The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1885-05-09
ATTACKING THE ADMINISTRATION
The Voice of increasing Democratic Dis
content.
roy, the Ciac;nooti Enquirer.

The condemnation of President CIcvc-
lands policy as publicly set forth by
Senator EustiS OF Louisiana, meets the
approval of the majority of the. Demo
cratic hosts. lie voices the discomfort
and distrust which is now quietly mani
tested. The difference is, he has the
courage to tell the President unmistak-
ably The Democratic estimate OF his Ad-
miuistration, while others who feel as he
does do not have the manlincSS to tell
him the truth. This latter class CON
tinue to fawn at the feet Of power. They
live in the hope that they will get as a
reward the offices which belong 20 them
by right of political conquest.
1t is announced in Washington, with
somewhat of a flourish iii certain quar-
tiers that the President does not read the
criticisms on his administrative policy.
This may be true. If it De true, it serves
to show that he can not comprehend the
depth and width of the breach he is
making for the Democratic party. 4
wise administrator would seek to win the
applause OF the benefitiaric; of his trust.
Ii seems, though, that Mr.. Cleveland is
content to set the approval of those
whose Democracy would be promptly
challenged in any Democratic strong
hold.
The fundamental principle of the Ad-
ministraticn thus far has been to keep
the rasc@is IN All Of the appointments
yet made do not cover enough ground TO
make an impression. In this city impOr-
tant places not protected by the infamous
Civil Service Law remain unchanged.
Not single Cabinet officer has displaced
any of the department chief clerks.
Heads CT divisions il all the departments
remain without fear, aud laugh in their
sleeves At the efforts o! working, worthy
Democrats TO displace them. The Demo.
Gratis Of The land do not have faith in
such class OF subordinatcs, and many
refrain from writing to Cabinet officers
because of the fear that their letters
Nbulti bSNSI IttlS-i Otttlii
Ii can be stated as Il fact that tIil Adj
miuistratior would be wrecked were
it not for the hope that it will yet be
converted. The Democratic leaders are
muzzled. They hold their peace because
Of the promise that good store awaits the
future. Aud yet the days roll into weeks
and the Drocrastinating policy becomes
more exasperating. ii there is not a
change soon, the volcano of discomfort
viii come forth in such a way as to leave
tucLouisiaua Senator opening gun only
a faint echo.
1t will not Jake many more weeks to
force the President to take stand either
for or against his political party. The
middle ground he stands on wll disap-
pear under his feet.
1t may be asked ii the President is eli
dorsed i'll his policy by his Cabinet ad-
visors. 1t may be answered that openly
they yield ready acquiesccnce To it.
Quietly they den0aEce it and wonder
what it means. They do not want to
break with the President, and yet do not
seem to have the courage 30 combat him.
They are no more nor less than clerks
executing his commands with a perfume
tory approval. With tho exception of
Mr.. Bayard, not one OF the Cabinet has
made an appointment upon his own re-
sponSbility. 1t would nave been more
crcditablc to the President had he re-
strained his Premier, who seems to have
gone into Il body-sa&tching business to
reha1ilitate with offices those vcrging on
the grave.
1t does not require the horosco.o of
the astrologCr to anticipate the result Of
a much longer policy OF delay. Another
month OF it will break the cancels back.
The representatives. of sovereign States
will not forever stand at the outer gates
pleading as snpplic&ntS. Behind them
await constituencies of Democrats who
have not done battle for quarter of
century 10 elevate few men. Their
claims for patty reward must either be
recognized or rerudiatad. These will
force things to an issue. Il the Prcsi-
dent intends to iortiiy his Administration
with Democratic executors OF the trust
handed him by the I,,2ople lie will put be-
I:lla him ii wall ui poser. If he desires
to feed these men Oh idle promises and
dCuSiy3 hopes, he must not expect their
continued support. While there is no
impending change i'll The Cabinet, its re-
east would be beneficial. The dignity of
a Cabinet Office would seem 10 call Tor
talent capable To administer H. And yet
Fl 0In the statesmen composing it. whc of
thviv aumbcr has made an impTcssiona
Take the anti;heSis, and one does need Il
lantern to discover the thorough incoHn-
pe.cnGe vi the Postmaster General. Here
is an officer with fifty thousand Post
Offices at his command. Nearly two
thirds Of them are subject to his pleas
uge. Every small Office is the campaign
headquarters -; the party of oppo itinn.
After So months Of ia horet'' thou lit
a policy is formulated. Ills is to give
in each county i'll the Union one fourth
of the Post Offices to the Democrats aud
retain the remaining three fonrtbs Re
pubiic&ns Such distribution is pneyila
in It's enIanatOu and dishonest almost in
its enforcement. Still it is t. be strange
ly recorded that there are Nem0cratic
Congressman who claim to be satisfied
with the unequal division. 1t may per
tirently be asked If the Democrats of the
land are capable Of mana ing it's postal
service. Evidently the Postmaster Cen
cral thinks not.
The administration Of the State De-
partment, when seriously considered, is
laushahle. It's Secretary has dragged
out OF political Obscuiily scores OF de-
cayed Euiks, who are sent abroad, doubt
less, TO expose to foreign gaze crop of
old men. More than halt thus honorcd
are men " 40 do not believe in the CON
mon unIty of their own Government.
They are its citizens because of the power
of the Government TO prevent them from
being its aliens. They go abroad i'm.
pyegnated with ideas which advan .ing
progress has left them only is rumina-
tons. In no sense will they represent
the power ard advancement OF a nation
not yet half developed.
In all the departments Of the Govern
ment the power OF the active and leading
politicians is wholly ignored. The pur.
pose seems 10 be studied how to thwart
this class. First their desires are asked,
and then they are treated To disaDnoint- |
ments. Even the Speaker of the House
of Representatives has not been yet able |
to get for a worthy candidate the insig |
niiicant ConSulsbip to Bordeaux. And |
yet | can tell q State secret, that the |
present Republican incumbent was told |
a few days ago lie would not bediSturbed. |
/! there is any settled policy OF the |
Administration save Procrdst iuatiOn it is |
not visible TO the naked eye or compre.
hendld by finite mind. Democrats iu5t!v |
wonder what the President means. Ii |
the "rascals are not to be turned out |
the inference can only be that there are !
none in, and that the CRY raised By the |
Democrats OF the land in this respect |
was false. If the Democrats fought q
Involving such heroic la6ors as !
did the last, they feel that its v!ctorv