Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1884-08-15
THE PARAMOUNT ISSUE.
Of Cornell W-nfvernftV

Letter from President Andrew White
of Cornell UniVeraity
IN WHICH He TELLS HON. THEODORE d. RoosE-
WELT WHY lie GIVES us EARNEST SUPPORT
TO THE REPUBLICAN TICKET.
President Andrew d. White of Cornell
University, well known as an aggressive, out
spoken political reformer, has written an
open letter to Hon. Theodore b. Roosevelt
of New York in which he tells him what he
believes to be the best course for Republi-
can reformers to pursue in the present cam
paign. Having declared in an opening para
graph that civil service reform is "by far the
greatest of all questions now before u.s."
President White goes on to say:
This then, being the question Of all questions the
essential preliminary of all reforms, confess frank
ly that If in my opinion the Democratic party we're
already begun, should not hesitate for moment to
vote the Democratic ticket, But what the proba-
Oiites-nay, the certAinties-in the case? look at
the Democratic nominee and feel obliged TO that
his administration Of state has been vastly to his
credit, and that he might be personally relied upon
favor the national REFORM as he has favored state
reform. But the nominee is decidedly the less OF the
two important factors in the matter. The great
question Is What is the ground taken by the poiu-
cal payty which would come into power with him
What can We expect from that? Now If We take out
Of the Democratic party handful Of men there is
ore left from whom the great reform has anything to
expect E8ye bitter hostility.
Look at its history whole. 1t invented the
spois system formulated it. and eydently wishes for
nothing better than TO faly restore it, Look at its
recent history. Take for example its treatment Of
Senator Pendleton. He had the wisdom and the fore
sight to recognize the Importance Of initiating re-
form in the civil service both regards his country
and his party. Straghtway he dragged through
the mire by the leading Democratic newspapers, de
priYed ignominousy Of the senatorship, aud re-
placed BY infinitely his inferior in every states
manlike quality, who made haste to jeer in the old
stale fashion at civil service reform. Nor did the
Democratic party of the nation treat Mr. Pendletop
any better than that Of his state had DONE At their
recent national convention the temporary chairman
INDUCED In fling at the reform, and the climax was
reached when Gen, Butler was allowed grossly 10 In
suit Nj Pendeton account Of his connection with
civil service reform, and to declare that not person
present who was not schoolmaster approved OF It.
This received With universal applause, and with
not a dissenting voice from the entire convention
then or from the Democratic press since,
More fatal still to all hopes Of anything better from
that party the deliberate Of that cunyen-
tion in framing its platform. So far as this great
subject was concerned gave the candidate absolute
y no plank to stand upon. The reference to It is not
merely an evasion 1t is hint clear they dared
make IL that means will be found to nuilfy what has
been done and to restore the old system with all its
infamles.
However much then, may respect Mr.. Cleveland
for what he has done as governor, can no hope
that he can have any iar career OF reform Pres
very hungry and very thirsty III the hunger and
thirst Of twentyfour years aud In % victory no
president without far greater support than be can
hope for could resist their onset. To strengthen
him OF Albany there was civil service element ia
our state az 6oe yane but to support him Ut Wash
ington that clement Diluted or nentralized by the
party in the whole nation, VII he practically nhni-
tesima AT Albany he had backeEs' " his party; at
Washington he must stand yirtnaliy alona 20 Ter as
his party is concerned. with all his good uteudoEs
he would be powerless 20 resist the famished CO.
horts Of plumber from East and West aud South and
North tho 6turdiest hunter of the plains would be
TO Withstand single and alone rushing herd ef wild
What, the other hand are the chances Of the re-
form from the Republican party? Despite many