The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-11-12
THE PRESIDENT AND HIS PARTY.

man would have been who gave hope of carry
ing the election His record as reformer,
made while Governor of New York, did not
stand in his way, for the reason that his party
did not intend to let it stand in its way
should they succeed in electing him to the
presidency His pledges to honor the civil
service rules did not disturb Democrats, be-
cause they did not put any faith in any pledge
that could be construed into interfering with
the grand rush for place. Mr. Hendricks
gave voice to the sentiment of his party when
he unhesitatingly declared that "not less than
$4,000 federal officials must CO." And in that
very utterance, and in the conduct of the cam
paign from beginning to end, he gave the lie
to Mr.. Cleveland's pledges, and knew that he
did. He felt that he was en- rapport with his
constituency, which, as candidate on
the presidential ticket extended all
over the country. The amazement--it
the Democratic President made show of con-
forming to the civil-service rules proved
that Mr.. Hendricks was right when he essayed
to speak for his party. For eight months the
President maintained his position as we'll as
he could as a reformer, but with frequent
breaks that set the people to talking and re-
vived hope in the Beast Of the ardent Demo
cratic ofice-seeker. Some apology had to be
made for certain scandalous violations of the
rules; but this was done by saying that mis-
takes would happen, and that the President,
relying upon others for advice, could not es-
cape blunders in the work of making so many
appointments But the postponement of the
promised "clean sweep" and the slowness
with which changes were effected were very
trying on the patience of the faithful" and
it cannot be denied that the popularity of the
President has steadily declined. The burst
Of Democratic indignation has been restrained
only by the hope, not dead in many Demo-
cratic hearts, that the President will vet re-
member and reward them It is fear of his
power and not love for him that keeps the
storm in check.
But a change has come at last, not in the
President so much as in the party. 1t has
had test of its strength as a spoils organiza.
ton; the Democratic Samson, temporarily
shorn by pretender, feels that it's locks
have again grown and its strength returned.
For this it owes nothing to the President-ab-
solutely nothing The man elected in New
York makes no pretense of preferring civil
service reform to the needs of his party; he
does not come of that kind of stock, but is
true to the teachings of his Gamaliel, Will
lam M. Tweed. With this kind of a man as
candidate, and with lukewarm support from
the President, the party has succeeded in
electing him by majority ten times as great
as that given Mr.. Cleveland. The effect was
apparent Immediately and the Democratic
ticket for 1888 by general acclaim became
Hendricks and HILL
1t is useless to attempt to deny that the
sympathy of the party, almost as unit, is with
these men and the policy they profess. It has
been with Mr.. Hendricks from the outset,
but he not having the power
of appointment, fear has compelled
Democrat to conceal their feelings. 1t is now
becoming evident that a holder feeling pre-
walls, and not one only, but dozens of Demo
cratic papers do not hesitate to criticise and
condemn Clevelands treatment of his party
and the men who made his election possible.
The question whether it is too late for the
President to regain. or, rather, to win the
sympathy and esteem of his party is one that
now presses upon him with redoubled force.
There are evidences that he is beginning to
modify his iron-clad determination to be bet
ter than his party and to reform" Democra-
cy. There is a show of greater s1iberality"
in the Interpretation of the civl-service rules,
and it is probable that they will soon be prac-
tfcally abrogated. The President has indi-
Gated his desire to placate "the very hungry
and very thirsty" His modification of the
rules to accommodate the case of Sterling. of
New York, whom he intends to allow to be
put in as weigher, is in line with this idea;
and SO is his sudden descent upon three of the
best postoffices in Indiana, peremptorily
removing those in charge to make room for
as many Democratic workers. The selection
of Edgerton, of Indiana, as member of the
Civil-service Commission, is another evidence.
being bid for the good will of Thomas A..
Hendricks There is evidently a better feel
ing among Democrats, and they are sure that
removals will be made with greater rapidly.
But we are not sure that MIR. Cleveland has
not dallied too long. Already he has many