The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1884-08-06
'The Party OF Reform.n


Even Mr.. Thurman, well-seasoned
and sensible on most subjects, falls into
ihe deluson that is born OF nothing but
constant repetition OF the phrase. and
speaks OF the Democracy rs 'the party
Of reform" The cd gentleman ought
TO remember that it reformed him
put of the United States Seuatorship
when he was cadidate before the Ohio
Legislature 10 succeed Mr.. Pendlelon. a
few months ago simply because he was
gather zoo clean TO suit his party; also
That Mr.. Pendleton himself was ere
formed ont OF office for the sole reason
hat he had bestowed his name upon
bill to purify the Civil Service.
Youthful Democrats who have moth
inc but the downy promise Of n beard
upon their checks may be excused for
supposing that their party ever was or
ever could or would be ''the party Of
reform but IN old stager like Mr..
Ihurman, who has waved his bandanna
through the political storms of more
than u quarter of century, should
know better than to talk TO his neigh
bors, rs he Id on his return from Chi
cago, about the Democratic ''party OF
REFORM"
Mr.. Thurman can hardly be unaware
Of the fact that when the first series OF
Democratic administrations came TO an
end by the election of Harrison in 1910
thore was exposed q mass Of defal-
cations by Democratic olilce-hoders,
larger by many times in proportion TO
The number employed than the country
bad ever seen before or has ever seen
since.
lie must know that the spois system,
which he and his -partisans pre-
tend to discover in Republican admin
stration, was the invention, and has
always been the pet doctrine, of the
Democratic party.
He must know that. every earnest
effort that has been made 10 rid National
politics Of appointments to and re.
movals from office as means of party
rewards and punishments-which con-
stitute the spoils system-has come
from the Republican party and receiv-
ed its main support from Republicans.
He must know that no Democrat
who values his party-standlng, or who
ever expects an Office, dares TO identify
himself in any practical way with q
movement for reform in political usage
and methods. Senator Pendleton's ex-
perience and fate will serve as warn
ing TO every Democrat who is seriously
tempted 10 do anything approaching
actual reform in the Civil service or in
anything else.
lie must know that his party has been
bowling for what IL calls revenue re-
form year after year, until h apparent
ly presented an issue 10 the Republic
ans on the tariff questian; and that
when that issue was accepted the DEM
ocrats sneaked out OF II by hiding under
aplatform n that not even Ben Butler,
with all his astuteness, was able TO un-
derstand.
He must know that in the convention
and,since the convention the Democrat.
ic orators and candidates have shown
not the slightest liking for discussion
OF tariff changes with which they filed
their platforms and orations year ago.
He must know that tho Democratic
party has not principle that IL dares
TO assert openly and defend manfully;
that Its tactics in the present campaign
are simply TO "arraign" the Republic
ans in wild phrases, invented In con-
yention Hobbies, and try TO raise dust
under cover Of which they can make q
successful run for the Offices.
Mr. Thurman has not the excuse Of
fellows can plead. and he should not
try TO impose on his conading neighbors.
BY using terms which can not be In
terpreted in any honest way he exposes
himself TO the charge Of either incxcus-
able carelessness or downright misrep@
resentation. Detroit Post and Tribune.
nay An idaa of n Dam ooraf,a fdao ~