Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1885-08-21
THE "CLEAN SWEEP" CRY

geriouS and widespread dlScOntent IN Tue
ranks of the men who these many years nave
been CALAMITY fighting to win victory ohly
to be denied its fruits by a man with mis-
guided ideas of administrative reform
Since how long has there been such 4
"serious and widespread discomfort in
the ranks of the Democratic party? And
If anv such discomfort has existed, why
should the Herald be anxious concerning
it since it is a champion OF the Peoples
party, the party of Church and State in
Utah? The Democratic party had high
er aims to urge it on and cause 1t TO win
victory at last than the mere hope oi
replacing Republican ofiice-holders with
Democratic ofiice-holders: that aim was
to bring the Government back to the
true principles upon which it is founded,
and to administer it in accordance
with the provisions of the Constitution.
Another aim Of the party was to bring
about reform in the civil service of the
Government and to conduct Government
business upon business principles, and to
do this has been the desire and object OF
the Administration how well it is being
done all know. If there is such wide
spread discomfort as the Herald suggests,
it is probable that it would find some ex-
preston in the party when the various
conventions meet. Within week three
Democratic State Conventions have met,
one in Iowa, one in Ohio, and one in
Mississippi The Iowa Democrats in their
platform spoke of the Administration in
these terms:
That in President Cleveland the country
hasfound a man of solid judgment, con-
scientious integrity, answering fidelity,
patriotism and courage equal to that of An
drew Jackson, and in his efforts for econ
Omy, for the exposure Of the criminal acts
of the Republican party and its officers, for
his unhinching frmness in dealing with the
cattle kings for his zeal In behalf of re-
form, for his efforts to restore the public
lands to settlers, for his efforts to enforce
the law against polygamy. and for his con-
stant watohfulness of the public welfare, he
has conducted himself in such way as to
receive our answering support
The Ohio Democrats, who held their
convention yesterday, in their platform
spoke OF the Administration in these
terms:
We congratulate President Cleveland
and his Cabinet on the auspicious beginning
they have made in the necessary reforms OF
government, and heartily indorse their Ad-
mlnistration.
According to this, then, discomfort at
the conduct of the Administration is not
widespread in Iowa and Ohio so far as
the Democrats are concerned. 1t would
be somewhat natural to look for this dis
content in the South. Wednesday the
State Democratic Convention of Missis-
sippi met at Jackson. and, among others,
adopted this resolution:
ResoIued, That in the policy of President
Cleveland, SO far as disclosed, we see not
only nothing to condemn but everything to
inspire confidence in his wisdom, integrity
and craftsmanship, and we hereby express
our unqualified endorsement of the same.
This wonderfully widespread discon-
tent not having found any expression in
Southern conventions, may have found
vent in Southern newspapers. Not long
since the Galveston NeacS, the leading
Democratic paper OF Texas, had this TO
say concerning the Administration and
civil-service reform:
"The people of Texas are not hungry for
Office to any alarming extent, but instead
evidently desire that the Democratic Ad-
ministration shall be signally successful in
its efforts to reform the Government, not
only in having the public affairs economic
ally administered, but also in establishing
clean and efficient civil service. There were
doubtless from three to six aspirants for
every position in the Federal service In
Texas. The disappointed of these will nat
urally be unfavorably disposed toward the
Administration and naturally inclined to
take an active part in rigging up the old
machine and throwing cold water on the
Presidents reform efforts. The great body
of the people of Texas, however, 1t is safe to
say, are in hearty accord with the President
in his programme of reform.
There are not more than one to every thous-
and men in Texas eager to serve their coun-
try and themselves in an official capacity,
and it can be said that an overwhelming
majority of the 1000 is in favor of good,
honest, clean government, and ready to sup
port Clevelands Administration in that be-
half"
In an issue few days later than the
one from which we have just quoted, the
Ne,cs had this to say on civil service re-
form
~ me Just rights of the Demo
crals WlLAi reepe5t TO places in the civil ser
vioC What more right have citizens calling
Them YES Democrats to hold these non
political offices than citizens calling them |
selves Republloans, or claiming no party ap- |
pellat'on? The civil service is not the |
property of any party TO be divided among |
It's followers. If the Republicans in 1861 /
turned the Den rats out of the civil ser
vice and replace Them with Republicans. it |
is no reasou why the Democrats 1
should follow r example in 1885. |
The word pre-, resses, and two /
wrongs can .-Eer make a right. 1t |
is neither justice wisdom, nor statesman /
ship to eject faithful nd efficient incum-
bents of non-pelirioa. offices and fill their !
places with Democrats, merely because the !
latter are os the party of the President and |
the former are not. Ii Is easy to see why /
the President snCulQ nave his political /
friends in the great NolIical offices. but an |
arbitrary and wholesfl le chenge in the small I
administrative and clerical offices, to reduce I
them to one poii5ica. complexion, is GER
tainly not III line with what is required for /
business-like efficiency and single-minded /
fidelity in the public service.
The leading Democratic paper of Flor
ida, the Jacksonville Times Union, in
commenting upon this widespread dis
content" and the condemnation that the
President would receive from the party in
New York State, says:
Gentlemen, it cannot be done. You may
possibly be aJle to form coalition and buy
up votes enough to elect Republican Gov
ernor but that will not 'rebuke' the Presi-
dent-it will only mark you as set of
knaves who think public plumber is the be-
all and the end-all of party strife. This Ad-
ministration stands on its own merits it is
intrenched already in the hearts of the peo-