The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1885-07-17
THE PRESIDENT AT WORK.
HIS LOYALTY TO THE PEOPLE.


HIS LOYALTY TO THE PEOPLE.
| And His Determination 10 Enforce Civil
| MI Service Reform.
Washington Letter to Boston Herald.)
| dropped into the vestibule OF the White
House the other evening, a little after 10 o'clock
| to speak for moment with Col Lamont, who
knew was generally to be found there as late
or later than that hour. The great mansion
seemed almost empty. The doors and all thu
windows were open, although the night wa!
only fairly warm. Only one messenger was or
guard. Doubtless there were servants some
where about the mansion, but they were not to
be seen. The lights burned low in the tiled
hallway. No country house could have beer
quieter than the White House was at this
hour. Presently was invited upstairs. Here
again a single messenger was on guard to an
swer calls, but otherwise tho ante-rooms and
cabinet chamber were empty. Arrived at the
great oval room, known as the library, in the
center Of the south side of the building. there
sat, behind well ordered desk, gentleman
with pile of documents before him. A pleas
ant breeze tioated in at the great south window.
There was an air of comfort and OF homelike-
ness about the room. 1t was delightfully."- cool
and silent. 1t was the work room OF the presi-
dent of the United States, and there he sat- as
he sits every night from four to six hours after
dinner and the short evening rest, studying the
applications Of the citizens Of this grand CONN.,
try for the offices thereof. An hours pleasant
make report here, furnished me with some
fresh impressions about the peoples president.
had taken up but little of his time since the
18th of March, for had no desire to share the
privileges granted TO the offce-seeking part Of
the population at the White House.
l was gratifed to find how we'll he understood
the character and value OF newspaper reports
and criticism. No man. who has occupied the
White House-unless it be Mr. Arthur-has
had such good understanding OF how news
papers are made, and the forces that control
the majority of them. This seems to me great
advantage. Poor Gen Grant, for instance,
could never read lively assault upon himself
In any newspaper, however obscure, without
venting curses upon the whole brood OF news
papers and newspaper men. President Cleve-
land would be as grateful to any journal that
decently and honestly drew his attention to
real fault in his administration as he would be
to man who should tell him that he had mad
vertently dropped his purse in the street, But
ignorant or perverse criticism would not disturb
him, unless it had appeared In newspaper that
had established reputation for fairness. Held,
as he is, at the point OF a bayonet all the time
by the demands OF official duty, he does not
have much time to read the newspapers Of the
country beyond keeping himself informed in re-
gard to the actual events of the day, and gath
cred that he regretted he did not have more time
to acquaint himself with the editorial comments
of the leading newspapers in all parts of the
country upon the conduct of the government.
Of course he hears good deal OF newspaper
talk repeated by those about him. sin
gle good-humorcd remark which he made
as / was going away l will repeat: "It
seems to me-" said he, "that two things are
Indispensable IN any man who holds this Of
ice-a splendid constitution and an imper-
vious hide. don't see how any man could get
on here without them" Col Lamont feels
that he is becoming much wearied, but as he
lit q cigar and resumed work upon his manu-
scripts, am bound to say that he seemed to
me as fresh and as cheerful as very healthy
boy just out of school for half-day's holiday.
/ could not help feeling, "this man thrives up
on hard work."
The president is not only not weary in well
doing, but he understands the situation of af-
fairs and the conditions under which he is lab
oring so well that there is no danger OF any
change in his policy or his methods. Opposi-
ten, that is mere opposition and that Is not
well intended will have no effect upon him.
Criticism from men who have no sympathy with
bis ideas and principles will be utterly wasted
upon him. The men who share his aims and
who give him trustworthy information about
public affairs and candidates for Off e will find
themselves more and more strongly establish
I'd IN his confidence. The men who hout at civ
Il service reform and want to transform the
democratic party into compact and well-drill.
ID army of ofice-seekers and office holders will
ind access to him more and more difficult. That
ne should maintain such an equable and cheer |
ul temper in the face of all the difficulties that
surround him is a proof of his remarkable char
acter. These difficulties arc enormous, and
hey do not diminish with time. Here are the |
departments of the government full of republi-
cans, who can only be accurately described as
offensive partisans. They are men who pro-
ess to believe that the offices are oil SO much |
party spoil, yet they do not resign. They will, |
L retained, DO all in their power to secure re-
urn OF the Republican party to power in 1888. |
Not one half nor one quarter OF tie clerks |
md officials have yet been turned out that
'ughl to go. TLey are held in place by the
,iyil service law. yet they have no sympathy |
With it or with an administration based on |
business principals. On the other hand, a |
number of the Democrats who have been placed |
1t the head of bureaus and divisions in the va |
'ious departments have just as little faith in |
,ivil. service reform and as little desire to see
he law maintained. They do not try to aid ,
he president and heads OF departments In |
wedding ont the inefficient and the unworthy |
md reforming and peifecting the service. To
hem a good clerk is just as obnoxious as
,ad one, If both are men who voted the Repub-
lean ticket. The heads of departments are do
ng their best under thee difficult crcumstan-
es, but it is PLAIN that they could accomplish
,othing without the moral support of the presi-
lent. Thus the whole responsibility and the
whole possibility of reform rests upon him.
surely the presidency was never grander or |
more dignified office than now, when one gal
ant and mastery reiormer, raised up, as 1t
nay well be believed, for the great work that
10 is doing, controls by his tremendous will |
lower the whole political situation, and COM
,es thousands of reluctant and hostile parti-
ans to conform to the peoples wishes and to DO
be peoples work.