Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1885-05-29
Washington Letter.
From our Regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON. Nav l6. ISS5.


Democratic circles, or l might say
iinSs, of what is called the Presi-
dents tardiness in turning out bad
Republicans and turning in good
Democrats. 1t really looks as
though the new Administration had
done very little, but may not the
reason be because there is SO much
to do? -Four years was considered
short period for the Herculean
task, but as yet only two months
have elapsed. If it were a mere
ply operation, the bad Republi-
cans could be discharged in twenty
four hours, and this is doubtless
what large majority of Democrats
would like to see done. But this
would be quite as Insane as if the
Pennsylvania Railroad Company
should discharge all its skilled enei-
neers and attempt to run its trains
with new men who do not know
time schedule from steam register.
1t would be very refreshing, doubt
less, to the majority who voted for
Cleveland to see the rascals turned
out en- masse. / confess I would en-
JOY it myself as a mere spectacle.
The rascals richly deserve it. They
should have been turned out eight
years ago. They have not earned
an honest dollar since they pro6ted
by the fraud of Hayes Inauguration.
But with all their despicable rascal
ity, they have some knowledge that
is absolutely indispensable to this
new and unskilled Administration,
and President Cleveland's cabinet
officers are painfully aware of this
fact. Our Government has grown
to be n complicated and much in
volved bureaucracy, and those who
have charge Of its ponderous ma
chinery, whether as heads or hands,
must know something Of its mani
fold parts. If they do not, the
machinery will come to standstill
or 60 to smash, and five thousand
little Republican papers. " Blanche,
Tray and Sweetheart" will yelp,
1--WE told you so, we told you So"
1t is conceded even by our enc
mics that the present Administration
has made but few mistakes. 1t
must be admitted by ourselves that
it has made some mistakes. There
is no divinity or infallibity about the
President. He is perhaps without
genius or even tact. But he is en-
dowed with strong common sense,
and gifted with the grace of doing
right as he knows it. No one is bet
ter aware than himself that, not
withstanding his slow and careful
gait. he has occasionally stumbled.
He has made comparatively few ap-
pointments, but not all of them are
the best selections. It was an ut
ter imposslbility for him to study
and know the qualifications of one
in ten of the men who have beon re-
commended for Office by eloquent
delegations. and by petitions signed
with many names. 1t is matter
FOR congratulation that he has sue
cseded as we'll as he has. Unfortu.
nately, he has not been able to rely
even upon the recommendations of
his cabinet officers, and has wisely
withheld his signature from the COM
missions of some who have teen re-
commended by the Secretary of State
because in his prudent caution he
had learned of some disqualifcations
which the Secretary had overlooked.
If President cannot trust his own
official household, then whom is he
to trust; and is it remarkable that
he occasionally appoints skilled men
like Pearson or Graves, who he
knows are at least honest and sober :?
President Cleveland said recently
that he had determined from the
first to proceed with great caution in
filling Offices, and that his expert.
ence so far had convinced him that
he had gone quite fast enough.
1t might be we'll for those who are
so loud and so prompt in their criti.
cisms of the President to put them.
selves in his place. Each one of
them knows a circle of good Demo-
Gratis whom he would Immediately
appoint to Office. They are undis-
prfted, good Democrats; but his small
circle is exhausted, rival circles of
as good Democrats are offended and
our substitute President is blamed
for setting up q personal govern
ment o: his special friends. It is
not easy to play at President even in
imagination, but it is more difficult
to build real castles than to build
castles in the air.