The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-10-02
What Shall the Change Be,

harcn next Is inevitable. The election
Will only decide what the character of
that change shall be. The colorless,
but conservative and safe. AdminiStra-
ton OF President Arthur will end at
that time. and new Administration
Will begin. Unless something unfore-
seen and most unlikely shall happen
meantime, either Governor Cleveland
or Mr.. Blaine will direct the changes
that will thenceforth be made in the
conduct of the Executive Office. And
the practical question to be considered
by voters who act upon their Judgment
and convictions in matter of this im-
portance is, Which of these men will
be likely to make the change most con-
duciye to the honor and welfare of the
Nation?
In regard to Mr.. Blaine. it is matter
of history thai, though u member of
the same party, his views of a foreign
policy differed SO radically from those
Of President Arthur that his retirement
from the position of Secretary of State
became at once necessary upon the for
nler'S accession to the Chief hIagis-
tracy. There was "a change" in the
conduct OF our foreign relat ons. upon
the substitution of Mr.. FrelinghuySen
for Mr.. Blaine, quite rs complete as any
that can result from the substitution OF
another Secretary for the present in
cumbent. 1t is for the country to say
whether it wishes the inevitable change
in this important Office to be a change
back to the mingled trucking, bullying
and intrigue that characterized MIR.
Blaine'S management of our relations
with the South American States and
with England.
With respect to domestic affairs, Mr..
Blaine is almost equally at variance
with the policy pursued by President
Arthur. The present Executive has
strongly urged upon Congress pre-
vention of the surplus by n reduction OF
taxation, and has indicated material
| changes in the tariff, in substantial
/ harmony with the suggestions of Sena-
tor Hoar and other Republicans, who
do not object to Icing known as rev.
enue relormers, in their understanding
OF that term. Mr. Blaine has never
manifested any sympathy with this
idea, but. ON the contrary, is on record,
within less than two years, rs the pro-
| mulcatOr and defender OF scheme to
perDetuate the taxes and distribute the
! surplus. in this particular, the views
| of Governor Cleveland, rs indicated in
! the protest, in his last message 20 the
/ Legislature, against 1.-THE policy that
accumuiates millions of useless and un-
necessary surplus in the National
| Treasury" are more nearly in harmony
with the opinion and attitude of Presi-
| dent Arthur, and with the wishes OF the
country rs declared in the elections in
! 1882, than are the opinions of Mr..
| Blaine. In this view of it, the inavita-
/ BILE change would be less radical in the
election OF Governor Cleveland than in
the success of his opponent. ts
So far as the civil service is concerned
and in this the change will be greater
than in any other direction--a candid
| Independent has lately said that he be-
lieved no more changes would be made
in the public service with Cleveland as
President than with Blaine. The Demo
cratic candidate says, in his letter of
acceptance, that ''the selection and re-
tention of subOrdinates in Government
employment should depend upon their
ascertained fitness and the value of
their work.; and in his Administration
as Governor, he has applied this prin-
ciple to the higher and more responsible
grades of officials, steadfastly re using
to remove competent and faithful pub
lie servants for partisan reasons The
brief experience which The country had
of Mr.. Blaine's principle of administra-
ton, while he was Secretary of State,
demonstrated his belief in the rightful-
ness of using the power of appointment
to reward his friends and punish his
enemies So that. cOnceding to the
Democratic candidate n purpose and a
right to appoint party adherents to po-
Iiticai offices, the only difference would
be that, should he he elected. ''good
Democrats instead of good Blaine
men would be given these positions.
President Arthur's appointees would be
expected 20 step out, ut least upon the
expiration of their terms. in either
event. and the only matter involved in
the change is the stripe of the partisanS
who shall secure the prizes.
The most decided change that would
result from the election of Governor
Cleveland would be in the purpose and
methods OF the Administration. The
Democratic candidate IS accurately de-
scribed by Rev. Dr.. Edward EggIestOn
as one ''who possesses i'll All eminent
DEGREE the virtues necessary to man
in lirh executive Office: integrity.
truthfulness, disinterested1csS, tenacity
of VIII and practical wisdom. Mr..
Blaine. on the other hand, says the
same writer, ''has plenty of will. but his
integrity is more than suspected. His
whole career shows him to be lacking
in sincerity Mr. Blaine. i'll word, has
precisely those vices of mind and char
acter that prevent the most brilliant
demaco rism from ever rising 10 the
plane of wise craftsmanship. The
purpose of Governor Cleveland, Is
President, would be to discover and re-
form the abuses which an undisturbed
endowment OF power by one party for
twenty-lour years has inevitably
fostered. The object OF Mr.. Blaine
as President would be to cover
and conceal these a uses, lest
q knowledge of them should in
jure his party. He ran away from an
investigation into his own conduct as a
member of the House. Neither the
Credit Moblier, the Star Route nor any
other frauds and corruptions have owed
their discovery to anything which Alr.
Blaine has done. The letting out of
Dorsey'S partner, Bosler, in the Star
Route prosecution was not unna;urally
attributed to tre influence OF has
powerful friend at court. james e.
Blaine. No man of either party takes
more naturally to the mystery and
canccaiment which Governor Cleve-
land saws .'covcr tricks and betrayal
than does slippery, tricky, ''smart'