The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1885-03-20
APPOINTMENTS IN TERRITORIES.

APPOINTMENT IN TERRITORIES.
The reported declaration Of President
Cleveland that be will appoint no non-resi-
dent to Office In the Territories where there
are qualified persons for the positions, seems
TO be pretty well authenticated by Its ap-
pearance In the leading Eastern papers. And
the idea appears TO meet approval except
from office seekers or journals under their
domination. 1t Is true the National plat
forms Of beth political parties last summer
enunciated this as correct principle, and 1t
Is therefore in the nature of not only party
but q National instruction to the President,
which he is morally bound to respect but 1t
Is such an onward stride In recognition of
the rights of citizens Of the Territories, who
have, since the organization Of the North
west territory, been accustomed to using
only the imported article, that we can scarce
ly realize the old obnoxious method is to be
no more, and the un.republican system of
appointments In the Territories Is TO be
finally carted off TO the junk shop of worn
out political evils. While President Arthur
could technically, and did, act upon the the.
DRY that this instruction applied only TO the
candidates who came before the people after
that declaration in the platforms, that 1t did
not relate back to his administration, and
probably feeling that he was not under very
serious obligations to the Chicago Conven-
ton, II was notwithstanding a fundamental
and correct principle enunciated which he
might well have recognized, and that recog-
milton would have given the Republican
party the prestige in the Territories of carry
Ing into practice a right which their repre-
sentatives In the Republican Convention at
Chicago first secured the assertion of. In
the few appointments be had To make for the
Territories after that time, he might better
have done this, but he let the opportunity
go by.
In referring TO Cleveland's declaration the
New York Times says: "The appointment
"of non.residents to such offices was recog-
"niZed as an abuse by the platforms of both
"parties. 1t requires some political courage
"for President to enforce such a teclara
"tIon, seeing that Territorial Offices have
"served as a means Of inconspicuously pay
"ing political debts to unpresentable credit
"ors. The Nonresident Federal officeholder
Sin Territory is apt to have the defects of
''the class of carpet-baggers, chief among
(Which Is an absolute indifference as to the
"welfsre of the Territory. II must be ad-
"mitted, however, that the Territorial states
"man who has grown up with the country, is
soften quite as Objectionable as the imported
"otliceholder could be-"
While the Times above recognizes the
"abuse" of the non. resident system, IL makes
gratultous fling at "Territorial statesmen"
probably owing in q considerable measure
to its present perturbed condition of mind
over the attitude Of Western men on the sill |
yer question, and whom II hits an adroitly |
cute lick by speaking of "Territorial states
men," Admitting that the Territories ''of
ten" produce men of less caliber than Web.
ster, Calhoun, Plat or Conklng, 1t should |
be kept In view to our credit that we have |
not produced Statesman" of the brand Of |
Boss Tweed, to whose discovery the Times |
owes much of the celebrity that kept 1t on |
the top wave until 1t was caught by the I'M
dertow of mugwumpism. 1t is not On the |
ground of the superiority Of material which |
has 'grown up with the country" that the |
Territories have asked appointments for |
their Offices shall be made from their own
people. 1t is not either in derogstion of the |
average attainments and character of the |
officers sent to us. Some of them have been |
bad some good. The title of "worn out
political hacks" does not apply to al, not is
1t true that all manifest "absolute indiffer-
ence as to the welfare of the Territory"
There have been many excellent officers, and
excellent men, sent here. At the same time
Montana doubtless had as good, as deserving
and as competent men for the positions
filled as those sent, and the appointment of
. nonresident, under those circumstances,
was net only an un.republican system of
but an offense to the self.respect
Of citizens Of the Territories, which the Re-
publican party Of Montana has continuously
for many years emphatically resented. 1t
stifed the worthy ambitions Of citizens Of
the Territories who were identified with
them by residence, investment, familiarity
with their history, legislation and require
ments, and who shared the aspirations of
those people, to know that against them the
doors of honorable preferment were locked
by pernicious system, aud that their posi-
q krno nd ntuv Apt |
reserved to be awarded to non residents.
The adoption Of the same system In select
Ing Federal appointses for New York as has
been practiced on the Territories wsuld re-
suit In rebellion and revolution. And yet
territorial citizens had to bear this wrong,
not because they were less good citizens of
the United States, but because in doing duty
on the outposts Of the Republic they had
crossed an imaginary line where advantage
could be taken Of the fact.
We trust President Cleveland has spoken
as reported, and that he will adhere to it.
We would have preferred Republican ad-
should have had the opportuni-
ty TO carry into effect the declaration Of
TiBuIs Vi tcffitor ~ CiIiLcns, WEIGH ouT N&- |
tional Convention was the first to recognize,
but 1t is just as desirable Democratic ad-
should do what is right, and we
will be glad to see Montana Democrats ap.
pointed To Montana Offices. We may know
their weak points little better for starter
Than we would those Of . stranger, but there
Is benefit even In that, and we have no doubt
n honest and capable men can be found for
al the offices In Montana as would b. sent
from the East. And many of them are emf.
nently more deserving Of whatever prefer
ments the National administration has TO
bestow In the Territory than any non-resi-
dent could be.
AUDITING OF ACCOUNTS.