The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1885-04-04

ally excites an eager and universal
interest in the ~spoils of effice.r Es-'
pecially is this to be expected when
it occurs only once in quarter of a
century.
But we desire to call attention to
the fact that the changes being made
are proceeding with the utmost de-
corum, so far as the Administrator
is concerned
Among the masses of the people
there is wide difference of opinion
as to the proper mode Of dealing
with the offices by the new admins
tration.
There is one class that holds that
there should be an immediate and
4 complete substitution of Democrats
| for Republicans in office. This class
believes that the offices were the
principle stake in the campaign, and
as the Democrats won they ought to
have them. They believe that this
is now government of the Demo
cratic party, by the Democratic par
ty, and for the Democratic party,
and that Republican has no rights
that Democrat is bound to respect.
| Opposed to this class is the other
extreme, which believes in a tenure
of office limited only by good be-
havior.
The true position is that which
Mr.. Cleveland has adopted, and
which, if adhered to, will do more
to establish his administration in
the respect of the whole country
than any other part of his public
policy. Mr.. Cleveland believes in
making this Democratic admins
tration on business principles. He
recognizes the fact that he is the
President, not of party only, but
of the whole country. But being
the representative of Democratic
principles he will see to it that the
offices are administered on Demo
cratic principles. Where there are
vacancies he will fill them by the
best Of Democrats. Where there
are offices already occupied by Re-
pnblicans he will consult the good
of the country and the party he rep.
resents before making any removals.
The Presidents conduct in this
regard has, thus far, been so CON
sistent and just, that men of every
party have approved it. Referring
to it, the New York San says:
"On Wednesday President Cleve-
land made seven appointments to
office, some of them of much i'm
portance; and, so far as the public
have yet been made aware, every
man of the seven was perfectly quail
flied for the duties to which he was
assigned.
But the signal fact about these sew
en- men is that every one of them is
a Democrat, holding the principles
and cherishing the hopes which
make Democracy the vital force of
this republic.
There is not a single Consolida-
Zionist, Federalist or so-called indie
pendent Republican in the whole lot.
Mr.. Cleveland and his advisers APP
pear to have selected them without
taking much counsel from the great
mass of politicians belonging to the
respective States; but of their polit-
zeal soundness and orthodoxy there
is no question.
We commend this circumstance to
the consideration of Democrats ev-
erywhere."
But it is from the extreme parti-
sans of the Republican party that
Democrats can learn lesson. The
machine Republicans are very much
concerned about the civil service re-
form that. Mr.. Cleveland is inaugu-
rating. They care nothing for any
reform so far as it initiates against
their party. They see the mistake
that the Republican party made in
arrogating to itself an absolute
claim to the national government
and all its concerns, and they are
now disturbed because Mr.. Cleve-
laud is not making the same mis-
take. On this head the Washington
Post well says:
"a notable thing in current poll
tics is the way the machine organs
of the Republican party discourage
and belittle President Cleveland's
efforts to reform the civil service.
Democrats may learn a lesson from
this, as to what our opponents most
fear. With professions of reform in
their platforms and from their can
didates for sixteen years, since Grant
first became President, the Republi-
can machine has been year by year
sinking the public service to lower
depths of partisan degradation The
revolt against this gave Mr.. Tilden
his great popular majority and deter
mined the election of Mr.. Cleveland.
hn