The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1885-09-19
six Months of Democratic Rule.

On the 4th of this month Mr.. Cleveland had
been President Just six months. When he
took the oath of office he made a short adj
dress, but made no other promises except to
give the people an honest and economical
government and to enforce the laws faithfully
and impartially He summoned around him
a cabinet composed of able men. These
would have been more than human had not
some errors been made, but the shortcomings
have been few and unimportant. The errors
have been made qaite prominent, while the
press have spent but little space in commend
ing the good acts ofthe administration. Dur
ing the first six months ola Democratic Ad
ministration, with no aid from the legislative
branch of government, radical and wholesome
reforms have been accomplished.
The power of the Pacific Mail ring has been
broken and nearly halfa million dollars saved
to the treasury. The Importers ring, COM
bination representing large capital, has been
crushed, and millions more thereby saved.
A score of rings and steals have been ex-
posed in the Navy Department, and that
builder ofworthless ships at exorbitant pro-
fits, John Roach, been cast oil.
Millions of acres of public lands have been
rescued from railroad corporations
The ssboomers'' have been forced off the
lands reserved for the Indians, and costly In
dian wars been averted.
The Cattle Kings, a powerful combination
Of capital and influence, which no preceding
President dared interfere with, have been
driven from the Indian Territory.
The whisky Ring" has been forced to pay
up its taxes.
The fencing in fpublic lands by wealthy
corporations has stopped, and the lands thrown
open to settlement by bona fide settlers.
Hundreds of useless ofice-holders have
been dismissed from the public service, and
their salaries, aggregating large amount,
saved to the treasury.
The payment of fraudulent claims ofvarious
kinds have been stopped.
Naval and army officers who have been
Iounging around Washington and other cities
for years, doing but little beyond drawing
their pay, have been assigned to duty.
Government employees have been taught
with their pay.
Protection has been afforded American
citizens abroad, and foreign governments
given to understand that this government will
tolerate no indignities to its citizens.
This is but part of the record. The saving
OF public money has been considerable, and
the economy practiced and enforced will bet
ter appear in the estimates of the various de-
partments for the next fiscal year.
The improvement in the public service is
very apparent, and the oficious interference
of government employees in politics has been
stopped.
Instead of the country going to wreck and
ruin, as the Blaineites predicted, the change
in government control has been beneficial
Instead of business being still more Frustrated
there has been steady improvement and
season of general prosperity is at hand
Mines, mills and factories are starting up,
new industries, especially in the South, are
being inaugurated, and new railroads are
being built.
The good work, however, has just been begun,
yet the record so far is grand. 1t is only
necessary for the party to uphold the Admin
istration, and its achievements in the way of
reforming the government will be apparent to
the most blinded of Democratic opponents.
The party should strive to put Che Senate in
accord with the House of Representatives.
The President, to put his policy into full effect,
should have a Democratic Congress to aid |
him.
After a few weeks vacation the President |
and his Cabinet are back to their desks, and |
have entered upon their duties with renewed
energy. During the first six months of their |
incumbency the changes in officials were not |
so numerous as some Democrats desired, but
that complaint will not be valid long, even if
it be at present. The President has changed
all, or nearly all, in the diplomatic service;
has changed more than half of the revenue
collectors, and appointed more than five hun
bred postmasters, while over six thousand |
changes have been made at fourth-class post
Offices. Besides, hundreds of Democrats have
been appointed to subordinate positions in
the several branches of government Mr..
Cleveland we believe, understands that the /
country voted for change last fall, and he
will not ignore the voice of the people. 4
wholesale change at first might have impaired |
the efficiency of the public service, and his
policy Of gradual changes has been WISE |
Now, after six months experience for new |
officials, appointments cal be made more
rapidly.