The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1885-08-20
Cleveland's Administration
FROM TIE ORGAN OF TIE MUGWUMPs.
The leading editorial in the Ae'7
York Times, August 18th.

York Times, August 18th.
TIE REFORM OF ABUstS.
One Of the strongest arguments IN
favor of change in the political con-
troll of tie National Administration,
not only in the last Presidential can
vass. but in two or three that preced-
ed it. was the necessity for athorough
overhauling Of the affairs OF the war;
Gus departments and the exposure
AID correction Of such abuses as
might be found to exist. IN twenty
four years of uninterrupted control.
by one party, and especially in view
Of the circumstances which during
that period had presented unusual
opportunities and strong temptations
to administrative abuses, it was ineY"
liable that they should have grown
up and become strongly intrenched.
For years they were known to exist,
but the party in power was too close
" identified with them to make their
correction easy, even if it was posi-
BILE. The exposure Of the Indian
agency frauds under Secretary Belk-
nap, and the prosecution of the .whls-
ky ring by Bristow, furnished an il,
lustration at once Of the abuses that
existed, and of the difficulty of deal
ing with them so long as the party
responsible for their cxistance was in
power. A more promising effort at
reform was made when Postmaster.
General James attacked the star
route contractors who had long been
plundering the Government, but the
result of th!s effort showed how diff
cult task it was for & political par
ty to deal effectively with the wrongs
that had grown up under its protec-
ton.
1t was evident that a complete eX-
posure and a thorough correction OF
abuses could be expected only when
the books should be opened to the
opposing party and the Administra-
ton should pass into the hands OF
those who had no interest in conceal
ing anything, but every incentive for
! making a complete exposure. It was
necessary that the work Of reform
, should be undertaken by those who
would be strengthened, and not weak
ened, by the exposures that it was
needful to make and who could gail
S and not lose prestige By making thor
f ouch work of it. The force Of thi
t argument was acknowledged, but
81 failed of its purpose so long as tn
could be convinced that thel
Il was danger from other causes ln.
Y transfer Of power to the Democrat
s Party. At last that party took sue
+ ground aad named such candidai
8 that in the changed condition of pu'
j lie affairs the people decided to TAX
J. the risk.
:. The result thus far has fully jnst
s fed the popular judgement. liner
|. has been so much contention Owe
Il Offices and appointments that til
a work Of reforming abuses has attrac
It ed much less attention than it Woul
n otherwise have done. But the wor
!. has been begun, and if we take tn
.e trouble to look over the record W
re will find that very substantial pr
In gress has been made. The Secretar
is Of the Navy has taken up his shal
IT, with special vigor. He has not allo'
re ed any question of appointments
er office 70 hinder or delay him. lie HI
70 treated that as mere incident OF b
=, work and has dealt with it on t
re- same business-like principles III
mt have characterized the rest OF his
,ot forts. He has taken up the contrae
he for the construction of vessels for t
purpose of enforcing their requl
IN ments with q strict regard for the
Of tcrests of the Government. He b
on taken the navy yards out Of polltl
Ne and is still engaged in ferreting
as. the corruptions and irregularities
he long concealed in their recesses.
60. has shown up the gigantic frauds r
,en netrated in the repairs ofvesseis, s
'oo bids fair to put an end to the rotl
mi ness that has infected alike the v
ION sells of tie navy and the admlnst
'se ton of the department.
sn The way the Administration
bnt taken hold of the Indian trout
I and the abuses Of the Land once
I anotner indication of its purpo
S O. and it's probable achievments.
be- ultimate causes Of the trouble v
hat the Indians have been inquired l
ob. and q determination has been she
vas TO remove them. Dishonest age
the are displaced and mtruders upon
ar. Indian lands are firmly taken IN III
ON and sent out Of the reservatle
,,ne Those who have fenced in the '
in. areas of public land to Craze herd
roe cattle upon without . shade" OF u,
art cal right are notified to remove u
.hot fences and find pastures without St
t'1o tSo inr them. A beginning has b
ion made toward rectifying the enorm
'' ot abuse of their rights by land gr
to railroads, which have kept s1;a sets
and ID from large sections of the pubic
y 70 main to which the corporation, ,
W acquired no legitimate title !
work of reclaiming the public Ia
fol- from interlopers and thleves
.aon sor, barely begun, but the spirit exA!o
.;Oa ;oa in this beginning gives promise
and great resuAO' '''o 4 hoe