The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-01-09
Removals From Once.

communicated
The American people have reached that
position once held by the Athenisas. They
'desire to tell and hear some new thing"
No sooner is an exciting political campaign
closed and the result made known than an
eager contest begins as to the proper distrl-
button of the trophies. Like the contest, it
is a matter of interest both to the ms and
the ''outs." There are 100, 900 of the former,
and ten times as many Of the latter, with all
the friends on each side, who feel a deep in
test in the matter, and they are so dis
tribated throughout the country that the ex-
element falls little short of the late cam
paign. The efforts on the one side to retain
place aud on the other to obtain it ara
equally Jealous, and it may fairly be pre-
suned will increase uHtil the controversy is
settled. The recent letter of the President
elect-he has given the 'ins'' some comfort.
II seems to them, no Hever. that there must
be some mistake about the matter as Demo
Gratis indorse the letter as we'll as themselves.
They think, after ali, the sugar. coating may
conceal q bitter pill, or that it may be a YER
liable apple of Sodom.
They fail to comprehend that civil service
reform is a Democratic measure aud is as
J old as the party. Under rules laid down By
I Jferson, and we're very similar TO the pres
emit law on that subject, he was enabled to
rid his administration of all Objectionable
place holders, and. to make what was then
termed q 'clean sweep" His rules for re-
moVaI were official misconduct, PERSONAL
misconduct, negligence, incapacity, inherent
vice IN the appointment, partisan election
eering beyond the fair exercise of the elect
i've franchise" By q strict adherence to
these rules he was soon able TO substitute
friends IN the places OF those inimicsl to his
administration The present law is little
different and really no improvement on the
above rules, aud Cleveland can adhere 70 the
law in spirit and in letter and turn all the
! TsScals out Let him hew IN the
line as did the fair juris. in
her Interpretation of Shylock's bond.
There can not be found in the history of
Presidents an instance where the removal
nom Office was more carefully considered
aud more fully mpreheDdsd than IL was
10 the administration OF Jefferson BE had
occasion to refer to the matter frequently on
accodnt Of the cDp ,sition to his course. In
s letter during the first month OF his al min
i~strstion he wT6te. Good men 10 wnOm
there is n , objection but q difference OF pc
iitical opinion, practiced on only 30 far as
the right of a private citizen will justify, are
net proper subjects for removal" A few
days sftsTward he wrote to Elbrldgs Gerry,
Mr.. Adams last app .intments, when he
knew be was appointing counsellors and
aids for me. not for himself, l will set aside
"a fact depends on me. Officers VINO
have been guilty OF gross abuse of
Office, such as Marshsls packing
iuries, etc, / shall remove as nv predecess-
ors ought in justice to have done. The right
of opinion shall suffer no invasion from me.
Those who have acted well have nothing TO
fear. however they msy have differed from
me in opinion. Those who have done i'll,
however, have nothing to nope. Nor shall 1
fail TO do justice, lest 1t shall be ascribed TO
that difference of opinion" Again he wrote
to Mr.. Lincoln, his Attorney General, and
after mentioning several causes for removal,
he said: "To these shall be added one more,
towit: removal for electioneering activity
or open and industrious opposition to the
principles OF the present govern