The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-10-13

I44 more than twelve times as much as much as
was controlled by the last Democratic admins
tration of Buchanan, which handled $697 $780,
81. And vet notwithstanding the opportuni
ties for fraud which the war afforded, the
amount on the 81 900 lost and stolen decreased
from So 81 to rs cents. Continuous Republican
administrations have reduced the sum to-day to
less than fve-tenths of mill. This is the de-
tinitive answer which the Republican party makes
to it's maligners
Democratic politicians for the last twenty five
years have traduced the good name of this coun-
try abroad and at home, until all foreigners and
most Democrats believe that the Republican
party is the most corrupt organization on earth.
AS a matter of fact it is almost impossible now
to steal money from the general government.
Our civil service is better managed than most
banks, and is more economically conducted than
that of any European country. Every officer oc-
cupying position of trust gives a SUFFICIENT
bond; inspectors are sent all over the country to
examine into and report the condition of offices
to the general department; they are changed
from Maine to California at a moments notice
to prevent their getting into collision with the
subordinates, and are never allowed to remain
in one district for any length of time. But
Democratic orators and newspapers never
weary talking of the star reuters. The
government of the United States spent
hundreds of thousands Of dollars to
convict those men. Many people said
that the government was prosecuting, not pros
ecutng them; that at the least they We're over
that witnesses were bribed for their evidence,
and that the whole affair mad settled down into
a bitter personal contest between the attorneys.
l confess | do not know whether they were
guilty or not. / did not read netwentieth of
the evidence; but if you are dissatisfied with the
result, remember that the majority of the jury
was Democratic, and that the foreman of the
jury, who was accused of corruption, is now
member of the national Democratic committee.
The Republican party is no advocate of the
spoils system per Sc When it came into power
in 1861 it had to make removals. 1t found trea-
son in the presidential chair: treason in the Cab
met, four of whom sympathized with the South
ern COnfederacy: treason in the Senate and the
House, and the satellites of those traitors in
office. 1t could no more go into the great war
surrounded by such officers than general could
afford to go the field of battle surrounded by
a staff of traitors When Senator Pendleton
introduced his civil seFvce-reform bill divorcing
200 offices from congressional patronage, the
Republican party readily voted for it, but the
secret prostestations of the Democrats escaped
from the Hobbies. They knew their party to be
held together by the cohesive element of spoils.
Their position was that of abject hypocrisy.
When Senator Pendletou returned to Ohio and
demanded of the Democratic Legislature re-
election an Endorsement of the most ilustri-
act of his official career, the introduction of
that bill, the Legislature indicated its senti-
ments on civil service reform by burying him so
far out of sight politically that the hand of res
direction will never reach him.
WOQlu call your attention TO TWO oHlclal uU-
terances by candidates of the Republican and
Democratic parties this question
Mr. Hendricks recently said: 1t will be abso-
lutely necessary for the Democratic President to
change at the lowest calculation 60 900 of these
Office holders" What he said in effect to his
constituents was this: If you will elect and
my party to power. we win give you at the least
calculation GO, 900 Offices and their salaries; and
every man interpreted it to mean 100 900 offices.
l protest that this is the greatest national bride
hot off of
country.
Let us compare this with the manly and hon
est declaration of Mr. Blaine. He said in his
letter of acceptance: II entered Congress in 1868,
and in a somewhat prolonged service 1 never
found it expedient to request or recommend
the removal of a civil officer except in four in
stances, and then for political reasons, which
were instantly conclusive with the appointing
power
Mr. Blaine removed four for non political reas-
ons. Mr.. Hendricks would remove 900 for
political reasons, without inquiring into their
honesty or efficiency. This is the sort of civil
service reform which the Democratic party I'M
blushingly proposes,
The Republican platform says: reform of the
civil service so auspiciously begun under Re
publican administration should be completed by
the further extension of the reform system al
ready established by law to all the grades of the
service where it is applicable The Democratic
platform hides its intention under vapid~ and
meaningless phrase. Mr. Blaine says further:
importantly IN the MODE oil APPOINTMENT, to be
based on qualification and security of tenure, to
be based on faithful discharge of duty, are the
two things to be accomplished" He thus stands
as the avOwed champion of civil-service reform.
do not claim that the Republican party is
immaculate organization. Such an expectation
implies the millennium. No party can vouch for
absolute purity among 120 900 office holders
But the people have a right to ask for proper
checks and balances, the proper punishment of
criminals, and an internal publication, the vital
element of any long-lived political party. These
the Republican party gives and possesses in an
eminent degree.
THE CANDIDATES.
Who is John A Loganl Ask the soldiers; ask
those who were with him in Mexico; ask his
comrades in arms who bore him off the field of
Donelson for dead, with q gaping wound in his
breast ask those who were with him in the
Army of the Tennessee; ask those who rode
with him at Resaea, at Bentonville, at kenesaw,
through a whitening hail of bullets and sheet
of flame up to the smoking lannon's mouth, and
they will tell you that John A Logan was
hero who never quailed and a general who
never lost battle a man who, by his valor and
by his generalship reflected lustre on the arms
and good name of this Republic, and stands as
the best representative of the volunteer soldier
of this country. The opponent of John A. Logan
is that distinguished soldier, Thomas A Hen
bricks, the hero of the battle of Pogues run
Indianapolis; soldier in peace, a citizen in war,
a man who, as Shakespeare says, never set a
squadron in the field, the division of battle
knows more than spinster
In book issued by the national Democratic
committee this year find the following regard
ing Thomas A. Heudrcks's war record: How
noby he stood for the application of jefferson
ian principles in those troublesome times, how
certain he was in his strokes of battle and what
influence for good he then exerted, are matters
now the pride of Democrats wherever they are
Let US see, fellowcitzens, what the Demo
Gratis are proud of in his record Who is
Thomas A Hendricks Ask the dough face of
the North the copperhead of Indiana, the slave
holder of the South, and they will tell you that
Thomas A. Hendricks was their friend Ask
the soldier. He will tell you that while he
was fighting in the front, while some of his
comrades lay wounded on the field of battle,
while others were lying on their cots in the hos
pital weak from the loss of blood. burning with
fever parehed with thirst. and while others were