San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1884-09-11
Cleveland and a New Departure.
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HAS II occurred 10 you" writes q
thoughtful and evidently very obser-
want citizen OF Hampstead TO The
News, shat the nomination OF Cleye-
land is a most momentous event in
our political lifef" This correspond.
emit then proceeds 10 weigh the sig
nificance Of the event as ''new de-
parture in party practices" which
"bids fair 10 inauguratea definite
shape 10 ciyil-service reform, without
which our liberties must sooner or
later be imperilled." The nomination
Of Cleveland has its peculiar signifi-
canoe as concession by one Of the
great parties 10 the reform sentiment
Of the country. II means new de-
parture in party practices, II il is left
10 Cleveland 10 give il that meaning.
There can be no question, in view Of
his record, that il elected he will do
all within his power as president TO
inaugurate reform in political meth
DDS, in Legislative methods, and in the
whole civil service OF the government.
But for this very reason MIR. Cleve-
lands candidacy excites no special
enthusiasm among the professional
partisans Of his party. The profess
sional partisan looks upon a party as
a joint stock corporation, run for the
benefit Of its stockholders and man
ayers and their subordinate workers
and in his theory none are stockhold-
ers but the managers and their subor-
dinate workers. AS regards the vot-
ing mass Of the party, it is enough
for them, he thinks, to share in the
glory Of a victory, while it's prizes
are awarded in dividends to those
who stand within the charmed circle
of the joint-stock arrangement Men
of this class in the Democratic party
can not feel much encouragement at
the prospect of Cleveland's election.
Their hopes were centred in an ener-
getic use OF the methods of the spoils
system, and this system Mr.. Cleve-
land evidently proposes to root out
of our politics as far as he can. The
fact is that Cleveland has been
damper upon their enthusiasm, which
they try to rekindle, however, from
speeches of Mr.. Hendricks, in which
he insists that change of admins
trative personnel is necessary, as the
only remedy for fragrant and deep
seated abuses. This they are fain to
construe as meaning change of
dynasty, which will effect complete
rotation in Office, turning out $4,000
incumbents, and distributing their
places among the professional reti-
nue.. But such construction is not
warranted. Mr.. Hendricks could
not be so stupid or so ungracious as
10 put himself in direct opposition to
The well-known views of Mr.. Cleve
and. At least he seems to Indicate
what he means when he says that
change is necessary, by referring to
;he English practice of change of
when public opinion demands
/ change. In such cases, he says,
change is the remedy. When the
Commons disapproye of an import
mt measure or censure maladminis-
ration, the cabinet, headed by the
prime minister, retire from Office, and
,thers in harmony with the public
will succeed them" Now, when
;hese ministerial changes occur, less
han fifty persons of one party go
,ut of Office, to be replaced by less
han fifty persons of another party.
The great body of the civil servants
ire undisturbed. There are no spoils
n the shape of patronage for the vic
;ors. Mr. Gladstone has boosted
hat the prime minister of England
las no more power to appoint or re-
move the incumbent of a postoffice
han the humblest unofficial citizen
It is not ITO be doubted that Mr.
if made president, will in
list on washing his hands clean of
everything in the nature of spoils
He is no believer in the
I'D pestilent doctrine of rotation in
,ffice for the mere sake of rewarding
party service. 1.-THE selection and
'etention of subn"a:"atass IN govern
nett sSt enjoyment" he says in his
etter of acceptance, SHOULD depend
IN their ascertained fitness, and the
,alue of their work, and they should
leither be expected nor allowed to do
or party service. The
n interests of the people will be better
protected, the estimate of public
abor and duty will be immensely i'm
if public employment will be
,pen to all who demonstrate their
itness to enter it. The unseemly,
scramble for place under government
With the consequent importantly |
which embitters official life, will then
lease, and the public departments
Will not be filled with those who con-
,eive it to be their first duty to aid,
he party to which they owe their
,lace instead of rendering patient
md honest return to the people.
If course such language is not en-
,ouraging for professional partisan
nut it is profoundly encouraging for
,lain, intelligent patriotic citizens,
Who have come to see that a de-
,auched civil service means a de-
suffrage, and that the spoils
system which entails both these de-
ia nj hottom a grand con-