The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1885-10-03
HORATIO SEYMOUR.
Views OF the Old Roman ON the
Political Situation.

The venerable Democratic ex-can,
didate for the Presidency, Governor
Horatio Seymour, of New York, one
of the most respected leaders Of the
party, was recently interviewed on the
political situation by St. Louis Post
Dispatch reporter, at his home near
Utica. In reply to the inquiries ad-
dressed him, the Governor said:
"You wish my opinion about civil
service reform9 Well, will gladly
tell the Post st-Dispatch my opinions. 1t
seems to me in the first place, that
something sbould be done to remove
the temptation of party in power to
commit fraud to secure the continu-
ance of power. Mr. Tilden WAS de
frauded out of the Presidency in 1875,
and it was the greed for office and
those in Office to stay in that led the
Republicans to commit the crime.
Everybody is learning the truth about
the election of 1875 now. If we had
had another system-I do not say the
civil service system, for ! believe it
very crude and impeFfeet-then, per-
haps, the fraud of 1875 would never
have been committed. Twenty-Five
years from now we will have a popu-
lation in this country of l00,000,o00
people. A population of 100000, 900
does not mean simply . doubling of
the number of office-seekers, but a
tripling and quadrupling of them. A
vast army will be holding office. 1t
would be easy to subycrt the will of
the people with such an army cor
ruptly used. The question cannot be
treated in the way it has been in the
past. Safety TO our lives and to our
Institutions demand the project shonld
be handled intelligently, and to the
best interests of the people. From
what | can judge shut up as | am, !
should say that there was grave dan
ger of the civil service commission
becoming a greater abnse than the
spoiIs system. | think q much simpler
and more direct method could be
found than that under the present law
and one which would meet with the
of the people. There can be
no question that so long as we have
a Civil Service Commission, its mem
bers, the majority Of them at least,
should be in sympathy with the pre-
yalling administration. As business
man ] should not employ a book
keeper who was working against my
interests and praying / should fall.
The same rule applies to administer
ing the affairs of the government. In
the important Offices where Cleveland |
must have aid and sympathy in the |
execution of his policy to bring it to |
! successful issue, none but good and
tried Democrats should be appointed.
It is surprising that active Republican
oartisans should expect to remain in
lfter their defeat last fall. Then again,
IS to the departments at Washington
low can frauds be detected in the
'ecords without making removals and
putting new men in TO look over the
oooksG | think there should be a
up Of accounts
Governor, what is your opinion Of
President Cleveland, personality
g ! do not know him. only met
lin once, and that was at a dinner in
Utica, Just after be had been elected
Governor. ] cannot recall the con
Iersatiop, but | don't think it was
.bout politics. | don't, therefore,
PASS judgment upon him"
@But baye you not formed some
opinion Of the man from bis record r
9Tbe time is too short. | never
orm hasty judgments, u might be
Iet down almost as an axiom that you
AN never Judge new President until
Ifter the first year. Mr.. Cleveland has
very difficult duty to fll. believe
le is trying to do bis best. I've been
.omewhat Interested 10 the term Of
ensiye paItisan.p An offensive per
isan il a very good sort Of fellow.
Ae Il generally more inclined 70 be .
air than Geld -blooded style Of politi-
ian. IT Is q good thing to have strong
,pinions. II ! shoald have TO be tried
y i jury 81 my opponents, Esbould
refer The strongest kind Of paTtisans
could find 10 Tie Indifferent Repub
lean, who votes sith bis party from
without really ksowing
- + M ]