The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1885-05-21
Washington Letter.

is no end of complaint in democratic
circles, or, might say, rings, of what
is called the presidents Hardness in
turning out bad republicans and turn
ing in good democrats. 1t really looks
as though the new administration had
done very little, but may not the reason
be because there is so much to do?
Four years was considered short peri
cd for the Herculean task, but as vet
only two months have elapsed. Ii it
were mere physical operation, the
bad republicans could be discharged in
tvccIn.tv-1oUr hours, and this lis doubt
less what a large ma,C!+iittT of demo-
Gratis would like to see done. But this
would be quite as insane as the if Penn
sylVania Railroad Company should dis
charge all its skilled engineers and at
tempt to run its trains with new men
who do not know a time schedule from
steam register. 1t would be very re-
treshing, dOu btless, to the majority who
voted for Cleveland to gee the rascals
turned out en- n1dSSe. confess [ would
enjoy it myself as a mere spectacle.
The rascals richly deserve it. They
should have been turned out eight
years ago. They have not earned an
honest dollar since they prOfited by the
fraud of Hayes inauguration. But with
all their despicable rascaIity, they have
some knowledge that is absolutely in
dispensable to this new and unskiIled
administration, and President Cleye-
lands cabinet officers are painfully
aware of this fact. Our govern ment
has grown to be a complicated and
much involved bureaucracy and those
who have charge of its ponderous ma
chinery, whether as heads or hands,
must know time schedule from a
steam register. II they do not, the ma
chinery will come toa standstill or 90 to
smash, and five thousand little repub-
lican papers, blanche, Tray, and
Sweetheart will yelp we told you SO,
we told you So"
1t is conceded even by our enemies
that 1.-The present administration has
made but few mistakes. 1t must be
admitted by ourselves that it has
made some mistakes, He is per-
haps without genius or even tact. But
he is endowed with strong common
sense, and gifted with the grace of do
ing right as he knows it. No one is
T Tc..er aware than himself that, not
withstanding his slow anu careful gait,
he has occasionally STUN bled. He has
made comparatively few appointments
but not GALL are the best selections,
1t was physical impossibility for him
to study and know the qualifications of
one in ten of the men who have been
recommended for office by eloquent
delegations, and by petitions signed
with many names. 1t is matter for
congratulation that he has succeeded
as well as he has. 4 Unfortunately, he
has not been able to rely even upon the
recommendations of his cabinet officers,
and has wisely withheld his signaturs
from the commissions of some whoshave
been recommended by the secretary OF
state, because in his prudent caution he
had learned of some disqualiflcations
which the secretary had over looked
If president cannot trust his own Of
fetal household, then whom is he to
trust; and is it remarkable that he oc-
casionally appoints skilled men like
Pearson and Graves who he knows are
at least honest and sober? President
Cleveland said recently that he had de-
termined from the first to proceed with
great caution in filling offices, and that
his experience so far had convinced
him that he had gone quite fast enough.
1t might be well for those who are SO
loud and 30 prompt in their criticism of
the president to put themselves in his
place. Each one of them knows a cir
Gle of good democrats whom he would
Immediately appoint to office. They
are undisputed good democrats; but his
small circle is exhausted, rival circles
of as good democrats are offended, and
our substitute president is blamed for
setting up "a personal government OF
his special friends. 1t Ia not easy to
play at president even in Imagination,
but it is more difficult to build real
cattles than to build cattles in the air.
AN not sure that my letter will be
in accord with the views of the editor,
but hope it will be published as the
views OF a democratic locker on in
Washington, who loves the principles
of democracy and who reVeres it's true
expounders. l am by no means in
love with Mr.. Cleveland, and | do not
altogether approve his appointments,
but it is certainly premature to write
his presidential history, as some rash
Journalists have done, before he has
been in office three months.