The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1885-03-18

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much speculation. President CLEvE-
LAND, it is said, plants himself on his let
ter to Mr. CURTIS and his inaugural ad-
dress, but these deal with the subject in
general terms and do not furnish salts
factory guide to those who seek for def
mite information. Who are those who
have used their offices for partisan pur
poses and to what extent must an office
holder have gone in the advocacy of
men and principles to merit the condem-
nation denounced against mere parti-
sans? Can it be that Ian ofice-holder
in order to make his tenure secure must
cease to take an active interest in politi-
cal affairs? 1t mas been held by many
of our best and wisest men, that the
perpetuity of our Republican institu-
tions, in a.large measure, depended.upon
the active interest of the voter in the
exercise of the elective franchise. Is
civil service reform intended to incul-
cate a contrary doctrine? Shall an
vote for men and measures
and yet be denied the right to impress
his views on others? Is this civil SER
vice reform2 Is an appointment to
Office to be considered as an equivalent
for surrender by the appointee of his
political conyictions2 Does he bargain
with the appointing power that his
views on public questions shall be qui-
escent during his continuance in office?
These questions and the train of thought
which they suggest, are quite pertinent
to the times in which we live.
ITO the victors belong the spoils" is,
perhaps, too striking form of express
sion, but, it undoubtedly embodies a
principle which is not without merit
principle which, though it may be
obnoxious to the theory of our govern
ment, must be judged in connection with
the practical workings of our elective
system. In reference to federal cleo
tions, the theory of the Constitution is
that those who have been invested with
the elective franchise will vote for such
men and principles as will best promote
the general welfare; but this theory has
been supplanted by practice, which
has resulted in a division of the suffra-
gists into two grand political parties each
of which is struggling for the mastery
Under such conditions nothing is more
natural than that the followers of the
successful party should feel that one
of the consequences of their victory
should be the displacement of their op-
ponents.
President CLEVELAND finds the Offices
of the government filled with Republi-
cans, many of them most excellent
and competent gentlemen, no doubt,
but nevertheless appointed to Office
because of their political utilization.
The intimate and confidential official
relations existing between certain of
these officers and the administration is
such that the propriety of their prompt
removal is recognized by all. In fact
the most of these, have rendered their
designations. Others there are, who have
been appointed for fixed terms of office,
and these, we understand, are not liable
to removal under the law except for
cause. There is still another class of
officers who have no definite term of
Office. Certain of these are employees
in the several departments at Washing
ton, protected by the Civil Service law,
who will not be removed except for cause,
while others are liable to removal at
pleasure.
Having given the subject some con-
sideration we conclude that officials
holding confidential relations with the
President and members of the Cabinet.
will be shortly displaced by persons in
hearty sympathy with the administra-
ton, unless the interests of the public
service should thereby suffer; that COM
petent officials with fixed terms of office
will be retained until their terms expire !;
that persons without fixed terms of
office, except such as are protected by
the Civil Service law, will be supplanted
at once and that incompetent officials
will be removed whether they have fixed
terms or not. Whether honest and
capable officials who have spent much
OF their time and money in the manage
ment and control of political conven-
tions belong to the class referred to
by Mr.. CLEVELAND in the CURTIS let
ter is not clear. If such be removed for
active participation in politics, consis-
tency would seem to require that their
places shall be filled by persons who
would be under an implied pledge not to
do likewise, and we doubt, il this is de-
sirable, since most of the applicants for
office whose claims are now being pressed
at Washington, have been VIGOROUSLY
prominent as politicians, and not the
least of the points urged in their favor
is that their appointment will strengthen
the Democratic party.
Toclaim that distinguished politicians
party workers, are entitled to recogni-
ton from the appointing power, but
that officials who have used their infiu-
ence in the interest of their party have
thereby rendered themselves liable to re-
moval, is inconsistent. But what would be
thought of the claim that Republican Of
ficials who worked for their party should
be removed and their places filled by
Democrats, prominent chiefly because of
party services, who would be expected
to continue to do service for the Demo
cratic partyl Whatever may be the
policy of Mr.. CLEvELASD's administra-
ton with reference to the Offices, we be-
lieve that it will be consistent and In
strong contrast with that of the Repub-
lican party which punished Democrats
and disciplined its own members in utter
disregard OF all tenures, by its system Of
and removals.
osTMAsTER-GEEERAL Villas is