The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-05-23
JUDGING TIE ADMINISTRATION.

! pointments he makes. Government, the Her
aid insists, is something more than office-hold-
ing, administration is something more than
Office filling. and politics is, or ought to be,
something more than ofice-seeking. Very
good; but how long has it been since these
excellent ideas have obtained? Ii a President
is not to be held responsible for the appoint
ments he makes it would be interesting to
know for what he can be held accountable
He is an executive officer, it is true, but that
feature of his services is scarcely so large
as is that upon which the Herald places
so little stress His appointments are one
of the surest indexes of the Presidents char
acter and purposes This is the secret of the
| great interest taken in the making-up of his
| Cabinet and it was on this very point that
| Mr. Cleveland made the very serious mistake
of practically ignoring great section of the
| country while four members were chosen
| from the same region, two from his own State.
The character of these men, his first appoint
ments are the subject of just criticism, as in.
dicative of the kind of administration we are
to have. The Herald practically admits this
in the course of its argument of apology and
defense.
| The Herald proceeds to assert that the ad-
ministration, aside from the business of select
ing officers to perform public services, has
made an exemplary showing. But little
more than two months have elapsed, but
enough has been done to call down on it the
encomiums of the people. Without claiming
that it is yet little early to boast of what is
being done, it may be profitable to investigate
the specifications of the Herald. 1t claims
that the management of the Treasury has
been prudent and conservative, as if it's man
agement had not been prudent, conservative
and honest during the past twenty-fo four years.
..An expert fnancier," says the Herald, "who
commands the entire confidence Of business
circles of New York, has been put in COM
mand of the Treasury, with full authority to
manage it strictly upon sound business prin-
ciples." The Pharisaical or mugwump in
ference to be drawn from this is, that up to
this time the Nations finances have not been
managed with consummate skill The record
shows we think, that the men lately in
| charge enjoyed the full confidence
not only of New York fnanciers
but of the entire country. But in
seeking fitting conclusion to this claim the
| Herald thinks that the administration Of the
Treasury ''has been quite as satisfactory as it
was under President Arthur, if not more So"
| Well. if it be no better than that-and it is
by no means apparent yet that it is possessed
of half the merit of the administration re-
Gently expired, for practically nothing is yet
known-there is no set-off here against the
repeated blunders of bad appointments
The Herald then turns to the other depart
ments and lavishes praise, not for what has
been accomplished but for what is promised
forgetful of the fact that it is the easiest thing
in the world for Democracy to promise with
out even intending to fulfill Not to be too
dogmatic, it is but reasonable to say that it is
nonsensical to talk of what has been accom-
plished in the Nary Department, or to declare,
as does the Herald that "John Roach has at
last found Secretary who insists upon the
fulfllment of his contracts" That man does
not live who can say whether there will or
will not be frauds and stealing in that or any
other department. and it is the most servile
toadyism or hypocrisy for any one at this
time to make such broad claims in behalf
of an untried experiment. It is equally alb
surd to say Of the Postmastergeneral that
che has grasped with unexpected readiness
and vigor the principles and details of the vast
business of his charge" Of fact, it is stated
that that department has not been so far be-
hind its work for many years. Mr.. Villas now
issues circular letter to Democratic con-
gressmen, urging them to proceed to pick out
from sixth to fourth of the postmasters in
their respective districts for the purpose of re-
moval, no pretext of the incumbent's unfit
ness being made.
The country must judge the administration
by its appointments, and not by its unfulflled
promises On this score it stands condemned
of some of the most serious mistakes
The appointment of Kelley was disgrace
to the President and shame upon the entire
country. So was that of drunken DR.. Meiere,
though it has been recalled. The selection
of such old, disloyal fossils as Phelps
and McIane as ministers, to great for
eign powers was likewise an insult
to all able and patriotic citizens Of