The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1885-12-08
COMMENTS on VARIOUS tories.
what Has Been Dome.

lathe excitement and confusion tnc'.
dc1t tosa change OF administration
increased, perhaps, by many harmless
contesm over the cffice-the results &C.
compiishsd nv the change are IN danger
OF being overlooked or forgotten. Th'
Republican nevspspers, anxious to es
Icspe the full force Of the exp sures, seek
10 direct public attention from the work
or, failing in that, they endeavor to de-
-troy the effect BY discredi,ing and be-
liltleing the performance. And even
some Democratic journals would depre-
cis,e the value uf work done by giving
some attention TO less important matters
But the iart RENAME that very suhstan-
tial progress has already been made in
the work OF administrative reform, as Q
brief exsmiuation Of the record will
show.
In the Navy Department. the work OF
renovation Was begun early and sill con-
:inues. The gigantic frauds perpetrated
iu the construction Of vessels have been
exposed-radicsl changes in the man
agement OF the department hsve been
ins,ituted-the R,BEsoN-RsAcH ring
has been broken up, and this branch OF
the public service has been freed from
"the ro,,enuess that has injected alike
! the vessels Of the navy and tbt tdminis-
,ra,Ion Of The department ID the Pos,
Office iuportant reforms have also been
made, and q policy adopted which rem
defs theft. robbing and subsidizins more
irksome and far lfss attractive than in
i.hs days OF HAYES and ARTHUR.
In the Interior, Department. the In.
dian troubles and the sbuses OF the Lan1
Office have received special attention,
and reforms have been ins ituted OF In
estimable value TO the people. The in
truders upon the Indian lands have been
taken 10 hand and driven out, and vas
areas Of the public lands which have
been occupied and fenced in BY rich COR
poratiops and syndicstes, without shad-
ow OF authority. have been restored to
the Government. The laod grants to
the subsidised railroads have been over
hauled. and large sections OF the public
domain shich have been claimed and
held for years by these corporations
without any Legitimate title. to the ex-
ciusion OF Settlers bsve bees reclaimed
and thrown open to entry.
i The Treasury Department has exposed
the rottenness OF the Coast Survey Bu.
rsau and the prodigscy OF the Court Of
Alabama Claims, and put stop TO their
ex,ravagsnce. 1t has also uncovered
and suppressed numerous other raids on
she Treasury which have been allowed
to continue for years without question
or dispute. E.
The War Department has broken or
the old practice Of favoriiism IN tht
Army BY sending TO their regiments Of
dcers who have been for years permitted
20 occupy pleasant places at Washing
ton on account OF their social and po
li,ical Influences, while their brother OF
ficers less fortunate but eqrally worthy
we're compelled to spend their lives. OIL
the frontiers.
And 90 on throughout every branch o
the Government service, long continued
, abuses have been exposed and corrected
: and measures adopted looking to furthe
purlHca,ion and reform.
At least the administration Of Presi
0 dent CLEVELAND has accomPiishe'
!. enough to show that he IS carrying on
). 10 good faith the pledges he made to tn
people, and that be Is not permittin
himself ITO glide through and an oficis
routine" but is honestly and faithful
: working out . reform OF systems sn
policies. In this work he should hav
In be has not already secured, the goo
= wishes and approval OF all Democrat
and oil other friends OF honest goverr
ment.