The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1885-05-01
WASHINGTON LETrER.
tFrom our regular correspondent
wAsurSoros, Arm, lith, 1886.


golEg on In Washington just now,
but much Is expected, and anticipa.
tlon Is on the q,.i vivo. The recently
appointe1 heads of department and
chiefs of bureau, have, OF course.
many things to learn before they
can knew even the routlue OF their
cumbrous and needlessly compile tied
charges. The subordinates, schooled
In twenty years of republican red
tape absurdlty, have many things to
unlearn, II, indeed, their instruction
does not cost them their heads. do
not believe that Il will be possible
for the present administration to
carry out any proposed or projected
leform without change OF crew.
The Republican underlings In the
various departments are servile
euoughr they viii HEX the hand that
feeds them, even though II be the
hand of the bloody Democrat, but
they are skilled In all the vices OF po.
lItlcal servility, they were never
chosen for honest work, they are
treacherous and dlsloyal. They live
in perpetual fear aud ideal exile, long
ing for the Foturn of the republican
four years hence. Hew can sucn pol
son trees bear frui- OF civil service re-
form: In their heart they regret
every measure aud every event that
recommends their hated captors TO
the country. It Is only Ia euthuiasiic.
faithful hearts and willing hands
that Mr.. Cleveland will find the gen.
uine sympathy and corporation with.
out which his aspirations will fail
fit
The motives of tae President are
unquestioaably patriotic, and the
broadesi and best democracy Is not
PARTISAN. It Is yet t0o early to criti-
ciEe his policy, for statesmanship. ex-
cept In absolute morArchies, must
proceed with compromises. The last
stronghold of the defested party Il
IN tn Z. s. Senate chamber. There
IN desperation And at bay the wor-'
class Of spoilsmen are pervetting tbs
civil service reform idea of the new
administration into stumbling blOch
and q pitfaii. The country last Nov
ember demanded a change of person
al that was meant tn reach farihei
than the White House. Unless I
shall reach much farther than nov
appears probable in view Of the OBJ
structive policy OF the republican
msjority in the Senate, the best effor.
OF the new administration will b
without their fall fruItion.
There are many things that com,
under the person Il observation OF ~
old habitue Of Washington that jus
tify me In the oplRions that / hsv
expressed. l am In daily contac
With politicians of both parties, an
with the employees OF the variou
government departments. hea
them talk and know their auimu:
Iam.persuaded that II Is just as lnipo
-ible TO bring sbout q better state {
things with such servants ~ these O
il Is to gather figs from dried thil
ties.
When Dir. Lamar, the Seeretar
of the Interior puts his foot on q scar
dalous abuse that has existed Il
years, / refer TO the use Of horses an
carriages b3 the head Of the Depar
: ment and by the chiefs Of Bureau I
government expense, the clerks (
his department make II the them
# their table talk and speak OF
contemptuousIyas picayune econom.
They deride the Secretary for wall
ing toand from the department or 4
hiring with his own money commo
cab, when he wishes to ride. The
are little times, but they are signi
cant OF the low tone of official me
ality, and the obtuseness OF NOR
vision In the civil service which ih
administration has innerited, al
which it can reform only by pluckil
It out and casting 1t away.