The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1885-05-14

We have little fault to find with the
administration SO far as it has gone
Il has been beset with a world of
arising it must be
admitted from present restrictions
placed on civil-service. The law as 1t
exists, governing civiI-service, is Of
present doubtful propriety, but its OBJ
servance by this administration ought
to be commended, for it is law of the
land, which others have sworn to OBJ
serve, but which none but Democrats, |
though its provisions bear heavily |
upon them in a party sense, have had
the honesty to enforce. 1t has filled
the public service, under Republican
administration with so-called public
servants, whose energies have been
collectively bent toward suborning
public to private ends, and
the service is to-day filed with these
Republican appeintees. The law and
the rules, the latter of which need
changes, fix the manner of disposing
of these incumbents, and the pro-
cesses so prescribed are being strictly
observed. This Democratic Admins
tration, in other words, is not in a
state of rebellion against any
law of the land. 1t is tenn
pering its acts with a conservatism
painful it may be to some of its mem
bers, but it is conservatism prescrib-
ed by law, in obedience to which, good
Democrats always bow. The Presi-
dent and the chiefs of departments at
Washington, are satisfied that sweep
in removals are necessary to
thoroughly purify the public service,
but evidences justifying remoV-
ais are not readily at
command, and the law. prescribes that
they.sh be made only on good cause,
sustained by competent evidence. Mr.
Cleveland and his Cabinet officers
have, under the circumstances, made
rapid strides in the direction of puri-
| flying the service, and before their
four years of official 1ncumbency ex-
pires, we have confidence that the
| civil-service will be such as
the most devoted reformer may desire.
But as to this effort to cripple the
State Department, Mr.. Bayard, be-
cause of his devotion to exalted and
pure public service, has been set up
on by a pack of political sharpers
ready to be anything for self gratif.
cation. The purity of this mans
Democracy, and his prominence as q
statesman, guided by the highest and
noblest impulses, led The STATES
MAN, during three consecutive
presidential contests to Zealously
urge the nomination OF the dis
tinguished Delawarean for the Pres
idency. It did this, because it wei
understood that, though the offering
of small State, he would be accepted
as the embodiment of pure govern
ment, and that he would sweep with
a popular wave of approval, the most
powerful States of the American
Union. But nominations, with theil
failures and final success, are passed
Mr.. Cleveland is the trusted President
and Mr.. Bayard stands in the relation
of his chief governmental adviser, and
/ THE STATESMAN is not slow to asser
that the country is politically safe
Time will show restoration of pub
lie confidence in Democratic admins
tCation, not to be shaken in the period
of a generation. Thomas f. BayarC
1, the truest of Romans; he is going
to do what he conceives tt
bs his duty though the heavens fall
| Hs has laid down his policy, and ht
will pursue it though every office
seeker in the land rise up against
him. 1t has been hoped that he may
| be forced to resign his exalted plac,
in the Cabinet, but the confidence re-
posed in Mr.. Bayard by the Presiden
is enduring. There is no reason fo
assaults on MIR. Bayard, and Their
is cowardice in attacks made upon tn
President over his shoulders. Mr.. Bay
ard has been opposed by elements with
in Democracy because of his sterling in
tegrity. THE STATESMAN once admit
TED he might be defeated for the presi
Dental nomination because of his in
tense honesty and purity of character
| qualities prominently displayed in his
} long public service. While in tn
Senate his enemies lacked the courage
to openly attack him, but in the Cab
} met, his mouth is closed. Still he ma.
feel assured that as his enemies inten
| sify their attacks he is corresponding
ly strengthened with the people
whose confidence he has always en-
| joyed, and whose approval he will al
ways receive.