The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-04-16
The REFORM ADMINISTRATION.
Evidences That President Cleveland Is
Likely to Increase in Popularity.

Evidences That President Cleveland Is
Likely to Increase in Popularity.
When Grover Cleveland was nomi-
mated to the Presidency as reform
Democrat. the Republicans laughed in
credulously. and even some Democrats
smiled lttle in the retirement of their
sleeves. The initial force at the back
of the New York Governors candidacy
was a solid one. composed of substan-
tial citizens and business men, who re-
allied the demand of the American
people for honest government, and VIII"
likewise knew that Democratic candi-
date who could be depended upoa to
carry out reform principles would be
supported by the decent element of the
Republican party in the Eastern States.
Mr.. Cleveland was one of the very few
men before the people who could be
safely placed in position of such ire
Irskadous delicacy. He had shown his
Dlutal as Governor of the great State of
New York, and possessing the conf
| dence of the T, torn elements of both
parties. they joined hands to elect him.
They succeeded in this, and at the same
time read most severe lesson to future
political operators who may imagine, as
strong and brilliant" combination
thought while ago, that the masses
will knowingly support candidate for
the Chief MagistracY of the Nation who
is not regarded as clean and honest.
Although the reform administration
of Mr.. Cleveland is but a few weeks
old, his course has already satisfied the
Nation that the confidence of his orig
inal supporters and sponsors is fully
Justified. The sturdy conservatism and
deliberation with which the new Presi-
dent has taken up the question of pa
tronage, and the excellent appointments
he has so far made, compel the admira-
ton of friend and foe alike, and the
leading press opponents, Democratic
and Republican, agree in the conclu-
sion that from present indications the
working. producing, tax-paying Amer
lean people have a President at last.
The real independence, as well. of Mr..
Cleveland's position is beginning to be
pretty generally understood. Every
| day it is seen that the masses like the
| President methods and are very much
in the mood to make him popular
leader Mr.. Cleveland is so strong .'at
| large" so to speak, as to care little
whether his administration pleases the
ultra men of either party or not. AT
| least he is understood to have entire
confidence in the determination of the
people to realize administrative and
| civil service reform. and he will not hes
/ itatc to carr out to the letter what he
has announced as his programme in
| theSe respects.
1t is time that a more intelligent SEN
Giment obtained throughout the coun-
try in regard to the petty offices within
| the gift of the Government. Properly
understood when bright young man
succeeds in capturing a Federal clerk
ship, he is to be condoled with and not
congratulated. Of course the Nation
must have clerks, and they ought to be
efficient and aimed, and secured in
position during good behavior. Un-
| Fortunately they are liable to discharge
at any moment; their pay is hardly
enough to keep them decently among
the surroundings of the capital. and
their tenure rarely lasts more than a
few years. They seldom save a cent.
and hardly ever learn anything while
IN the service of the least possible Use
to them in the Struggle for bread after
they shall have been kicked out of office.
And, as a general rule, in every young
citizen appointed to public position,
| there is Il good farmer. carpenter,
miner, or some sort of actual producer,
poses of life. If, among other things,
| thePresident' civil-service policy should
tend to the withdrawal of the people
from the perennial scramble for small
Offices. it would be worth all the effort
devoted to the work, and serve to min
imize au evil that has been only too
apparent in the United States for two
generaticas.-M o. Times Democrat.