Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1885-10-05
In vain 90 Look for Reform.


the Democratic party means when IL
talks 30 glibly through its press about
the great need OF reform, and solemniy
pledges reform as the first fruits OF 10
success. 1t has been long enough IN
mower now to give some Indication OF
the kind of reform IL intends to give
the coantry. A retrospective glance or
tina mast sho VS. the character OF the re-
form that may be looked for. The first
fruits of o Democratic victory Is to Ind
Manning, q machine politician OF New
YORK. at the head OF the Treasury De-
partment. The second step In the great
democratic reform march Is to hnd
Higgins, Of Baltimore, the notorious
elactlon swindler, q wife heater who, II
be had his deserts, would have been
tied 10 the whipping post and dashed,
appointed by Manning chief clerk OF
tho appointment division OF the Treas
ury department A reform administra'
ton would have bounced Higgins Is
soon as his real character bscame
known, but instead he is sustained by
the President and retained In office
after the very worst Is known about
him. Another illustration Of Demo-
cratic reform is found in the appoint
ment of Morris A. Thomas of Baltimore
rs Indian Inspector. No other office
in the gift OF the administration needs
more the services OF true reformer
than this one, and to get honest, consci-
entious men for the Indian offices has
been the object for which members OF
of philanthropic societiesand good men
and women have for years been work.
ing. What and who Is Thomas Balti
more papers at his own home and with
out the fear Of prosecution for libel
allege that his connection with &
fraudulent failure, and the making Of
fraud ulent checks under him, an unh
man for a position in which the oppor
t1nities for fraud are very great. The
further charge, that he was presente'
by Grand Jary for tampering wit
the ballots as udge of elections in 1877
and that his general conduct is bad. =
Such Is the appointment OF Indian In
spector by this Democratic reform &C
ministration. These charges Nigh
disqualify q man from holding off
under any other than Democrat
reform administration. The only no
est course to pursue is to judge this d
ministration by its acts.
We need 60 no farther in shown
the hollow pretensions Of this admin
tration for honest reform. If 1t we
necessary We might refer to the appoir
ment Of such men as Pillsbury, Cha
and TrOup, collectors Of Internal Re
enue, and to Hedden, Collector Of Il
Port OF New York and Beattie. surve
or OF the same. II President Clevelar
was obliged to make. wholesale removs
in ord to purify the service, he mig
be excused for making some mistak
In the unavoidable haste OF MAXI
selections. But this Is not the ca
Hs has removed and upaolds his subo
climates In removing men OF rare cal
city, unsurI assed qualif cations, a
proved integrity and merit, for no betl
ra ason than to make room for the Den
cratic workers, including large sprir
ling Of election swindlers and ia
birds. But what more can be expect
OF man himself elected by the gross
kind OF fraud 2 IL his defend,
whether Democrats or Mugwum
would but for q moment think h
South Carolina, Georgia, Alabal
Mississippi, Louisiana, yes, and vi
mia, were carried for him, they woI
we think, cease talking OF ref
administration, How can they exl
anything else than to and such mel
Higgins and Thomas, supported In
fee by an administration that W
not be in power, but for the charactt
the frauds they committed.
MAYOR Rhoads Is determined
let no guilty man escape" tina
upon his police force, and who is ca