The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-09-24

republican party, as they said to the fed
eral party.as they said to the wing party,
we will none of you. We don't believe
that any party should be kept in power
for traditions sake. Today the demo-
cratic party in national government is
sailing between civil service and the de-
sire of democrats to hold public office.
and the politician who forsakes all for
public office. They hold to the Marcy
ultimatum, that to the victor belongs the
spoils, az was the case in Andrew jack
sons time. l desire to call your atten-
ton to the similarity between the first
president elected by democratic votes
and Grover Cleveland, who came 10 pow
er in 1885, elected the last president by
democratic votes.
Prior to Jefferson's Inauguration the
federalists had ruled the country and had
ruled it well, had done much for which
they should be given credit. Itproduced
many good lawyers, and had many pa
triots who had the good of the country
at heart. They had secured to them all
the federal offices; nowhere in the range
Of the government service could be found
one adherent of the doctrine of Jefferson;
nowhere could be found a single officer
who professed republican principles.
They desired to keep themselves in power
through the presentation of false issues.
As the democrats found all offices of the
federal government in federal hands in
Jetferson's time, so it was in Cleveland's
time, there was not one who protested
democracy. Not one was allowed to sit
on the bench, no one had even post
office. if republican could be found to
oil the place. The republican party did
sink into party of tradition; they erect>
ed false issues and the result was they
were thrown from power, and Cleveland
elected president OF the United States.
Thus far is the situation of affairs similar;
thus far, at least. does Grover Cleveland
resemble Jefferson, the first president
elected by democratic votes.
What did Jefferson do with all the
offices filed with those of the opposite
faithS Jefferson was good democrat,
and what did he do, did he turn them all
QUIT l say Thomas Jefferson was the
best until Grover Cleveland was elected
president Of the United States. Under
Jefferson the democratic party gath
cred strength; he didn't believe in
Marcy's ultimatum that to the
to the victor belongs the spells. The af>
fairs of government should be conducted
on strictly business principles, and hold
1t to be true thatkhat government is best
conducted where the greatest number of
business principles are brought in acqui
sition; and say that the government that
does not employ such principles in its
affairs Is liable to go TO pieces. What
were the principles of Jefferson in this
respecif They were the same as Cleve>
lands. We can afford to skip over all the
other democratic presidents and take
Jefferson as a model. think Jefferson,
Of all the citizens of this country, best
understood the principles under which a
government Of the people should be con-
Quoted He knew how far the people
could be trusted with power. and how far
they could not be trusted with power.
believe the matter Of office holding can
can today be studied with profit
by the democratic party, if they
desire to continue longer than
Cleveland. l know the danger of the
democratic party is. not that it
will divide on the tariff question,
nor on the money question. nor upon
some construction of some right of the
national government, NO. in regard TO
what the citizen shall drink and wear, but
1t is in danger of losing its grip upon the
national government because the pressure
Of the politicians is so great that they de.
sire 10 break down cleveland. who is
trying to carry out faithfully the princi-
pies OF the democratic party to their legit
innate result.
Why do we enact platforms, do they
mean nothing? Is platform to be used
as an election dodge, TO be totally disre-
gsrded afLer you have carried the election
and elected your PRESIDENT Is there no
higher aim in the democratic party, is
there no desire to benefit the governme Mt
beyond THAI of being an Office holder
The democratic party is pledged to civil
service reform. and it is portion of its
election pledges. Today. when We have
crossed the borders of the promised land,
when we have got to the place where
the golden stream is flowing, We should
not become idolators and kneel befort
the golden calf. and forsake the
God which guided US up TO the
election. warn the young men OF
this country, who today are united with
the fortunes OF the democratic party, that
they go so far and no farther; that they
follow out that which they believe TO be
honorable. and that when Grover Cleve.
land attempts to carry out in good faith
civil service reform, which the democratic
party pledges they will do it, don't de.
sire to hold Office to forsske your man
hood and break your word of honor. Al
the time Jefferson was elected president
affairs were similar to the state of affairs
when Grover Cleveland was elected. a.
both carried out the principles on which
he was elected. If you will bear with
me one moment, j will endeavor to show
that Jefferson placed the democratic party
on such foundation that despite the
fact that it was led off on the subject of
slavery, despite of its fiatism, despite the
fact that the odium of great civil war
rested upon it, it still lives, and that with
the entire public patronage in the hands
Of the republican party for twenty-five
years, by again having placed in its hands
the reins of national government. Now
Jefferson, after he assumed the reins OF
government, gave to the questions OF
federal appoin tments that were presented
to him bis earnest attention. There is
nothing | am so anxions about as goot
nominations; no duty more difficult to
fulfill" The knowledge of character
possessed by single individual is of ne.
cessity limited to good men to whom
there is no objection, but difference OF
political principle practiced only as fal
as the right of private citizen Justify