The Indianapolis journal., 1885-12-11

IHE rule suggested Dy Senator Harrison
for his guidance respecting the nominations
of President Cleveland will, we think, meet
the approval, not only of the Republicans of
Indiana, but Of all fair-minded men. AS we
understand, the Senator proposes, in all cases
where an official having defined term yet to
serve has been suspended on charges, and a
Democrat appointed to succeed him, as is the
common custom nowadays, particularly in
Mr.. Vilas's character assassination department,
the Senator will demand that the suspended
man have the privilege of knowing what the
charges are and the opportunity to defend
himself against them, and if the charges be
not sustained the Senator will oppose the con-
irmation of the new appointee. If the ad-
minstration will be frank enough to avow
that an officer is suspended because he is a
Republican, and the new man appointed be-
cause he is a Democrat, that presents
one phase of the case; but when the
suspension is made or Charges" no one will
dispute the entire justice and propriety that
the man who has been assailed shall be con-
fronted with the allegations made against
him. and the testimony by which they are
sought to be maintained This is the COM
monest kind of justice, awarded by the law to
every criminal; and shall it be understood
for moment, that less equitable rule is to
be observed respecting men deemed capable
of holding positions in the federal
service7 Are these men to be stricken
down in the dark by any sort of sneak and
assassin, and denied the poor privilege of
knowing what has been alleged against themg
This has been done, as is well known, in scores
and hundreds of cases. under the terms of the
dastardly "confdentiap circular to congress
men of Postmaster-general Villas. So far as
Indiana men are concerned. Senator Harrison
proposes that they shall be allowed to know
what the charges are that have been filed
against them, and who are the men making
the charges. Respecting the suspension of
ex-Upion soldiers from Office, before the ex-
piration Of the terms for which they were ap-
pointed, and the succession of civilians, it
is Senator Harrison's purpose to oppose con-
firmation in each and all of such cases.
This course, as outlined by Senator Harri-
son for himself, will doubtless be the one
substantially followed by Republican SEN
ators generally. This does not mean an in
discriminate attack upon President Cleveland's
appointees, for no Republican should engage
in this. In all cases of administrative Office
we do not doubt the entire propriety of the
administration being represented by men of
its own political faith, and in the
purely ministerial Offices Republicans will
naturally expect that Democrats will
be appointed SO fast as the terms of Repub-
lican incumbents expire. But where pre-
tense of cause has been set up, and the
Republican is made to go out under seeming
cloud, of the nature and density Of which he
knows nothing, and has not been able to find
out anything from the executive branch of
the government, it is due and proper
that the Republican senators should
interfere and compel equal and exact
justice to be done. If the administra-
tion will base its removals upon the question
of politics, well and good; but if it attempts
to avoid and evade political responsibility un-
der the cloak of "cause," it should be forced,
if it will not do so willingly, to submit the
specifications and proofs. Mr. vilas's star
chamber has been conducting business in this
way during the summer and fall months; light
should now be thrown upon its methods.
If saloon-keeper Hedderich is correctly re-
ported, it would be good investment for the