The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-06-26
THE STAR CHAMBER SYSTEM.
The Plan of the Administration for Turning
Republicans Out-A Political Disgrace.

Republicans Out-A Political Disgrace.
Washington. S pecial.
The principle that officials are not to be turned
out of Office because of their political opinions,
unless they have expressed those opinions in an
offensive" manner, was a novel one, and orig
inal with President Cleveland. In the abstract
the reasonable security of tenure of public officers
is generally commended by the better elements
of both parties. This sentiment created and
maintains the civil-service law. The method ap-
piled to the administration of this principle,
however, is thought likely to involve the admin
~istration to an extent unlocked for in any quar-
ter. Ii a charge of misconduct be made against
a public officer, and maintained, nobody
questions the right or p~ropriety of his
removal. The widely advertised methods of
the Postofice Department, by which charges are
confidential and the hearing wholly ex parte,
has opened an avenue to the malicious and
INSCRIPTIONS which already astonishes and con-
POUNDS the originators of this singular method.
Even those who profit by the scandalous system
are not slow to express their contempt for 1t.
The right to file charges implies the right to
private on a police force. The right of every
man to be confronted with his accusers, is so
we'll grounded in the human breast that it has
never been violated except by despotic power,
bly, recoil upon those who are guilty. So it is
likely to soon recoil upon the heads of this
administration.
The private charge business was a miserable
subterfuge from the beginning, and it is operat-
ing now just as it operated in the Infamous days
of the French revolution. 1t has begun to fall
upon friends and foes alike. No mans head is
safe. No mans character is SO pure but what it
may be blasted by the malicious pen of any
loafer who can write. No man is in the civil
service but there may have been filed away
with his recommendations and other papers the
secret accusations of the anonymous inf0rmer.
These are coming in by the thousand, and Re-
publican officials who would go out of office as
~ -nk%- G 1890 IL "a
are being daily uprooted by foes unseen. The
administration is in a dilemma. 1t is likely to
earn the contempt of it's own friends, and the
hatred of those who might have been made its
fri ends, by pursuing the present course. On
the other hand, it can scarcely draw back with
out confessing the mls-step and covering itself
with humiliation.
1t has constituted its departments petty
courts to try men on petty grounds, instead Of
boldly using the power of appointment and
removal which has been exercised since the
foundation of the government. This course has
greatly grieved honest and thoughtful Demo.
Gratis here, and the President should know that
1T is not commended by anybody in or out of
office. Even Mr.. Hay, who has been the means
of advertising the operations Of the star chamber
method to the world, shirks the responsibility for
it, and refers to the President. 1t has already
brought discredit upon the administration, and
is likely to involve it in permanent disgrace.
II what is reported by confidential friends of
Cabinet officials is true, the meanest lies that
envy, and malice, and screened personal hostility
can invent, are being daily and hourly poured
into the ears of the President and the heads of
departments. From secret accusations against
incumbents, they have come to be directed against
new appointees and candidates of every degree.
The very men who come here ostensibly in the
interests of certain candidates, and finding this
situation of affairs, surely damn the men they
are here to represent, and turn in to double a
personal advantage by recommending others.
Some are on the papers of a
half a dozen candidates. The security of
secrecy from inspection Of papers protects
them in their dishonorable methods. The
knowledge of this duplicity has caused the Pres
ident to disregard many recommendations, and
to seek for information from other sources. If
the secrets of the departments could be reached,
the honorable world would stand aghast at the
result.
81 cannot see clearly where this business is
going to land us" said a friend of the Presi.
dents tonight. "Of course everybody can't
have a hearing, because it would be intermina.
BILE; and besides that, it means that in case
charges are disproved, the man has a right to his
office in spite of the President. and becomes at
once superior to the power that created him. The
present system is disgraceful, and if it was
necessary in order to create vacancies, its prac-
tice should have never been officially proclaimed
by a Cabinet officer