The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1885-09-23
DAMOCLEs AND HIS SWORD.

DAMOCLES AND HIS SWORD.
Speaking Of the persons recently dis
charged from the Philadelphia Mint because
| they suspended the operations Of the es-
tablishment in order to insist that they
should be informed positively whether or
not they would be retained in Office, the
Philadelphia News rather sympathizes with
them, poor things. 1t refers to the nerve.
destroying suspense to which they were sub.
iected while "the sword Of Damocles was
hanging over them" In the language OF the
Rev. Mr.. S%paulding, this sort OF rot a "a
tendency to make US tired" Thu men who
were 50 anxious to know their fate have
heen for years the worst ward-strikers in
Philadelphia. They have been the chief
sub-fuglemen to the Republican machine
and nave had no tolerance for Democrats,
nor regard for their feelings. Nothing was
too vile to say against their political OPP
ponents and no illegal act surrounded with
too much penalty to prevent them from at
tempting to defraud Democrats at the
ballot box. They expected mo quarters
in the event of Democratic success and
were entitled to none. Common decency
should have moved them to vacate their
positions when Mr.. Snowden stepped out.
How many Democrats did Mr.. Pollock re-
tain in positions in the mint? How many
did Mr.. Snowden employ? Where Is
Brother Bosbyshell's list OF Democrats?
Out on this sort of business. ITO the
victors belong the spoils," and, no matter
what the laws may be, they will get thern'
in time. No party ever carried that doc
trine airy farther than the Republican did
and still does where they are in power. And
they were and are right in doing so. The
sub-oficials and employees in any particu-
lar bureau should be in thorough accord
with the aims and sentiments OF the Ad-
ministration. There should be no luke
on their part in seconding the ef-
forts of their CHIEF, much less insubordi-
nation. This Sword of Damocles" bust
ness is getting to b. wearisome. These
Philadelphia mint employees saw many new
men about them rapidly becoming proficient
in their work and determined TO take snap
judgment on the superintendent; they
would exact a promise of retention in office
from him before he could secure skilled men
to take their places. They did not know
their man, and for their audacity were dis
charged, as they should have been. But
they should have been discharged anyway,
give place to men who assisted the Ad-
ministration into power.
The Republicans permitted no Democrat
to remain in position in 1861, and they
never by any accident appointed one to
place since.
The President has been too slow in his
removals. He should move upon the prin-
ciples that actuated. Jefferson. Some dis
satisfied reformers in Connecticut had OBJ
jected to the removal of a Fsderalist Off
cial and the appointment of a Democrat in
his place, whereupon Mr.. Jefferson wrote
them as follows: Declaration, by myself,
in favor of political tolerance, exhortations
harmony and affection in social inter-
course and respect for the equal rights Of
the minority have on certain occasions
been quoted and misconstrued into assur-
ances hat the tenure OF office was o to
be disturbed. But could candor apply such
a construction? When it is considered that
during the late Administration those who
were not OF a particular sect OF politics
were excluded from office; when, by a
steady pursuit OF this measure, nearly
the whole offices of the United States
were monopolized by that sect; when
the public sentiment at length declared it.
self and burst open the doors OF honor and
n@cGJopoo m <hooo uvhnco 0nininns fhov
ap~proved-was it to be imagined that this
monopoly of office was to be continued in
the hands OF the minority Does it vio-
late their equal right to assert some rights
in the majority also? Is it political intol-
erance to claim a proportionate share IN
the direction of public affairs? v 1t
would nave been to me a circumstance OF
great relief had 1 found a moderate partici-
patton OF office in the hands OF the major
ity. would gladly have left to time and
accident to raise them to their just share.
But their total exclusion calls for prompt
correction. 1 shall correct the procedure;
but that done, return with Joy to that
state of things when the only questions
concerning a candidate shall be: Is he
honest? is he capable? Is he faithful to
the Constitution"
How beautifully this fits Mr.. Cleveland's
case. Let him act upon the same line OF
policy, and do it quickly. Let us have
some honesty about this matter and not
so much sneaking. Let us have civil SER
vice reform by "iring the rascals out
bodily"-and do it now. Give them to
understand why they 60, too, and that ii
they come over they might again get in,
with Cleveland,) in 1888. Let us have
some practical politics, but Damocles and
his mythical sworA be-blowed.