The Russellville Democrat., 1885-05-07

Petitions at a Discount.

Every citizen who pays the sltgnt- est attention to what IS going on around him knows how easy it is to get signatures to a petition, and how utterly worthless petitions are as an indication of popular feeling or even of the real preferences of those whose names are attached to them. The facility with which people sign them out of mere complaisance, CT to escape being bored, has passed into a by-word, and it would be difficult to find merchant who would give a position as porter in his store to any man on the basis of any petition he could present. It is perfectly well understood that the man who starts out first will get the name of nearly every person to whom he applies, and that hundreds of persons who would reject his application for ten cents will cheerfully sign his peti- tion for appointment as Treasurer of the United States. It is universally understood as meaning nothing and as not committing anybody to any thing except an act of good fellow ship which it would be churlish to refuse.
 That such device should contin- ue to play a part in politics after be- ing so thoroughly discredited else where is possible only because "poli- ties" is for the most part q thlng oi conventional bumbuggery. When a man supposed to have influence does not care to use that influence in such a manner as to give offence, he falls back on petition; or when more than one man urges 'sclaims, the petition furnishes conyenient excuse for choosing between them without appearing to take the res possibility of exercising a personal preference. It's sole value is that 1t serves public men as sort ol screen against criticism.
 The value of the petition for thls purpose, however, depends upon its acceptance, by those controlling ap- pointments, as trustworthy evidence of the popular will, and it's useful ness is greatly impaired when man like Cleveland, who tolerates nc humbuggery and who brushes aside all subterfuges, happens to be placed in control of affairs. Over and ovel again Mir. Cleveland has shown that he rates the regulation petitions al thelr just value, and in his public letter relating to the removal of 2 derelict postmaster in an interior town of New York State, there is 2 paragraph which ought to save ap plicants a world of trouble. The postmaster was removed because he was short in his accounts and had been convicted of other delinquen cies, and to an overwhelming peti tion from citizens of the place fol the retention of the postmaster, the President replied in the following curt language:
 The fact that l have before me documents signed hy many residents of the city where this postmaster is located, and who belong to both DO litical parties, asserting their entire confidence in his honesty and fideli- ty demonstrates the unfortunate ia cility with which such papers may be obtained, and gives rise to an un- pleasant suspicion touching . toe prevalent standard of political hon esty.'
 With a man who understands thus clearly the "unfortunate facility with which these "self-solicited rec concentrations for office" may be eb. tained, it will be readily seen that the regulation petitions represent a great waste of paper and ink, and of good sole leather. But the Presi- dents language is also wcll-merit- ed rebuke to those free and easy sIgners who bring contempt upon their names by attaching them to the petition of every importunate applicant who chooses to appeal to their good nature. A man must be singularly obtuse if he cannot per ceive the significance of such words coming from such source; and President Cleveland will render a great public service if he breaks up practice by which modest merit is always defeated in the competition ,yitk tho ,,ushinu nlaan caakar