The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1885-03-25
About Appointments and Vacancies

Auout appointments and vacancies. J
The claim made by the extreme civil
eruee Teformers that PEARSON, the
republican Postmaster of New York
Jity, shall be re-appointed in prefer
sncs to Democrat, because be possesses
exceptional qualifications for the Office,
is not meeting with much favor; though
the Tines and Post, Republican papers
that supported CLEVELAND, seem TO
think that the appointment Of PEARSON
is necessary to vindicate the admins
tration from the charge that the Offices
are to be bestowed in the interest of
party rather than in the interest of the |
public.
We think that PEARSON should be
succeeded by a Democrat, and we are
controlled in cur opinion by no spirit of
opposition to the civil service law. In
fact, there Is no conflict between a just
and honest enforcement Of that law, and
the appointment of Democrat to sue
coed Dir. PEARSON, whose re appoint
ment can be claimed on no other ground
than that he has'made good Postmaster.
1t may be many years, if ever, before
the people Of the United States will be
prepared to encourage the doctrine of
| life tenure in civil offices to any consid-
cradle extent. Because a few of the
employments under the government
have been removed from partisan con-
troi, it must not be supposed that a
movement 10 deprive the administration
for the time being, of the right to man
age the affairs of the government
through its chosen and trusted agents,
will meet with much favor What
changes in the temper and practices OF
the people time may bring. need not be
considered. 1t is sufficient to know
that it Is now the almost universally
accepted doctrine that the citizen who
casts his vote for change of admins
tration, means something more thar
that there shall be a change in the poll
oics of the President and Vice-President
That this is SO, is made plain by the
readiness with which the recent nomi
nations of Mr.. CLEVELAND have beer
confirmed by the Senate, which result
from a recognition of the fact that Their
would be no change, were the Presiden
deprived of the power to fill the admin
istratiye Offices of the government wit
, persons in sympathy with his aims an
policies.
+ All things else being equal, Democrat
p have a right to expect to be preferred b
a Democratic administration when vs.
cancies are TO be filled. They hav
this right not only on the ground c
: party fellowship and party association
d but because the people at the ballot DO
i have declared that the Democrats shout
r have the Offices, SO that whenever Pres
S dent CLEVELAND appoints Democrs
f he not only serves his party but h
country.
Considering the manner in which Ii
offices of the country have been treate
by the Republicans during their Ion
. lease of power, it has been an agreeab
% surprise to us to find that there are cor
paratively few Democrats who count
{ nance the proposition that the power
the administration should be used
o create vacancies where none exist. E
+ cepting some Of the office-seekers, WI
NC advocate vacancies on any sort of pretex
n all seem to recognize that at the vel
"a commencement of an era of reform,
r will not do to exercise a power in Il
r interest of self or party which has bee
granted by the Legislature in the int
est of the public. The suggestion th
). removals of persons holding fixed teri
:, of office will not be made, seems now
be generally acquiesced in, because it
: known to be in accordance with the la
of the case. But the same law viii,
. gives a term to an otficeholder, creates
vacancy at the end of that term, and
a vacancy which should be filed accor
ing to the choice of the appointil
power. If the same person must nee
be re-appointed because he is wortl
and competent, and if it would be Vi
!, lation of official duty not to re-appoi
:, him, then the appointing power is wit
~ out choice, and there needs not to ha
o. been any fixed term, but the appoil
" ment in the first instance should ha
n been for good behavior. In the case
or Mr.. PEARSON, we have the Times a
Post claiming that there rests upon t
President an official obligation to
e. appoint him in preference to all 9th
no men, whereas the law which makes
RS appointment now necessary, gives to t
tie President the right to appoint any su
.e. able person. 1t seems to us that t
tn Times and Post have allowed tn
re friendship for a fellow Republican a
of semi-mugwump to involve them in t
"a absurdity of founding an official obi
ton on theory which is in direct c.
fiict with the written law. We hare
he think that the President will graf
y: them in the manner suggested.