The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1884-09-06
PRESIDENT WHITES ATTITUDE
Defined In an Open Letter to Theodore
Roosevelt.
New York Tribune.

New York Tribune.
To the Hon. Theodore Roosevelt
My Dear Standardization for your vigoI
and courage in supporting various
measures OF administrative reform thus
far, and the relations between us as del
egates to the recent national conven-
ton, warrant statement to you of my
view as to our best course in the APP
preaching national election.
Like yourself, regard thorough
reform OF the general political and adj
ministrative system in our country rs
by far the greatest of all questions now
b. fore us, and what is known as "civil
service reformP" as the essential germ
and vital beginning of this whole better
system, whether national, state or
municipal. As to other questions, the
protective system in its important fea-
lures. intertwined as it is with all the
established industries and interests of
the country, neither party dares to
touch. Oar foreign relations must be
handled virtually the same way, which
ever party comes into power; for in
either case, there being no navy to en-
force our views of right, "vigorous
foreign policy" must consist mainly of
talk and of this all the other nations
of the world are as well aware as our
own. As to the rights of colored voters
in the south, no promises are made now
which have not been made before.
Polvgamy each party will probably try
to diminish. The currency question is
so Immediately dangerous that neither
party will dare neglect it any longer.
ha IN Lo
remains the principal question likely to
require continued vigilance and sus-
tanned effort. On it, firmly believe, is
to turn the future of politics in our
country. 1t is the logical beginning of
all other necessary reforms, for, until
it is accomplished, the great question
in the country at large and in every
locality will continue to be, not how we
shall carry this or that good measure,
but how shall we carry this or that set
of men into the offices.
1t goes far deeper than any other
pending question, for it aims at moth
ing less than to abolish the present I'M
republican, undemocratic spoils system,
which for many years has been a grow
ing curse to the country; it proposes to
destroy that aristocracy and oligarchy
OF political managers which admits to
public offices mainly their own pen
sioners and henchmen and excludes the
capable and honest sons of the great
body of citizens of both parties, who
give themselves to honest toll and not
to shaving for political masters. 1t
seeks to restore to the executive and
legislative agents of the people time for
their legitimate duties which is now
consumed in the distribution and broker
age of nearly 100000 offices, on the
basis not mainly of fitness, but Of per-
sonal services. In short, it seeks to
take this vast multitude of offices out
of politics, so that men shall be chosen
to elective positions and continued in
them for the services they can render to
the public, and not for the bargains
they can make with local office seekers.
This, then, being the question of all
questions, the essential preliminary of
all reforms, confess frankly that if in
my opinion the democratic party were
more likely than the republican party |
to carry out the reforms already be- |
gun, l should not hesitate for a mo- |
ment to the vote the democratic ticket.
But what are the probabilities-nay,
the certainties-i in the casep look at |
the democratic nominee and feel |
obliged to own that his administration |
of our state has been vastly to his
credit, and that he might be personally
relied upon to favor the national re-
form as he has favored state reform.
But the nominee is decidedly the less of
the two important factors in the matter.
10 What 10 tho
ground take by the political patty that
would come into power with him?
What can we expect from thatp Now,
if we can take out of the democratic
party handful Of men, there is no one
left from whom this great reform has
to expect save bitter hostility.
"Look at its history as whole. 1t
invented the spoils system, formulated
it, and evidently wishes for nothing
better than to fully restore it. Look at
its recent history. Take for example
its treatment of Senator Pendleton. He
had the wisdom and foresight to recog-
nze the Importance of initiating re-
form in the civil service, both as re-
cards his country and his party.
Slraightway he was dragged through
the mire by the leading democratic
deprived ANONYMOUSLY of
the senatorship, and replaced by man
infinitely his inferior in every states
quality, who made haste to
eer in the old stale fashion at civil
ervice reform. Nor did the demo-
ratio party Of the nation treat MIR.
pendleton any better than that of his
tate had done. At their recent ma
,ional convention the temporary chair
nan INDUCED in fling at the reform,
Ind the climax was reached when Gen.
Butler was allowed to grossly insult
Mr.. Pendleton on account of his con-
lection with civil service reform, and
20 declare that not a person present
Who was not schoolmaster approved
t. This was received with universal
applause, and with not a dissenting
yoIce from the entire convention then
,r from the democratic press since.
More fatal still to all hopes of any
hing better from that party was the
deliberate course of that convention in
raining its platform. So far as this
yreat subject was concerned, it gave
he candidate absolutely no plank to
tand upon. The reference to it is not {