The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1884-09-18
s.The Meaningless Cry Of Reform. ;,

The aggressive Blaine campaign has
broken out in new form. The Re-
publican State committeeman of Indi-
ana have announced themselves dissat-
isfied with Governor Cleveland's letter
of acceptance. From the land of soapy
Republican statesmen comes the ag-
gressively expressed opinion that Gov
ernor Cleveland's letter is too much de-
voted to 1.-THE meaningless cry Of re-
form
Three hundred million dollars spent
in fifteen years by the Republican par
tv for the navy and to-day not decent
ship bears the American flag. Reform
in the Navy Department will not be s.a
meaningless cry when Grover Cleve-
land takes the helm.
Two million one hundred thousand
dollars is reported by the present Re-
publican Second Assistant Postmaster
General as the thefts from the people
of the Star-route consp rators and yet
not one guilty man punished. Reform
in the Post-O Office Department will not
be ..a meaningless cry" when Grover
Cleveland holds the reins.
One hundred and fifty thousand dol
lars is the defalcation of Captain How
gate alone in the War Department.
Yet this criminal was allowed to escape
before trial, and to-day is at large
| through the continued connivance of
the department. that he robbed. Re
form in the War Department will not
be "a meaningless cry when Grover
Cleveland garfisons the fort.
Twenty-Five million dollars of the
amount on the pension rolls is fraudu-
lent by the estimate of Republican PEN
sion Commissioner Bentley, and PEN
sion agents by the score are reaping
rich harvests of extortionate fees from
the needy w dows and orphans and
from soldiers themselves. Reform in
the Interior Department will not be '.a
meaningless cry'' when Grover Cleye-
! land supervises its business.
Twelve thousand dollars is the short
AGE in the accounts of the late disburs-
ing clerk of the Department of State.
Reform in the State Department will
not be s.a meaningless cry'' when
Grover Cleveland administers the Gov
| ernment!
One hundred and fifty thousand dol
| lars is the amount that United States
Marshal Hall, of Pennsylvania is re-
ported short in his accounts. Forty
three thousand dollars is the amount
the United States Clerk~of the Court OF
/ the Southern District of Illinois is re-
ported defaulter. Twenty three
thousand dollars to four thousand dol
lars each are the sums in which United
States Marshals Fitzsimmons and
Longstreet and Deputy United States
Marshals Robinson and Crawford are
shown to have made false accounts to
the Department of Justice from the
State of Georgia. Reform in the De-
partment of Justice will not be "a
meaningless cry when Grover Cleve-
land examines the accounts.
We have looked at the seven Cabinet
departments at Washington. the War,
the Navy, the Post-office, the Interior,
| the State that of Justice; will any hon.
est man saw that the cry of reform il
needless? The instances taken are
those of the immediate present. Time
would fail to recount the iniquities o.
past years The Whisky ring. the Bla /
Friday ring, the Indian ring, the Dis
trict of Columbia ring revelations are
replete with offensive recollections.
1t is enough. Moral perversion is The
outgrowth OF the support of dishones
candidate, and to the supporters o
James G. Blaine the cry of reform i.
"meaningless." But there is yet left ,
majority of honest men to whom the
victory shall be. The corrupt holder.
of Office under the Republican part,
believe they have a divine right to stea
and, Judging from their safe experience
under Republican administration, the,
are well founded in their belief Blu
there coraes day of reckoning. 1t il
near at hand The cry OF reform vii
sound to all dishonest men in publi
place the knell of doom. And Their
shall be no Dorsey with soap TO save
fer the supplies Of soap shall be en-
tirely cut otf.-Aibaey Argus.