The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1885-08-20
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.

NlcS0ldIlu WOkAl>l ttoSuAAAO UAAS ANHopOAA
sibility Of administering the govern
ment, and that he would hold each
member of his cabinet personally
responsible for the honest, economi-
cal administration of his special de-
partment, and that each member
of the cabinet would cheerfully
shoulder the responsibility of his
own department. The Repub-
lican leaders since the war
until Cleyeland's election, declared
the Democratic party incompetent,
and unfit to govern this great cOun-
try.
We denounced it as false and in
famous, and as SANDER upon a
party that had built up this coun
try and lived near hundred years
through sunshine and blood. We
felt that or party had as much
wisdom, patriotism, honesty, man
hood and virtue in it's ranks as the
opposition. We hoped and believed
that when we did assume the con-
troll Of the government, we would
manage it on business principles, as
q faithful trustee, would manage
funds placed in his charge.
And in many things we have not
been mistaken nor deceived. Our
folks in some directions have ac-
complished wonders. They have
ferreted out fraud, corruption and
evil practices in the departments,
curtailed expenses and Topped off
useless excrescences and fungous
growths, and are still at work,
bringing about that civil service re-
form which the people thought Mr..
Cleveland and the party had given
pledges to do. In this we can
cheerfuliy say well done-good and
1alb0Iul servants.
But we never for one moment
supposed that either Mr.. Cleveland
or any member Of his cabinet would
shirk the least possible response
bility placed upon them by their
oaths and the constitution of the
United States. At least we never
expected to see Democratic Pres
ident and his cabinet lodging and
hiding behind a republican, ineffi-
cient, irresponsible, unconstitution-
al commission. By the constitu-
ton the appointing power is abso-
lutely vested in the President and
his Cabinet with the advice and
consent OF the senate. And no one
liz bold enough to claim that that
power can be delegated to an ire.
sponsible commission except the
mugwumps and unfaithful Demo.
Gratis,
The very object and purpose
of vesting the power in the Presi-
dent and his advisers was to hold
him personally and politically re-
sponsible for the mistakes, blunders
and errors which he and his agents
or appOintees should make.
How could President and the
party in control OF the government
he morally or politically RESPONSE
Bile for the fraud and corruption
Of a clerk in the treasurer's depart.
ment ii neither he nor his party
had the appointment of said
clerk.
1t is our desire that our party
shall assume the full responsibility
In the completest sense of the word
for the management Of the;people's
affairs. And then be judged fairly
ut the expiration Of four years.
And if we shall prove to the world
that we are worthy and well quail.
fed, then we want to 60 to the people
with an open countenance and an
honest heart and ask to be rein.
stalled again in power. s
Now, how ought our party to be.
and how will it be judged, if the ad.
Rinistration is controlled by a Re
publican, Unconstitutional Civil
Service Commission, the biggest
fraud, humbug, and political swim.
die ever perpetrated upon a people
Rnder the pretext Of law. If a re.
spectacle portion of the partybeleve
the law unconstitutional, it seems
to us the President ought to test it's
validity, unless he desires to retain
the Republican rascals in office for
life, and if this is his purpose, he is
doing exactly what he was elected
not to do.
We believe if these fellows in of:
fee in they departments were Dem
-scrats the ought to be turned out,
especially if they have been there