Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-08-06

made every day by the dozen and by the
score. without any charges being filed
against the incumbents. Why the change
was made Dug TO be apparent TO every
reasoning creature. The anonymous
charge and spy system was a great mis-
take on the part of the administration.
It's practice resulted precisely as predicted
in these dispatches a month or more ago,
in involving the administration in a laby-
rinth of inc0ngruities. From its political
enemies the disease spread to It's political
friends in office. Postmaster Jones is not
the only Democratic appointee who mas
had charges filed against MIN Of offensive
craftsmanship, and quite as good case
has been made against them, too, as was
made against the men they supplanted.
This result was fOreseen by good many
shrewd politicians on both sides. 1t was
whispered and sung into the Presidential
ear by Democratic leaders. The Presi-
dent was stubborn. He Is man Of con-
victions, and attributed the hostility to
his theory to the thirst and hunger of
spoilsmen. 1t was not until he was prac-
tically embarrassed by the case of the
indianapolis Postmaster, and was in
formed Of still more damaging cases not
yet made public that he felt the force of
these criticisms.
Then the reins of the spy system began
to relax and the open system began TO
take its place. The Postmaster General.
the Attorney General, the Secretary of the
Treasury and the Secretary Of the Interior
no longer make the smirching OF a Repub-
lican OtiicehOlder's character the pre-
requisite to getting hun out They do not
cast about TOR some apology for eXereis-
ing power Of removal and appointment.
Charges are required as usual where that
is necessary to put Off disagreeable or I'M
worthy Democrats. 1t forms very clever
bulwark against lndiscriminate and sud
den assaults of Offices ekers, but when
ever removal is really desired nothing
of such nature is longer suggested. The
removal is made. 1t seems only last week
when Mr.. Malcolm Hay said fifty times a
day: "Charges must be filed in every case
and must be sustaine0as sufficient; that
is the Presdr.fs polfy." Quite differ
ent now, whelt II man nay go to his sue
cessOr and have removals made IN his
district, with never a w5rd requiring him
first to hunt down the iScumbent's char
acter behind his back.
A Western Republican Senator, and
one of the most trenchant dehaters on the
floor of the Senate was asked q short time
ago what he thought of the policy of the
administration concerning the "Otfen sIye
partisan" removals, Said he: "Do you
think IL deceves anybody Does it de-
ceive you? VIII it deceive the Senate of
the United Statesp Not at all. 1t is a
foolish. contemplate. cowardly policy.
Foolish because 1t alienates the Presi-
dents party friends without gaining any
thing; contemplate because it was de-
signed to get possession Of certain spoils
without seeming to take them; cOwardlY
because the administration was afraid to
take what all conceded belonged to il.
There is no doubt as to the wisdom of de-
liberation when 1t comes to making Off
cal changes, but there never was any
wisdom in making what Is STYLED often
sive craftsmanship serve as political
breeching."
"How will this be received by the Senate
when it comes to consider these nOmina-
tiOnsW
THAT cannot be foretold, but you may
conclude that the political advantages
that can be gained by our side from a
party betraying such signs of weakness
will neither be small nor difficult TO take.
1t has been rather a curious situation TO
me, and it is hard to say just what will
come of it.. The whole thing may be
changed before Congress meets and there
fore any prediction based upon the pres
eut status would probably be wide Of the
mark"
This change seems to be already setting
in. el. .sa8 .,t- 81 ..