Daily Republican., 1885-07-02

q. Z Cor. TAird and King streets
nptered 1t the Post Office 1t Whining
Nea. Del, ~ second GLASS mail matter
THURsOAY. JULYa. 1885.
Clevels.A snd Civil service.
Democratic newspapers do not tell
the truth when they say that the Re
pubNoans want to hold on TO the Fede-
raj Off ces, and that Is why they and 80
much fault with President Cleveland
for making changes. This assertion is
neither honest nor fair In principle or
In fact. No doubt there are some Re
publicans, indeed We might say the
most of them, who would have no OBJ
lection to keeping the offices II Cleve-
land would let them do 30. They have
also . right to expect to keep them II
the civil service Law was carried out.
1t Is only becsuse Mr.. Cleveland and
his party have placed themselves upon
record g being in favor Of carrying out
the civil service law, and have now
abandoned their professions and are
violating this law by turning Repub-
licaus out OF office who should be kept
in under the law.
This law was passed by both Demo
Gratis aad Republicans in Congress,
amongst its strongest supporters being
Mr. Bayard aud Mr. Peudleton in the
Senate, the latter indeed being the lead
or OF it's friends in that body. 1t is
true, the Republicans were in power,
but many OF them were not favorable to
that law, while many Democrats were
in favor Of 1t. 1t was passed in the in
terests Of good govern ment, and to pre-
vent the removal OF any public officer
on ,count Of his politics who was hon
est and performed his duty faithfully.
By this means 1t was expected to lift
the public service above the plane of
partisanship. So popular did this law
become before the late Presidential
election that all parties were compelled
to recogniy it in their platforms by
resolution in favor Of 1t. The Demo-
cratic platform is outspoken In favor Of
it, and Cleveland in his letter of accep-
lance heartily endorsed the principles
OF civil service reform.
The question is now, how is he keep
ing his pledge? In only one notable
instance, that of the re-appointment of
Postmaster Pierson, of New York, has
he appointed Republican or continued
. Republican in leading office. And
yet Mr.. Cleveland claims to be heart
lily in favor Of and prstends to carry out
the civil service rules. 1t Is this by
20 ,risy of Mr.. Cleveland and his chiefs
thai the Republicans are finding fault
viii.
If he would come out openly and say
that he utterly repudiated civil service
reform because to the victors belong the
spills, there would be some excuse for
him. But when he processes to favor a
law and hourly violates 1t, he becomes
. publicly protessed hypocrite. and will
be looked upon as such by honest men,
whether Democrats or Republicans,
M. Cleveland knew very we'll that in
the interests Of good government collec
tor Robertson should have been retained
rs Collector OF the Port Of New York,
but he had not the moral backbone Il
carry out either his professions or hi
convictions, and he yielded to the par
tisan demand to turn oat the Republi
can official and appointa man in hi
place who is a most pronounced Demo
cratic follower Of that prince of corrup
Democratic politicians, Hubert o
Thompson.
II Mr.. Cleveland would come forwar,
with the plain statement tn at Demo
cratic administration should be repre-
scented by Democrats In true partisan
style, and that after reflection he ha,
found civil service reform wrong AM
inapplioable, and make his appolns
ments upon these grounds, there woul,
be some degree Of honest man!ines
AbQRt 1t, Bet he does not do this, an,
the people are to be deceived under tn
cry Of civil service reform and ehe new
ly inven ted crime of offensive part
-sahship," while the most capable an
Trustworthy Of officers are thrown on
and their places given to partisan
doubly more offensive than those turnc
out, and in many instances with repu
tstions already blasted with politics
corruption. This is the reason VIII
Republicans find fault with Mr.. Cleye
land. His Democratic principles ca
be tolerated, and if for the sake of D,
mocracy he fills every Office in the Ian
with Democrats, even that conld bs e1
cused, but while doing 80 Mr.. Clev
land cannot expect to keep the flag
civil service flying and profess to sti
favor civil service rules, without beir
subjected to the contempt and scorn
every honest man as political hyp
critic.