The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-12-27
CLEVELAND AND THE OFFICES.
The Views on the Subject of Democratic
EX-Sergeant-at-Arnls.

The Views the Subject of Democratic
EX-Sereeant-at-Arms.
From Interview with Col Dick Bright.
Il have no patience with these people bowling
for. Offices on political grounds and demanding
a clean sweep; and all of them taking such e
grounds are going to be severely disappointed.
If had the doing of it, would throw out Of
the House every demanding an Office on
purely political grounds. The higher places
must, logically, be filed by representatives of
the party whom the people have chosen to FL
them. But beyond this the changes should not
go, except as vacancies occur by other causes
than dismissal for political purposes, such as
death, or resignation, or dismissal for cause.
Men calling for clean sweep and shouting that
to the victors belong the spoils are doing that
which will inlure the party ana the service Of
the government"
Mr.. Cleveland will not be guided by this class,
nor will he be forced or frightened into any snch
course, and people expecting him to yield to this
hungry pushing for Office, the ground of po-
litical service merely, without regard to fitness
and competency, may make up their minds to
getting left ont in the cold. Why should old,
and tried, and trusted public servants, occupy
ing positions toilsome and obscure, be put out
to let in some hungry camp followers who more
likely than not are ignorant inexperienced and
incompetent There are people in the depart
ments who have been there SO many years they
have ceased to be partisans. They have an ex-
perience and general equipment from long serv-
ice which is Of incalculable value to the new
officials who will 20 in over Jhem Nou can inn
agine the situation with new hea Is of depart
ments going in with sub-places all filed with
new and fresh men ignorant of their duties and
of methods, of papers and how to get them, and
new to all processes and locations.
Do people who are howiing for a clean sweep
understand what foowsl Do they want tha
party to cut its own throat knock out its own
brains ana set all the intricate and complicated
processes of the government in u tangle, and
offer premium on incompetency, ignorance and
dlshonesty3 But there Will be nothing of this
sort. The civlservice law is heartily under
stood by Governor Cleveland, and its rules will
be observed. The utmost conservatism and ex-
treme care will be taken in making changes, and
longserving, competent and faithful officials in
the minor places will not be disturbed. be-
Geve this will be policy Of the administration,
and believe that it should be- for the welfare Of
the party and that ans other course would be
in the end disastrous to the party and baneful
to the govern
There is another reason. There is nothing
you can do more ruinous to any man or woman
than to get them situations in the government
departments at Washington. We don't want to
ruin the coming generation. Let those remain
as long as possible who have been
there so long; they are lost to any other
uses and keep the young men, fresh and prom
Using, away from those big tombs of ambitions,
and hopes, and aspirations The influence Of the
departments is always fatal. Once a young man
goes into one of these easy go places he seldom
is worth anything FOR any other business. He
lives from hand to mouth often hypothecating
his salary and spending it Ill advance and very
often it occurs that collections are taken up to
defray funeral expenses when department
clerk dies
| would near rs soon see q son of mine buried
in the ground as in a Washington government
department Now, remember my prediction
There will he no spoils business in this campaign
President Cleveland will stand like a rock be-
tween the government and the bowling spoilers,
and the result will be conservatism caution. eff
ucy, honesty and safety in the conduct of the
fair of the government, and it will thus, and
thus only be made possible for the party to sue
ceed itself in 1883.