The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1885-07-07
Washington Cor. N. Y. Herald.

A Pr0SlOenC WIN BACKBONE
1t remains to speak of the Presidents
own attitude toward this business of the
Offices. Mr. Cleveland is q man Of cleal
head and strong will. He is democrat
and it would scarcely be extravagant tc
say that he is bigoted democrat. H,
believes in local self-government: in tn,
least possible interference of the gov
ernment, federal or State, with the peo
pie; in minimizing as far as it can bt
done the sphere OF action of the fedora
government; 10 rigid economy in public
expenditures and in strict enforcement
of all laws whether they are good or
bad.
And he believes that public officers are
the servants of the people. One OF his
admoniiions to men appointed to coun
try post Offices is:-"See that you are
polite to everybody. Don't let me heal
of your Post Office being place where
a woman or child hesitates to GO, OF
where man opposed to you In politics
or ANYTHING else is not as pleasantly
treated as any one else."
He abhors the partisan use of Offices
ss dangerous to the safety Of our insti
tutions, and it is as we'll for all office.
holders democrats and republicans
slIke-to understand that he will not tol.
crate this, which he is convinced is one
OF the greatest evils, and If not rooted
out will be one of the most serious per-
lis to the peace Of the country. "s'f'
"That man you've just appointed Isl .
good democrat and has been q faithful
worker in the party" said Congress-
man to the President recently. ~
Gall right" said Mr.. Cleveland, 81
have reason to hope that he viii be- Z
capable and honest man in the place.
but, as yon're his friend, you'd better
warn him that il [ catch him misusine
that place in any way for party purposes
I'll flip him out as quick as lightning
just as quickly as I'll flip oat republi
can for doing that. l will not have it
tell him to remember that"
A PAINsTAKING PRESIDENT.
There was probably never before so
painstaking o President In the matter Of
appointments to Office. To those who
take up his time with personal appeals
he is often sharp and sometimes rough
for be does not conceal his contempt fol
what the Herald called the "dirty little
brigade of office beggars." But he ex-
amines with unfaiing patience all the
applications and recommendations for
Office, goes over them With the Cabinet
officers in whose departments they fall
and is thankful for all the unselfish and
sound advice be can get from men be
has learned to trust. No applicant for
a place need fear that his "papers" are
shelved and not thoroughly examined
He will not be bored or worried into
removing republicans who are found to
have done their duty and have not been
partissns in office. 1t is bis belief tina,
for the good OF the country the federal
offices should be as few as possible, and
that they ought to be a, equally divided
between the two parties as possible; /; .tha,
all partisan action, as officials, shall be
rigidly forbidden and prevented, and
that a transg ression Of this rule shall be
followed by instant expulsion. This &C
complished, he believes the people can
then vote as they please, and can make
their will felt at the polls without intim
ida,ion or undue Influence or corruption
through campaign funds raised from the
salaries OF otfice-holders. The man who
draws a salary from the peoples pockets
has no business to influence the result o
an election in any way except by his
vote. He is an impudent rascal il he
does.
GREAT DANGER AvERTED. = {
The evil and danger which PresidenI
Cleveland has set himseIfto remedy ads
avert was well described and not at d
overdrawn by Mr. Tilden in bis letter tl
the Cincinnati Convention of 1880. H.
wrote -
"The immense growth of the mean'
OF corrupt influence over the ballot boz
which is at the disposal Of the party
having possession OF the Executive ad
minis.raiion has already become pres
ent evil and great danger, tending. Il
make elections irresponsible to publil
opinion, hampering the power Of tn.
people to change rulers, and enabling
the men holding the machinery Of gov
ernment to continue and perpetuate theil
power. 1t was my opinion in 1876 tha
the opposition attempting to change th'
administration needed to include at lecs
two-thirds OF the voters at the opening
OF the canvass 10 order to retain ma
jority at the election"
And he put this ques tion. as one to b
considered by all good ci.izans :"W beth
er this shall be government, by the sov
ereign people through elections, or ,
government by discarded servants bold
ing over by force and freud"
During the electoral struggle of 1857
at time when it seemed probable her,
in Washington that Mr. Tllden woult
be declared President and would ente
on the office it was known here to Sena
tors and Representatives who we're Il
his confidence that he was determined I,
resist the pressure for wholesale and in
discriminate removals. Your CORES
pondent was present at private meetinl
of prominent democratic Senators .
that time, at which these gentlemen, be
ing informed of Mr.. Tilden's intention
in this matter Of the Offices, agreer
among themselves that Immediately OF
his being declared the President 'tbel
would unite in q letter to him urgin;
him to stand fast in his determination !.
make removals only for cause, ant
pledging themselves as Senator'S, VIII
would have to pass on his action, to Civ
him their utmost aui united support Ii
this policy, and as individuals to, dis
courage in everv way any attempt TO se
cure general sweep Of the offlces.. III
There was at that time no civil servic
law, nor had public sentiment been ava
kened as 1t has since been, to the enot
nifty and danger to the country Of
"spoils" policy. But these Senators hat
seen it grow up under General Gran,
and knew that it must be checked, an,
they were ready to help Mr.. TiIden, jus
as honest aud true democratic are no,
helping Mr.. Cleveland.
SHORT WHEAT CROP.
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