The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-05-07
A STUDY OF THE ADMINISTRATION

1 easily, 1t WCuiu prove u terrOf TO 6Vu-uOtTS.
| A STUDY OF THE ADMINISTRATION
| A Democratic administration has now been
in power over two months, and yet no signs
of the disastrous consequences predicted by
| the Republicans have appeared. Louisville
/ Cotrier-J ournal.
| A study Of Cleveland's administration, now
covering nine weeks, or more than two months,
may profit Democrats as well as Republicans.
The hackers of Cleveland, the Democratic
rank and file, led by Hendricks and encour-
| aged by the Democratic press in general, kept
up their enthusiasm by the cry that the cam
paign had for its objectth turning of 1rascals'
out, sweeping application Of which was to
be made to the utter dispersion Of every Re-
publican official whose scalp could be reached
There could be no doubt about it, so the
heated argument ran, every federal official
was thief, and the country was being plum
dered right and left. Mr.. Hendricks, sitting,
as he imagined, next the throne, boldly and
confidently declared that not less than $4,000
must go, and 60 at once. It was great Gre
form" movement, and the books were to be
opened, and all the money counted, so that the
people might know how recklessly the public
funds had been squandered and stolen. With
this feeling expressed by the very hungry and
very thirsty Democrats, the election came
off, and by a plurality of less
than 1000 in State casting a
million votes, and in minority by over
10000, the ssturn- the -rascals-out" movement
carried the day. If Mr.. Cleveland had shared
in the sentiment Of his aiders and abettors,
this must have been source Of warning.
| Certain it was that some $4,000 majority in
New York State did not take any stock in the
specious rallying cry.
| 1t is now more than two months since the
party of reform" has had control Of national
affairs Has any man, "sore-eyed" or other
wise, made any discovery of general corrup-
ton or rascality in public affairs? The books
have been opened and the Treasury vaults
unlocked. Is dollar of the mill
ions missing, or a figure in the
written account incorrect Where are the
'.rascals," and why have they not been turned
| outa Unless the Democratic campaign was
| conducted on false pretenses, the administra-
ton of President Cleveland is daily scandal
lied by the continuance in Office Of Republican
officials. IL there be Democrat bigoted
enough to believe this, it is sufficient refuta-
ton that the President and Cabinet do not be-
lieve it. The imaginary strascals" that
been discovered for the simple reason that
| they were not there, and had existence
only in the lively Imagination of men howl
ing for the places of these well fitted in every
particular for the discharge of their official
duties In all the changes thus far made we
recall but one, an obscure postmaster in the
State Of New York somewhere that was
under shadow. If there were others they
would undoubtedly be sought out and
quickly removed. If no disastrous
consequences have followed the inau-
guration of Cleveland, it is altogether
creditable to Republican methods, for,
with few exceptions, the President has
adopted those methods which have prov
! ed so excellent in the past. Practically,
the government is as yet unchanged, though
Mr.. Cleveland is proceeding as carefully as
his importunate advisers will allow him, to the
work of rewarding Democratic adherents with
out making a roaring farce of the civilservice
reform idea to which he committed himself
| But while no disastrous consequences" have
| happened, it is little early yet to commence
boasting, especially in view of the fact that
comparatively few of the "rascals' have been
| turned out, so that no accurate measurment
| can yet be taken of Democratic control
! 1t is apparent however, that the
rallying cry Of s'rascals' will not work sec
ond time. Mr.. Cleveland has not torn up the
| Public affairs are in altogether too good shape
| to warrant that. But he has done some little
to indicate what may be expected eventually.
In his Cabinet he has Mr.. Bayard, man of
very mean prejudices, especially against the
| colored race; born autocrat, who has already
given evidence of wish to escape from
| the necessity of contact with the people.
In his first opinion Mr.. Garland has given
evidence of bending the law to accommodate
the meanest partisan ends. 'Dan" Manning
for it is hard to speak of him in the respect
| full manner that the Office he holds deserves
has record as a machine politician of the
worst description, to whom the idea of civil
Int ~,