Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1884-08-14

written by one who had attended and
carefully observed the doInEs Of a regular
Democratic county meeting st New Castle.
Prosecute Somebody.
We wish TO call attention to few ex- |
tracts from JAmss G. Blains's long letter
Of acceptance. Here they are:
- Rules and methods of appointment (in the
civil serylce) which prevailed when the
number was smaller have been found INSULT
8 Gent and lmpracticable, and earnest efforts
have been made to separate the great mass
OF ministerial officers from partisan influence
and personal control.
Impartiality in the mode Of appointment
to be based on qualifications, and security OF
tenure to be based on faithful discharge OF
duty, are the two ends TO be accomplished.
In somewhat prolonged service / never
found " expedient to request or recommend
the removal Of civil officer except in four
instances, and then for non, political reasons,
which We're instantly conclusive with the
appointing power.
The people have the right to the most
efficient agents in the discharge Of public
business, and the appointing power should
regard TINS as the prior aud Interior con-
slderatiOn.
The American citizen, rich or poor, native
or naturallzed, white or colored must every
where walk secure in his personal and civil
rights.
He who corrupts suffrage strikes at the
very root OF free government He ls the
arch enemy of the republic.
And to the following extract from the
platform formulated by the convention
which nominated Mr. Blaine
The reform of the civil service, auspiciously
begun under Republican administration
should be completed by the further extension
OF the reformed system already established
by law to all grades of the service to which il
is applicable. The spirit and PURPOSE of the
reform should be observed in all executive
appointments, and all laws at variance with
the objects OF existing reformed legislation
should be repealed, to the end that the
dangers to free institutions which Turk in the
power OF official patronage may be wisely and
effectively avoided.
Can it be possible that the great and
good men who fsthered this platform and
the immaculate candidate who PLANTED
himself upon it and penned the sentences
quoted above are aware that their agents
are already up to their elbows in the
shameful quadrennisl practice of robblng
the employees in the several government
departments at Washington Do they
know that the Republican national com.
mittee has appointed a sub committee OF
Eve political highwsymen under the
leadership Of A. NJ. Clspp, whose bust
ness it is to go to these employees
and order them 10 stand and
deliver funds to be used in eorrupting
suffrage and striking at the very root Of
free government Do they know that
the Clapp committee has hired quarters
in the center Of the national capital, close
by the treasury which pays out the
salaries from which the contributions -
are to come, and has fitted them mp lik {
bank, with counter and pigeon. hole
windows and books and a cashier, and
that the gouging machinery which this
committee has already set in motion
could hardly be more pertec
unless the salaries were docket as tn,
money is paid out by the Treasurer
Does this man who processes only TO have
asked for the removal OF four civil officers
during his prolonged service" ani
those for on-political reasons, know
that this band of bulldozers ia conducting
its hish-handed squeezing game in smell
a way as to impress the government
clerks thai, Civil Service rules to the con
trary Notwithstanding, if Mr.. Balm,
should be elected he will fpd way Il
make sil of them who are bold enough h
resist such robbery walk the plank will
alarming CELEBRITY
But this is NOT all. 1t has been fire.
quently stated, and not denied, tina
there are or the Republican pstionR
committee, the body which named tn
tools TO set this screw work in motion
several members who are also member
OF the classes directly and unequty
oally prohibited by section II OF th
Civil Services Reform act from sollcittng o
receiving assessments, or being in an.
manner concerned in soliciting or re
ceiving assessments, subscriptions or con
tributions "trom any officer, clerk o
employe Of the United States, or an
department, branch or bureau thereof
or from any person receiving AM
g salary or compensation from money
derived from the treasury o
the United States" II Mr.. Blain,
and the trainers Of the platform on which
he stands mean what they say about tn
civil service they now have ohanoe t
show it. LIST them openly and EN-
phatioslly repudiste the pickpockes tao
tics OF their COMMITTEES aud follow u,
that Reputation by entering prosecution
under the Civil Service act against thos
members thereof who are now engaged i
such fragrant violation Of its provsionf
The circular issued by the Clspp com
mittee is Of itself prims.fsois proof tina
these men are at least indirectly
concerned in soliciting and re
ceiying political assessments, subsorir
lions or contributions from co.em
ployes Of the government, and n
proof of payment is required -solioitstio
is enough. The evidence to convict /
reAdy-mAde to hand, and the penalty is
fine not exceeding $4,000, or impr;son
ment not exceeding three years, or both
in the discretion q he court and "
are resdy to believe that if Mr.. Blaine, o
some one standing near to him, wi
bring such a prosecution, the courts vii
he disposed to impose thu extrem
penalty.
We call upon Mr.. Blaine to do this b
cause he 10 the one most deeply interested
NOT only in disavowing all desire t
benefit by such violations Of Law but
further, in backing up the language
his letter of acceptance and showing
willingness at least, il net a determine
tion, to have the law properly enforced
II these political highwsymen are nc
checked pretty soon they will tighte
the screws and 60 on from "persussion
to oompulsion. Already 1t is al
nounced that in about months tim
domiciliary visits will be made to thos
clerks who fail to fork over, and the
will be "labored with" It is devoutl
to be hoped that the ''laborins" messer
gers will find among their victims som