The National tribune., 1885-11-05
WASHINGTON GOSSIP,
The Weeks DOings at the Ma
tienal Capital.
TwEEDLEDUM AND TwEEDLEDEE.

snip mas proven a IDOSi ulLlNulb HuSoti"' IN
the occult science Of political reform. Demo
Gratis who have been anxious to give it as large
a scope as possible in its application to kepuD-
licans who were holding on TO official positions
hsye insisted that the mere contribution oil
money for campaign purposes was enough TO
bring an ofiice-holder under the condemnation
of Civil Service Reform, and justify his removal
without ceremony-to make room for some other
fellow.
If this doctrine be accepted and carried out
to it's fullest extent and spirit there would be
a vacancy in the Presidential chair, and at least
two in the Cabinet. great ado has been made
over the fact that President Cleveland and Sec
retaries Manning and Whitney promptly sent
their checks each for the comfortable sum OF
81 600 10 the Democratic campaign fund in
New York. Col. Lamont, the Presidents PHI
waite Secretary, Treasurer Jordan, and Assist
ant Secretary of the Treasury Fairchlid showed
their faith by their works TO the extent OF 500
each Other New Workers here contributed IN
smaller sums leach according to his several
ability" The total amount received from the
Washington contingent was well up in the
thousands.
Perhaps it will not be disputed rs an abstract
proposition that an American citizen has
perfect right to do pretty much as he pleases
with his own money. If he chooses 10 contrib
ute of his substance toward keeping up steam
in the party machine, he naturally feels that
his fellow citizens, so long as he does not rob
the butcher and the baker to do it. But GER
tain of the Mugwumps do not take this view
of the case Their particular and peculiar
function appears TO be TO watch over the growth
of that much abused political founding, Civil
Service Reform. Last year they terrified the
Department clerks with confidential circulars,
warning them against making contributions TO
any party campaign fund. Over in New York
this year these good people all supported the Re
publican ticket, with tongue and pen, declaring
that that was the way TO strengthen and support
President Cleveland and hold up his hands IN
his fight for REFORM against the hosts of BelIal.
Indeed, the action of the Mugwumps in the
New York campaign reminds one of incidents
recorded in the history OF the old Saracenlc
wars when the followers of Mahomet carried
his conQuering banner over large portions OF
Europe Asia and Africa, converting, by fierce
of arms, whole nations TO the new faith. Some
times in the heat Of battle hundreds would de-
sert the enemy and rally to the standard of the
Prophet. Then they would rush into the
thickest of the fight, and with battle-ax and
cimeter cleave the heads of those by whose side
they lately stood. No voices were louder than
theirs in the shouts of "Allah, achbar J" the
battle cry of the Moslems
While they are doing all this, evidently with
the best motives in the world and the purest
desire to help him, the President kicks over
the pail by sending his thousand dollars to aid
the designs of the ungodly and please the boys
who carry torches and yell for the "spolis.
The Mugwumps are much torn up In their
minds over this anomalous condition of affairs.
Hitherto Mr.. Cleveland has seemed to sit at
the feet of these Gamaliels and learn of them
that which should make him wise in his day
and generation. He has studiousy endeavored
to carry into practice the principles they in
culcated. "Offensive partisanS" have been
carefully weeded out of the public service and
pure minded patriots appointed in their places,
who. Of course, will, under no circumstances,
do the things that made their Inflated prede-
eessors obnoxious to the Refcrmers. Now the
Mugwumps are wondering whether the Presi-
dent will invite the designations of those men,
bers of his Cabinet aud other high officials who
sent their checks TO New York, and then con-
clude the performance by resi- gning himself Ii
Department clerk makes himself an "otfeGs-
i've partisan by paying SO to his party, what
is the effect upon the moral and political status
of Cabinet officer or a President to contribute
S1.0002 This appears to be about the size
of the problem they are trying to cipher out,
but thus far they have been compelled to give
1t up. On the whole the matter seems to have
had a somewhat depressing effect on the cause
of Reform.
JUDGE TEoMAN RETIREs.
Hon. l.. ID. Thoman was the last member of
the late Board Of Civil Service Commissioners
let 20. 1Jdot week ne rOilONcu tHC
pies set by Messrs. Eaton and Gregory and sent
his resignation TO the President. 1t was
promptly accepted, to take effect Now /. Tho
man is an Ohio man, and a strong personal
friend of Hon. Gearge ii. Pendleton the puta-
tive fatherNof Civil Service Reform. He was
appointed by the latter as a special nurse for
the infant struggling for existence. He has
been what might be considered as the pictur-
esque member of that apostolic body. The
true friends of Reform-with a big R-feel
that he was, as Mr.. Lincoln used to express it,
Square peg in a round hole" and that the cause
will not suffer by his retirement. For some
time the Commission has been Iimping along,
with one or more vacancies actual or prospect
i've but it is confidently expected that, under
the fostering care of the President, it will soon
be a greater power than ever in the work Of
political regeneration.
The President seems to be having a serious
time of it in finding the right men who are
willing TO take the places of the retiring Com
missioners The woods are full of men who
would respond with alacrity if they were call
ed-for the big chairs are well-cushioned and
their occupants get s., 900 year-but they are
not such persons as the President wants. He
is little fastidous about this Board. Both
Col. Goldman aud Mr.. Prince, of Massachusetts,
were urged TO accept, but declined. Then the
President tried Hon. Augustus SchoOnmaker,
of New York, and he, too, after considering the
matter, declined with thanks. 1t is with Mr..
Cleveland IN this matter very much as it was
with the man in Holy Writ who gave mar
riage supper in honor of his son. Many guests
were hidden, but we are told that they all,
with one consent began to make excuse" The
resignation of Commissioner Gregory has not
yet been accepted, and it is understood that
the President wishes him TO remain for month
or two, that the new hands at the Reform bel
lows-wheueyer they can be found-may have
the benefit of his long experience.
EX-Goy. SHEPHERD AND HIS FAMILY
Ex Governor, better known as Boss" Shep-
herd left Washington some years ago. and is
now living in Mexico, where he is engaged in
silver mining. Few men have ever been more
roundly abused than Gov. Shepherd. Whether
he deserved all or any part Of it we shall not
now inquire. The fact remains that his ad-
ministration as Governor of the District Of
Columbia made Washington. Twenty years
ago the National Capital was as different from
the Washington of to-day as it is possible to
imagine. At that time if the Government and
its buildings had been taken away, nothing
would have been left but a struggling country
town. Nearly all of the streets were unpaved.
Swine wallowed in the cutters. geese stretched
their long necks and Kissed at the passers- by,
and ducks padded unscared through the mire.
The Shepherd administration, or ring" or
whatever one may choose to call il, wrought
within few years a magical TRANSFORMED OH.
Sixty miles OF streets and avenues were paved
and frnged by thousands of shade trees. Scores
of parks were laid out and beautifed with
walks, fountains, plants and shrubbery. People