The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1885-05-18
C0NFIDEN CIRCULAR.
Mr.. Villas PRIVATE POINTERS
How the Unterrihed and Unsatis6ed Dem.
ocratlo Patriots Should Proceed to
See that the Republican "Ras.
calls" are Turned Out.

There is decided comfort for the
hungry and thirsty in the circular sent
out few days ago by the postmaster
general to the Democratic members of
congress from several of the states. He
Is impatient, he says, to begin the work
of removal in earnest, 10 the end that
''our people may secure the rel5ef to
which they are entitled from partisan
postmasters." This work has been re-
tardered, he goes on to explain, by tho
continued ILLNESS Of his first assistant;
out he has determined that there shall
no no further delay on that account. He
Is about to seize the AK with his own
hands, and Tire chopping off of heads
will soon begin at a rate that cannot fail
20 "take away the Importantly and dis.
content" of tho Democratic brethren,
and convince them that the admins
ration means business. During the
month OF May, he promises there shall
oe enough accomplished to put all doubt
out OF the question--and the process OF
systematic removal once fairly inaugu-
rated, there will be no paUsing short OF
a"clean sweep"
IL OlbOi Vi hlIGOIlbEg NIs ilhb
proceeds TO set forth at length and
clearly the plan which he intends to fol-
low, and the means by which removals
can readily be obtained. Democratic
congressman have only "to pick out the
most obnoxious and offensive parti-
sans in each county to the nunber of
sixth or a quarter OF all, )" he declares,
land choose first class men to take their
places" and the changes will be
promptly made. This is to be a begin
ming, merely. With one-sixth or one
fourth thus disposed Of, recommends
lions will be in order for another slmi-
ar batch, and so on until the whole list
shall be satisfactorily adjusted. "The
earliest removals and appointments of
this kind will challenge tho closest
scrutiny" he suggests, and therefore
special care should be taken TO mako
rs good recommendations as possible;
IN later cases, IL Is left TO be inferred,
there will be no necessity for such pfu-
dence, and the good work may accord
ngly be expected 60 forward with con-
unually increasing CELEBRITY and salts
action.
The circular goes still further and an
nounces that 'nO other proof of ofion-
7ive partisanship will DO required than
he affirmation of knowledge on the
Dart OF representative or senator that
postmaster has been an active editor
II proprietor of Republican paper, or
-tump-speaker, or a member OF pOliti-
cal committee, or All officer of cam
ialgn club, or an organizer OF political
meetings, or that his Office had been
made tho headquarters of political work,
n that his CLERKS haye been put into the
performance of political duties" This
certainly explicit enough for all prac-
ical purposes; but in order that no
room shall be left for controversy or
mistake, 1t is added that "poSsibly
other acts of equal force may DO noted
n some cases" A Democratic congress-
man who cannot bring about the dis
'nissal otall the Republican postmasters
n his district under the operation Of
such rules of disqualification as these
viii have only himself TO blame; they
place the " hole matter practically IN his
lwn hands.
This new pl-n of enforcing the princi-
1les OF civil service reform is defined by
no postmaster-general as ''the removal
u our enemies and the substitution of
our friends" The captious will say, of
COURSE, that such an expression differs
n words only, aud not In meaning, from
ne familiar Democratic cry: "TO the
ylclors belong the spOils." But Mr..
Villas is careful TO state that no Is "cor-
recty representing the presidents
wishes ana purposes" in the matter, and
hat forbids construction soentireiy at
var with Mr.. C.eVelane's well known
and cherished determination TO destroy
me spoils system, and TO redeem the
government from the evils and dangers
N a partisan use Of the appointing
lower We are bound to believe, accord
ny to his organs, that every element
81 his nature is periodically
mo zealously enlisted in the
ask OF establishing the the
Dry that appointments should be made
IN the score Of merit alone. The most
beautiful portion OF his inaugural adj.
dress was thatin which he assured the
people that IL WAS his design to protect
them against "the corrupting inhu-
ences OF those who promise and the
vicious methods oithOse who eXpecLr
me distribution OF Offices as rewards for
partisan service, and 10 guarantee the
Worry citizen a chance of public em-
plOymont without "partv suhserviepcy
ur tho surrender OF honest political be-
del.' On that sort of rock he has
planted himself to stay, we are every
iaV roassured by the keeper of his CON
science; and 80 II must be that Mr.. Vi
as circular Is susceptible of some
'ther explanation than that ghich APP
pears upon Its face.
a suspension of Judgment is mani
iestly IN order until such time as the
trgans in question shall have oppor-
unity 10 show us that general re.
noVal OF Republican postmasters and
me appointment of Democrats In their
places, ON strict partisan grounds, is
thoroughly Consistent with the idea of
observing the principles aud promoting
ne interests OF civil service reform.
Ihat they are prepared TO make show
ng 10 that effect, supported by argu-
mems OF an original aud entertaining
description, We can easily believe. They
nave not boon discouraged by any pre-
vious difficulties ian this connection, but
haYe come nObly TO the front every
lhle, win their peculiar form OF logic,
20 prove that MIR. Cleyolaud's apparent
"eNietlons from the line of sincerity
'no good faith must be estimated
according to standards not ina
Common use, but applicable par
ilculHrly u his actions as u civil service
reiormer. 10 has not seriously em-
narassed them TO accept one thing one
lay and a directly opposite thing the
next day as equally valid evidences of
me presidents stability and rare moral
courage. They have allowed nothing
% Tar 20 betray them into the least
moderation ofthoir remarkable enthu.
@lasm for professions as such, regard
esS of practices, in the course OF the
al dlinistration with regard 10 the pat
fonagei and hence we feel well assured
nat they will demonstrate that this
circular from the postmaster.g general
which is marked "coniidentiai,p bS TIE
wsy'-has nothing In 1t which can be
nelu TO Justify a suspicion that Mr..
loveland Is Inclined To authorize or
countenance any departure from the
neory that offices are public trusts and
should DO filled without any reference
10 Partisan service or opinion. -IGlobe.
Democrat
The Eye,