Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1884-10-30
The Meaning Of "A Change ;,


change" in the administration OF the
Government. They do not stop to point
out why change should be made. and
especially avoid explaining to what a
change would lead. The results of the
change proposed by the democrats are
worthy Of the serious consideration of
every intelligent voter.
A change in the administration of the
National Government from the Republi-
can party to the Democratic party. with
out any reference to candidates, involves
two things: % A reversal of the meas
ures and National policy established and
maintained by TIE Republicans; and (2l
the substitution of new men in the work
ing forces of the Government. 1t is on
these two propositions that every man
will vote; he will vote for them if he
votes for Cleveland and against them if
he votes for Blaine.
The democratic party has antagonized
either as unwise or as unconstitutional
sometimes as both, every conspicuous
public measure proposed by the republi-
cans during the last twenty-three years
If, then, the present democratic lead
ers adhere to the principles of their
party, it follows as a matter of course
that, once in power. they will seek to
undo as far as possible the work which
the republican party has done. The
progress of the country towards Nation
alism will not merely be retarded: the
steps which have been taken will be re-
traced, and the rule of state sovereignty
will be restored wherever it has bear
ing. Among the results of the national
policy which would be forced to give
way may be mentioned: The system of
national currency and national banking
the supervision Of national elections: the
interference of the general government
to protect the political and civil rights
of citizens when attacked bv the states:
the revenue system whereby the govern
ment assumes the right to levy and col
lect taxes on whisky and tobacco: the
sovereign right laid down by the Su-
preme Court to regulate public and quasi
public corporations; the maintenance of
a navy and National defenses. in one
word, the spirit of Nahonalism will be
abandoned, and, under the pretense of
opposition to Capitalization. all the ideas
and tendencies of the new Constitution,
which was the logical result of the War.
will be broken down to restore to the
State-House cliques the power they for
merly enjoyed in public affairs. State
pride will again take the place of Ma
tional pride. The South will again re-
assert the dominion of caste The South
err States will demand restitution for
the losses incurred in the War when
they sought to assert their "right of
secession. If all the Safeguards Of legis-
lation which were imposed by Republi-
cans are unconstitutional, as the Demo
Gratis have always claimed, then the
Democrats will repeal them and go back
to the old condition of things. Buchan-
an was the last of the Democratic Pres
idents, Lincoln the first of the Repubh-
can Presidents; and the aim Of the DEM
ocrats, once restored to power, will be
to approach as nearly to a Buchanan
Administration as possible If this is
what the American people want they
will elect Cleveland; If not, they will
elect Blaine.
A revolution in the civil service is not
a less certain result of Democratic sue
cess than reversal of the Republican
policy. This does not mean merely that
the President and Cabinet will be
changed, that the Supreme Court will
be recognized, that the heads of depart
ments, chiefs of bureaus, and principal
officers Of the Governm throughout
the country will be displaced; it means
also that 10000 or $4,000 trained, compe-
tent, and faithful employees, mostly men
with families will be set adrift to make
places with which to reward the Demo
cratic partisan workers.
This feature of the proposed change
involves a double injustice. First, it
will be an injury to the Government to
deprive it of an army of drilled men
and commit its affairs to an army of
raw recruits who have had no training
and whose fitness and ability may both
be doubted. Chicago people may best
appreciate the situation by remembering
that the Mike McDonalds, the Joe
Mackins, the Hildreths, the Colvins, the
LAWYERS, the Van Pelts, the Wassermans,
and the entire gang of underlings now
preparing to carry Cook county by
fraud expect to be and will be rewarded.
So every other community in the coun-
try has its ward bummers and roughs
who wiIl be ,.e favorite candidates for
govern lent places by reason of the SER
vice they arenow rendering their party.
VIII change which shall install that
class Of cattle in the administration of
the business affairs of the Government
be of advantage to the American people.
Secondly, the injustice to the dis
charged employees Of the Government
will be equally outrageous. The mass
of mel now engaged in the clerical
work of the civil service are married
men, with families to support, who
have become familiar with their duties,
have earned a claim upon retention by
faithful service, and have unlearned the
methods and habits Of outside business
contact They are not prepared to
begin life over again in a new field. To
drive them from a service where they are
useful into scramble for employment
and unequal competition in strange pur-
suits would be a piece of ingratitude
which should put even a Republic to the
blush But that will be the result of a
" change poverty and suffering for
thousands OF deserving men, rewards
for party bummers, aud maladluinistra-
ton Of the Government in the hands of
new, unframed and unfit men.
The voters of the country who think
there ought to be change must de-
eide for themselves whether there shall
be a reversal of all the Republican party