The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1885-05-18
oIyll service Reform in the Post oties
I ~ pspnftment.


we have been waiting with some I'M
natiend1 to see what view the New York
Ere,tino Post (Nlugwunp) would take Of
The confidential consolation addressed by
the Postmaster General to the hungry
faithful. Well, then, the Post thinks that
MIR Villas has considered the matter q
good deal that "he has no such thing as
a clean sweep in his mind ;;"t that he;is
not going to ado sway with a gross Repub.
lican abuse, for the purpose Of putting .
Democratic abuse in Its place" Certainly
not. MI. Villas does not belong TO that
kind Of an administration.
Here in a few words is what the Pot
thinks Mr.. Villas is getting at: "rhe cir
cular in question simply inhmates his IN
tention to 60 owork now and as soon as
nossible remove the offensive artisans
IN every Congressional district, and ask
the members Of Congress TO assist him in
singing them out and filling their places
with Democrats" II ithad occurred to
the post that there could be such thing
asan offensive partisan" who votes the
Democratic ticket, we are confident that
Mr. Villas would have been warned that
one offensive partisan" mayi in q partisan
way be as offensive as another. In this
very State OF West Virginia there are
Democrats who edit newspapers, make
stump speeches, act as members Of polit-
ical committees, officers Of political clubs
who have even been guilty Of the
heinons oflense Of organizing political
meetings. Some Of these good men and
true are hopingto get whaek at the
nostotfices. Mr.. Villas writes the Con-
eressional delegation to send in their
names, that they may be chosen to dis
place "otfenslye partisans" as above de-
scribed. -'s. Az IN q
We do not understand the Post to take
issue with the Post Office Department
definition of'an offensive partisan" or to
object to the prominent feature Of this
theory Of civil service reform, namely, that
otfsnses which disqualify Republicans TO
hold, do not disqualiiy Democrats to re-
ceiye, commissions as postmasters. II we
were looking for a genuine article Of 70.
form we would 60 further in the hope Of
finding something better than this. 1t
should be said that the Post thinks it q
mistake TO make the circular confidential,
and a mistake TO invite in Senators and
Representatives who will not be likely to
"recommend substitutes who will not be
partisan. Here the Pestis clearly right.
Such a circular could notbe kept secret
and Senators aud Representatives may be
trusted to put none but their partisans on
guard.
But the Postmaster General knows
what he wants. His desire is to calm the
storm Of discomfort in the party and to
placate disgruntled Democratic Senators
and Representatives. See what he says:
81 am impatient to assist our people
democratic partisansl in securing relief
to which they are justly entitled, from
partisan postmasters.D Again; Il think
within the month q May I can give sub
stantial relief that will take away the i'm
portunity and discomfort" Once more:
ain rendering this justice TO our'people,
which consists Of these removals and
substitution OF our friends, / feel that 1t
is very desirable to proceed with extreme
care" The English OF this is that the
spoils belong to the victors, and the Post
master General intends that the yicton
shall have what belongs TO them. He
recognizes the Importantly Of "our peo-
pie" and sour friends" for the speedy dis
trihutiou Of the plumber, and bids them
be Of good cheer, for "the good time COM
ing is almost here" Observe that there is
no pretense Of advancing the public in
tereets or improving the public service.
"our friends, want the offices and, by the
great horn spoon, they shall have theml
The INrRLlleEscER does not say that o
Democratic administration ought not to
put Democrats in office, or that the active
men of the party ought not to be given the
preference. The -INrEtt,eEScxR merely
remarks that all this has very queer ring
coming from an administration pledged
above all things to the highest grade Of
x.ta.,, IN tba civil Sarvtca .u=
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The Pre.idsnps way of Doing Il.