Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-01-09


yesterday, vas quite generally observed by the
democrats, VINO used the day a text for eulogies
On party heroes ard IDEAS The meeting in this
city brought together distinguished company,
ard In Columbus, Ohio, another large meeting was
held. which attended by many the representa-
tive men OF the party. At this gathering Judge
Thoman Of the civil service commission, was one OF
the speakers, ard In his remarks he 4" celebrated
the day by claiming that the democrats now
ready TO go back OF jackson 10 Jefferson in their
principles Of efsice holding. making the tenure de-
pend on the honesty. competency and patriotism
u the holder SenatOr-elect Payne, however, was
not disposed 10 take this view. Ia his speech he
said that while the democratic party favored hon.
civil service REFORM 10 did mean that the
present Offce-hoders should keep their places. but
that thorough exam nation of the present hold
or eflce In every branch of the public service
shall be mada1y skillful experts, and all who are
found Incompetent or unfairhful by indrection
evadng the letter or spirit OF the present law, or
who obtain their places by questionable methods,
or are not needed. or who have already enjoyed a
liberal term OF office. shall go, and not standing
the order OF their going. shall gd 1t once"
II viii be noticed that, ia Mr. Payne's eyes. the
fact that n Clerk has already 'enjoyed q liberal
term Of oliee' Is one of che sufficient reasons why
IN the name OF reform he should be summaTlly
discharged. This Is significant enough, but Mr.
Payne goes on to speak more plainly yet:
1.-The people cannot be satisfied with the slow
and limited operation OF the present civil service
law. five wait for these happy, wellIed. Under
worked, and overpad Oftice-hO.ders 10 die or re-
sign. reform viii make but little progress In the
present century. The use of the whltewash brush
VIII not cleanse or purify the present corrupt
vice Al admit that an bipartisan stable service
Is desirable. but an attempt TO accomplish it until
a just and fair distribution IS made between the
parties in the ratio OF tGer respective voters will
be futile disparity OF 500 to may be asseEted TO
at the gaming table, but IN business matters,
public or private the minority especially where its
interests and Its power at least equal those OF
the majority, will protest revision
TO correc: such a monStrouS inequality is quite as
indispensable as one TO correct the minor inequan
ties OF the tarin law
As Mr.. Payne adds, son this and possibly some
other questions, there may exist tor time differ
ences among democrats" A difference certainly
exists among them now, for one element, headed
by Presidenteect Cleveland believes In civil service
reform, and not the '.spoils system
The timely interpositior OF Judicious friends has
alone prevented two Maryland editors from she'd
ding blood. 1t appears that In the course OF heated
local political controversy the editor OF the Port
Tobacco Times announced tia: be would give any
one SIS who coulG ''cOGStriP analyZe, and parse"
certain sentence In editorial in the Port Tobacco
independent. This vile attack on his parts OFF
speech Infatuated Editor Posey OF the Iadepesde9t
TO that degree that he characterized the Times as
an "iudecent and slanderous sheet" Editor Cox, of
the Times, eoufa net be expected 10 stand this
and retorted that the independent was guilty of
s'nonsens!cal and untruthfr yaporing." The logi-
cal deduction from this was, In Editor POseys
mind. that Editor Cox "a skunk and hound:
whereupon Editor Cox arose IL hts wrath and |
Challenged his esteemed cotemporary 10 mortal |
combat The defiance was promptly accepted; the |
pistol. very deadly weapon when skiilfuIly used,
chosen for the arbitrator the field OF honor and
the fatal hour appointed and the duel would have
come OF. except, we have said. for Tie timely |
tnterposition OF Judicious friends. Editor Coxs |
friends showed Editor PoSey-s friends that as a |
physiological fact, 1t Impossible Editor Cox
10 be at once a gentleman, skunk and a hound. |
and that being admitted IL was comparatively |
easy for Editor PoseyS friends TO convince Editor
Cox's friends that BIZ. Poseys editorials could DC
parsed, and 50 bloodshed is ave-ted. But we are
told that Editor Cox Snd Editor PoseT Will never
be friends"
There are good reasons why the Senate should
adhere 70 its usual policy by considering the Mica
ragua treaty in executive session. The document
itself Is published and its provisions known And
the main objects OF the treaty pretty well un-
dersrood and are generally approved. The discus
son In the Senate viii turn largely on diplomatic
tecnnlca1tes such a5 are supposed 10 involve con-
ndences between nations to- disclose which In ad-
vance would defeat the objects sought The
treaty cannot be ratified without a twothirds
vote OF the Senate, and in the light Of what Is |
already known Of the nature and effect o: The In
btIUmeot, the country can safely inlruSJ that
chamber with Its usual functions
The latest dynamite plot fzzleS cut without |
even an explosion. It was annoinced that a con-
spiracy had been unearthed having its head
quarters at IRWIN station, little village In Pitts
burg, but all that the enterprfsng reporters can
nnd out Is that there Is strange man In the vii
lage whose business not yet been ferreted out
BY the old women gossips OF the place 1t IS said
that the whole story was gotten up by an fngen- /
lous local politician, who. to gain some private
ends, desires 10 keep the English and Irish voters
On opposite sides, and used little dynamite To |
blow them asunder.
Interviews with leading business men In New
York by the World show that tie signs OF the time
porsend g speedy revival OF trade. The recent
selling movement; and the shutting down OF pro- |