Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-09-04

To the Editor of the. Free Press
Is it not about time that all hypocritic
pretcnce of civil service reform on the
part of Vermont Democrats, at least,
should cease The new administration is
not yet six months old, but not only have
| both the collectors been removed in the
midst of their terms of Office and several
presidential postmasters been supplanted,
but also during this hot midsummer vaca-
ton when President and secretaries are
reported absent from Washington there
comes the frequent news of fourth-class
postmasters subjected to the operation of
the spOilsmen's guilotne. Every now
ana then quiet rural community is sud
denly disturbed by the announcement
that it must go elsewhere for its mail than
to us accustomed place, made convenient
and easy from long habit and usage, if
not from original ease of access. This
sudden official beheading is often as much
a surprise to the Democratic as to the Re
publican patrons of the local postofIice,
| for Outlines no freely circulated petit
ton has forewarned "A new appointment
indeed it mas frequently happened that
| the majority of Democratic patrons have
preferred no change, but the change has
occurred nevertheless. The big mug
wump located at the capitol--the term is
used i'll its original Indian, not IN it's spec
ial campaign Sense-writes to some local
| partisan or is written to regarding the
postohlce OF that place. OF course this
partisan desires change, either for a
friend, kinsman, or rs one local boss
naively remarked, atkins having per
slstently written him to suggest some fit
man for postmaster, he looked the ground
impartially over and came to the conclu-
sion that the one most worthy was-hin-
SCU." 1t is needless to say that this local
boss was accordingly appointed. Fitness
Tor Office, Ill the view of this dispenser OF
patronage, consists in having voted the
Democratic ticket and taken the irgltS
newspaper also in attending cauclises
and conventions and contributing toward
party expenses. With snch qualifications
any hungry Oliver Twist can come up tc
the soup Kettle over which this great mug
wump presides and have ladled out to
him a goodly quantity of the sweet brotl
OF Federal patronage. This is very
agreeable arrangement doubtless, so fal
us these particular Spoilsmen are con
cerned, but to the ordinary observer il
does not seem striking instance of civil
service reform. The rOtteneSt of Repub
llcan politicians could never have enacted
Il more 1lagrant violation of this principle
Nor can the Democrats themselves afforC
. parallel to such an outrage even from
the palmy days of Franklin Pierce wher
single man, with autOCratic sway, die
tateu the Federal patronage of Vermont
Ana Such things occur under an admins
tration pledged to civil service reform
Can President Cleveland and Secretar,
Manning and Postmaster General Villa
be sincere in their professions when the,
authorize this wholesale decapitation o
: faithful officials at the solicitation of hun
cry partlsans up here in Vermont q
do they believe that all our Federal Off
cials are presumptively offensive parti
sans - This is not however, the theor,
| OF Mr.. Atkins and Mr. Smalley who hav
| conSecrated themselves to the deliciou
duty of emptyng the Offices ThcV onl
pretend that being Democrats the office
belong to them and to whomsoever o
Their satellites and supporters they ma
designate to fill them. Even in his ow
case Mr.. Smalley had not the hardihoo
, to deny that Gen. Wells had been capable
faithful and courteous in the PERFORMANCE
OF his duties as collector of customs. no
l did he make any charge of "offensiv
partlzanshlp,' well knowing it to be M
. true. lie simply claimed that being Den
ocrat he was entitled to the office and tina
being Il Republican Gen. Wells ought t
surrender it up. Mr.. Atkins in his Irgi,
= ntd Patrtot has been equally candid i
heraldlng the decapitation of Republca
officials us THE good work still going ON
and preaching and publishing the gospt
OF the spollSmen. If the adminiStratio
: has any doubt as to the unimuS of tn
: men who assume to direct the Federal az
pOintments in Vermont, let it consult thi
official organ and be undeCeived But IL
1t no longer pretend to any sincerity in il
professions of civil service reform Will
|, allowing the appointments of Who'll
+ State TO remain at the arrogant and arb
trary disposal of an odiuus political boss
Yours, CITIZEN.
------ Vt. August -, 1888.