The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-08-05

THE News persists in its assumed stupidity
relative to the attitude Of Republicans toward
the mugwumps now attempting to force civil
service reform upon unwilling Democracy.
We beg to insist that the ''sneers," and
"gibes," and "slurs' INDUCED in at the ex-
pense of these honorable gentlemen were not
directed against the idea of practical civil
service reform; and once more, for the benefit
Of the News and no one else-for
think no one else misunderstood
the animus of the Republicans
we would state that Republicans in general
can but feel that it is both absurd and ridicu-
lous that any sensible man should occupy the
position that the mugwumps have and do.
They stultifed themselves in the first place
by taking their eggs to the Democratic mar
ket, where there was no demand for them,
and since the election, and more notably since
the Inauguration, they have been repeatedly
and openly insultcd by their allies for their
pains. The Republican press has ridiculed
them, while the Democratic has not hesitated
to insult them, and to plainly tell them that
the Democratic party has no further use for
them, and that it never had any use for their
doctrines. The only possible hope they could
have entertained was in Mr.. Cleveland. AS
former Republicans they were intelligent
&c 10
Democratic party forbade the idea of expect
ing civil-service reform if the body of the
party had its way. That prince of mug
wumps, George William Curtis, gave a very
fair estimate of Democracy at Chicago and
within a fortnight rushed to it's aid
He and the mugwumps of indianapolis knew
that it had not changed its nature; knew that
it would not. He knew and they knew that,
except The Democratic nominee for President,
not a no an in that party had sincerely pledged
himself in favor of civil-service reform, &C
cording to the spirit of the Pendleton bill.
Not man Of them but knew that the candi-
date for the Vice-presidency had repeatedly
proclaimed that not less than $4,000
federal officials must 60 to make
places for Democrats, without regard
to civl-service rules. They ali knew that the
Democratic canaille would make a grand rush
for Offices Immediately upon the accession Of
the Democratic party to power We have
given them credit for having sense enough to
know that the breach between a Democratic
President and his party must open at his very
feet and between him and the Vice president.
In presuming to ask that an official chosen by
the Nice-president should be removed
they must have realized that they
were asking the President to precipitate
a split in his party, and that in any event the
hopedfor reform cannot be realized at the
hands of that party. For, if the President
accede to their demands, the party will disown
him, and if he refuse, then is civi-service re-
racy is concerned. If the News or the mug
wumps can't stand the ridicule made by the
latter the entire third of a dozen should be
laid in jewelers. cotton and put under
"a glass case. But we apprehend
that the gentlemanly mugwumps are possessed
Of higher grade of intelligence than the
News is willing to grant them, and probably
there is not one of them but realizes that he
has made fool of himself in going to the aid
of Democracy. But now, since they are in
for it, they naturally want to make show of
sincerity, while it is not altogether improba-
bic that they, like other mortals, are actuated
not a little by spirit of revenge, and hope to
get it by ruthlessly uncovering the Democratic
tiger. We wish them success.