The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1885-03-21
Genuine Reform.


Cleveland have all along pretended
to believe that his declarations upon
the great question of civil service
reform would amount to nothing and
that he would be compelled to yield
to party pressure and make whole
sale changes in the offices to be filed
by presidential appointment. 1t is
undoubtedly true that in such belief
the wish has been father to the
thought
President Cleveland has given all
parties to understand, in unmistak-
able terms that he intends to abide
by his convictions on this matter
and no considerations whatever can
swerve him from the course he has
decided to pursue Two things have
already been done by him in the in
terest of reform that must meet the
appreciation of all good citizens ir-
respective Of party or creed. They
are: First, that all applications for
office must be referred to the heads
of departments under which they are
classed; Second, that the Tenure of
Office Act will be strictly observed
and that there will be no removals
from Office except for cause. The
first of these is in line with the great
Democratic doctrine of decentraliza-
ton of power. 1t is directly opposed
to the idea of lone man power"
President Cleveland has openly, with
out the force of law, recognized the
fact that the Presidential patronage
has already grown to dangerous pro
portions and that steps should be
taken at once, not only to relieve the
executive of the unreasonable labor,
and arduous responsibility, but also
to insure to the country purer and
more efficient public service.
The observance of the Tenure of
Office Act, is nothing more than
should be expected from the Nation s
Chief Executive, elected to enforce
and carry out it's laws. While many
Democrats will be disappointed at
their failure to secure office at once
under the new regime, yet careful
reflection will convince any one that
the Presidents course is the only
safe one for the party, leaving out OF
the question the good of the country
:. at large The fact that he is sup
ported by his cabinet and ablest adj
visers should be enough of itself to
settle the matter at once. Of course
it is to be presumed that as fast as
the terms of present incumbents ex-
pire. the vacancies will be filled by
capable men from the Democracy,
but to expect more than this is I'M
patriotic as well as undemocratic.
The Wheeling Ws-Letter, the
official organ of the Amalgamated
Association in this district, says the
workingmen of West Virginia feel a
peculiar pride in the elevation OF
Hon. E. w. Wilson to the Governor
ship, especially because they had
much to do in securing his nomina-
ton and election. While we admit
that the class of our citizens to which
our contemporary refers has reason
for gratulatory expressions in the
election to high and honorable po-
sition of one who has himself been a
"horny handed son of toll" and who
at all times has advocated the labor
ers' cause and boldly championed
their interests, yet truth compels us
to say that in this vicinity, at least
the workingmen who were not
straight Democrats forgot their dis
tinguished friend on election day and
gave to- the blue blooded representa-
tive of test-oath deviltry their suf-
frages. With onlysa few honorable
exceptions-and very few--the work
ingmen, as such, divided in the con
test as their partisan inclinations die
tated, and among them were found
some of the most bitter of Mr.. Will
sons opponents. In vain was his
record as a consistent friend OF the
people, as vigorous defender ano
advocate Of their rights, as an honest
capable and progressive statesman
held up to them Even they who
previous to his nomination tacitly
pledged to him their support, were
driven by the party lash to recan
and on election day marched cheer
fully to the polls with Maxwell tick
cts in their hands. We regret tina
all this is true. Mr.. Wilson was pc
culiarly the candidate of the grea
laboring mass Of our people, and thel
failed to give him hearty and unan
imous support at the polls. Whel