Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-05-06
No Ground for ComnInint.

No Ground for Complaint.
The administration has been in power
two months and it has devoted the greater
part of its time to the consideration of the
claims of applicants for office. 1t hasn't
had time to decide upon its course with
respect to any of the really important
/ questions before the country and, in fact,
there hasn't been any particular occasion
for such a decision. In the Panama affair
the only course that it was possible to
take was taken, but it was taken with
such promptness and yigor that the coun-
| try has no doubt that it is the purpose of
the administration to protect American
interest, to the fullest extent, in whatever
part Of the world they may be menaced.
Notwithstanding the fact, however, that
so much time has been given to the bust
ness of making changes in the offices,
there is dissatisfaction in some quarters
because changes are not made more rap
idlv. The men who want the offices are
impatient because their applications are
not attended to at once. Some of them do
not hesitate to do more than complain.
They criticise and condemn the President
and insist that he is pursuing a course
that is calculated to do his party incalcu-
liable harm.
The mistake they make is in thinking
that they are the party or, at least, are au-
thorized TO speak for 1t. When the real
source of their discomfort is inquired into
it is found that it is not due to anxiety for
the welfare of their party, but to their
failure to get offices.
A great many more Democrats have
been appointed to Office than the public
generally have any idea of. Only the
most important appointments are men,
toned in the public prints. For every
important appointment there are at least
a dozen minor appointments made. While
the pressure for the small offices is not as
great as it is for the large ones, still there
is pressure for them which must be at
tended to.
The President would be rather weak to
comply with the demand of every delega-
tion that calls upon him, or to appoint
every man to office who succeeds in get
ting good recommendations. 1t is not eX-
ceptional that those who have the fewest
succeed in getting the best recommends
lions.
The President must scrutinize closely
the claims of each applicant. If he
should appoint the first Corners, or those
who had the most names on their recon-
mendations, he would involve himself
and his administration in no end of
trouble.
In many of the States there are rival
factions, and for every important place
there are anywhere from two to a dozen
applicants. Some of these applicants are
worthy and some unworthy. To appoint
the best men aud, at the same time, pre-
serve, as far as possible, harmony in the
party, is a work of time. In
quiries must be made, and oppos-
ing applicants must be heard. The
attacks that have been made on the
President, although alleged to be based
on his slowness in making appointments,
were prompted by dissatisfaction with
appointments already made. The Courier
Journal. which was disposed to find fault
with the President at the beginning ofhis
administration because some of its
Kentucky friends didn't get the offices
they wanted, frankly avOws that it was
unjust, and says that the course the
President is pursuing is best for the
party.
The justice of making changes in the
offices in the South as soon as possible is
generally recognized. The President is
giving a good deal of attention to the
South. and in reasonable time, doubtless,
win ill the Offices with men who will adj
minister them to the satisfaction of the
people, andin way that will be creditable
to the party. Phe people prefer that the
President should move slowly, and finally
appoint the right sort of men, than TO
act hastily and take the risk of filling
the Offices with unfit persons.