The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1884-11-19
Our Political Allies.


contemporaries as express the hope that
those who fought with US in the contest
lust ended and who made success posi-
bic, shall share in its fruits. The Aber-
deem Eaanainer calls this "a crazy idea. :
We do not agree with it, and an exami
nation of its editorial intended to sus-
tain its position falls far short of con-
yineing us that we are wrong.
1t is mistake that Mr. CLEVELAND
owes nothing to the Independent Repub-
licans," for it is generally conceded that
he would have been defeated but for
their votes: nor is it fair to the Republi-
cans who voted for Gov CLEVELAND
to intimate that they did so in order to
get recognition from him in the event
of his election. The point is not wheth
er they ask or expect recognition, but
rather whether sound policy requires
that they should be recognized.
| We quite agree with our esteemed
contemporary that mo administration
can hope for success unless sustained in
all of its walks and movements by men
in sympathy with its chief, and deeply
imbued with faith in its mission while
thoroughly interested in its success,
popularity and supremacy" and yet we
undertake to say that there are many
men who have not heretofore been
known as Democrats, whom it would be
good policy for Gov. CLEVELAND TO
recognize when he comes to make up
his cabinet and bestow his official
patronage.
1t may be true that 'he would be con-
sidered an idiot in private life who en-
trusted the management of any portion
of his business to persons who would
profit by his failure, and that he would
prove himself utterly unfit to control
: the destinies of great party, founded
Z upon peculiar theories of government
f who would assign any portion of the in.
: tricate machinery to the control or in
. fuence of unfriendly hands," but what
+ has that to do with the appointment by
q Gov. CLEVELAND to important positions
5 of honor and trust of men who have
a hitherto opposed the Democratic party
e but who are friendly to the incoming ad
e ministration, and without whose assis
t lance Mr.. BLAINE and not Gov. CLEvE
= LAND would have been elected President
e 'To the victors belong the spoils.
: Grant it, but who are the victors? II
t our opinion the victors are those whC
T helped TO win the fight. As well say
S that the private soldier is not entitled tt
e the rewards of victory, as to say thai
! because the fight was won under tht
G leadership of the Democratic party
d therefore none but Democrats shall b.
+ rewarded, when it is known that tn,
r Democrats, unaided and unassisted by
e Independent Republican voters, woulc
+ have encountered defeat.
e The significance of the victory which
a the friends Of honest government have
e achieved after the most remarkable 20
+ litical struggle ever witnessed, is dwarf
q ed by the suggestion that it means moth
: ing more than that one set of Office
e holders shall go out and another come
. in. Since the election, at politica
r meeting in New York the Rev. HENRI
WARD BEECHER, a lifetime Republican
: took the ground that the Republican,
C who had voted for Gov. CLEvELANI
e should stand by him now that he il
$ elected, and he announced for himselI
D that he was Democrat in nationa
, affairs" Are we to turn the back o.
8 our hands to such men?
: We unhesitatingly say that while
within proper limitation we believe in
the "spoils system" we are unutterably
and unequivocally opposed to the doc
trine that none but born and bred Dem
ocrats shall be considered in the distri
: button of the administrative Offices of the
: government 1t would be an evil day
for the Democratic party, not only in
national but in local affairs, were ii
} known that those who aided in placing
it in power would not be recognized in
) the distribution of patronage, because
5 they had not always been Democrats
Such is not the policy of the Democratic
: party and such has not been the policy
of any great political party. 1t would
} be destructive poiieyi and we protest
: against its adoption as baneful novelty.
, There is danger lest in the flush of vic.
) tory we lose our reason. Let it not be
so.