Republ-
cans was a necessary element of Denocra-
tic success, and, while the President elect
is under no pledge whatever to Mr.. Curtis
or any one else, it is not probable that he
will wholly disregard the views of that
cement of his support. In addition to
this, Gov. Cleveland is himself a firm adj
vocate of the doctrine that the affairs of
government should be conducted on the
same principles as well regulated bust
ness es' ablishment, aud his official conduct
as Governor of New York has fully dem
ons'rated his practical adherence to this
doctrine.
All the indications, therefore, point to
the fact hat the principles of civil service
reform will be fully recognized and in good
faith carried out by the coming Democrat
ic administration. While changes Of course
will have to be made in all the heads of
bnreas and the incumb. ncies of the more
responsible trusts, because the Democratic
party, being responsible for the admins
tration of the government, must have
the offices of trust in the hands of its own
agents; and while many changes will
doubtless be made by the discharge of
many incompetent and supernumerary
clerks who have gotten into Office under
corrupt Republican rule, still there is lit
tie doubt that the more competent and
faithful Of the present subordinate clerical
officers will be retained at their work by
the Democratic administration. And thus
will the false maxim that "to the vctors
belong the spoils,' be finally repudiated,
it is hoped, in the history OF this great
government.
The Charleston Neus and Courier pub
lshed the views of Gov. Thompson and "a
democratic county chairmen in South Car
DINA as to the effect of Clevsland's election
on the political and industrial condition
of the South. The words and phrases of
the correspondents differ, Jut the same
thoughts run through the whole array of