The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-12-04
TURNING THE RAscALs OUT.

WINGED Mr.. Cleveland will follow the
path prepared for him by the powers
that be, and he reclines with safety,
as he thinks, in this satisfaction, be-
cause Mr.. Cleveland, as governor
of New York, has already fol-
lowed the road blazed out for him
by these people of such worthy
example. And while Mr.. Eaton
is sure of Mr.. Cleveland's
adhgsiau to methods prepared for
rim, he is satisfied that civil service
reform would have had stronger adj
herent in President Arthur, and that
Mr.. Blaine would have been more
conservative as an administrative re
former than the incoming democratic
president. People who have read
Mr.. Blaine's late utterances are sat
isfied that this great disciple of civil
service reform, Mr.. Eaton, IS guided
in his utterances by intense truthful
ness, they would be satisfied, could
Mr.. Eaton shape public opinion that
the country has lost great deal in
the defeat o +. Blame, and that IL
is going to be up hill work under
democratic president. Should MIR.
Cleveland follow the course marked
out for him by republicans he will
find it up hill work, indeed, to run an
administration to suit the people OF
the country through agencies estab-
lished by the basest political power
that ever conducted the federal gov
ment. If Mr.. Cleveland's administra-
ton is to he shaped by the acts of men
now in place, this victory is an empty
one. Mr.. Dorman B. Eaton has been a
fanatic for a great many years on the
subject of civil service reform, and
that he views administration from a
purely partisan standpoint-sees with
republican eyes-may be understood
when he expresses the belief that Mr..
Blaine would have shone transcend
emily as civil service reformer. Mr..
Eaton would see thus an empty tri-
umph, one which would weaken, in
stead of build up democratic strength;
one that would lead to rallying cry
in 1888, that the democratic hosts may
then be enthusiastic in battle; he
would see ninety thousand Of the one
hundred and sixty thousand place
holders hold over to counterbalance
the contest in 1888 for the old love,
that will continue to burn strong in
their bosoms. Mr.. Eaton simply
voices the move that has been made
by a party, which stole q presidency
in 1876, and began an attempt the
other day to falsify presidential
election. He knows to sweep out the
Augean stables would result in such
publication as wonld satisfy the
people Of this country and make them
irretrivably democratic. Mr.. Cleve-
land has said he will not run for a
second term, and no one could make
us believe he would do anything that
would, in consequence, weaken the
chances of another democratic success
in 1888. A great deal of foolish stuff
has been uttered about the civil serv-
ice law. 1t is often been thoughtless-
j. slid it should not be repealed, that
it is great reform measure, but when
the fortunes of democracy ap-
peared hopeless THE STATES
MAN pronounced Pendleton's
bill fraud, and it never ceased to re-
gard the act, which grew out of it,one
of the vilest frauds ever perpe-
trated on the American people. Being
fraud it is disgrace as it exists to
our statute books, and is only pleasing
to those who are retained by it. Every
move is made now to hold on to places
in the interest of the republican party.
1t is said this is modest, mild man
nered man; retain him in place; and
the reservation is made that he will be
there in 1888 to put in his quiet
work for the restoration. Not only
is civil service reform made the plea,
but there are those who talk of hold
over under the tenure of Office act.
An impression seems to exist among
some chronic office-holders whose re-
moval would benefit the public SER
vice, that the senate would interpose
the tenure of Office act between them
and the president of the United
States. They need not lay that fiat
tering JUNCTION to their souls. Since
the tenure of Office act led to the i'm
parchment of President johnson and
caused much embarrassment to Presi-
dent Grant, it has undergone some
modification. The president is the
proper judge of the fitness of the in
cumbent, and the only question for
I the senate is as to the fitness of the
person nominated for his successor
If the president should be in
duced to make a nomination which
the senate should deem improper it
would be rejected, and it would be
necessary to send in new name. But
no good man win be rejected by the
senate for the partisan purpose
of retaining an incumbent. There
Will be no conflict between
the president and senate over the
tenure of office act, That dispute has
been settled, and settled rightly in ia
vor of the executive. If the senate
should reject nominations on partisan
grounds an intolerable condition of
things would arise. The executive
department of the government would
be handcuffed, and could not be held
responsible to the country for the acts
of subordinates retained in office in
defiance of the president. So
great was the generalization OF
the public service IN the strug-
gle between President johnson and
the senate that such a conflict is not
likely to be invited again. Yet An
drew johnson succeeded in removing
all, or nearly all, the officials who
were obnoxious to him, if he did not
secure such appointments as he most
desired. In the just relations of the
President and senate there is nothing
in the tenure of Office act that can