The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-09-24

President Jefferson and member of the
Tammany society of Baltimore, who was
going to Monticello TO make known
to the president the discomfort of the
society at seeing so many federalists still
in office.
President should be very glad to
crafty my friends in Baltimore by turn
ing the federalists out of office, and filling
their places with men Of my own party.
But there is an obstacle in the way which
have not been able to solve. Perhaps
you can do this for me-
Young Tammany-'I despair of solv-
ing any problem that puzzles Mr.. Jsffer-
son" but desire to hear what it is.
President-"Well, sir, we are republi>
tans, and we are contending for the ex,
cension of the right of suffrage. 1t is not
So.
Young Tammany-"Yes, sir"
President-(who has not read his Plato
for nothing I'VE would not, therefore,
put any restraint upon the right of suf-
frage as it already exists2"
Young TammaDy-(Unwarned by the
fate of those who sought wisdom from
Socrates.) by no means sir"
President-"Well me, then, what is the
difference between denying the right of
suffrage, and furnishing man for exer-
cising it by turning him out of officer"
1t will be wise for the Tammany organ
ization of New York to study the con-
versation which occurred between the
Tammany member from Baltimore and
President jefferson before they depute
member FROM their society to interview
President Cleveland on the subject of re-
moval of republicans from office 1t
| is treading on democratic principles, and
| say that the politicians who are trying
to break down Cleveland in his civil SER
vice principles should remember that they
are doing that which is undemocratic
IL they are not believers in civil service
they should not profess it; they
ought not to have chosen for president of
the United States one with these ideas if
they did not want to stand by him; they
ought not TO cry Lord Lordll and worship
the devil; they should know that demo
cratic supremacy does not mean simply
the turning out of all the office holders.
Jefferson, writing about federal offices, said
to these means Of obtaining just share
in the transaction of the public business
shall be added one other to wit: re-
moval for electioneerlng activity.
and he carried out that doctrine.
jefferson followed out the principles
of civil service reform by removing from
office in two years only twenty six ofdce>
holders, and only sixteen OF these for
| political purposes, and as Jefferson put
if I'VE determined to make no more exS
cept for delinquency or active and bitter
opposition to the order of things which
the public will had established" have
devoted considerable time to the examin-
alton of the civil service, because be-
lieve in it. believe Cleveland was elects
ed president of the United States because
the people believed he took higher views
of the presidential office than the public
patronage. l believe the people of the
| United States elected Cleveland because
they believed that a great government
should be conducted on business princi
pies, and that alone. l believe Cleveland
came into the seat Of national authority,
and that the democratic party took hold
of the reins Of national government be-
cause the people believed they gave the
earnest of better conducting national af>
fairs. They believed the democratic party
on the fifth Of November, 1884, was chos>
en- as the party to conduct the affairs OF
this government for the next four years,
because they would give the country a
better government, and one for
the good of the people; and be-
cause they believed the government
was not created for office holders and
that the people were in nowise interested
therein. tell you that the creator is
greater than the created; that the people
is greater than the Office holder; that the
office holder is the servant, and not the
master; that the people is master of the
Office holder; that public office is trust
held for the benefit of the people, not for
the getting Of dollars and cents tor the
individual holder. There is no difference
between the discharge of public duty than
there is in the discharge of private duty.
and there are no rules to conduct the
people in public business that do not APP
ply TO private business; that that which
is wrong IN private transaction is not
made right because it is public trans
action; that that which is dishonest in
private life is equally dishonest in public
life, and that the same rules in the one
apply in the other. You will have gov,
eminent for the people when this princi,
| pie is received and acted upon in good
faith; that that which is held to be ben
eft to the people will be benefit TO me-
| appeal to you in all candOr that you
look upon your citizenship as more than
u trif1e; that you accept the duties of your
citizenship as well as you can. 1t is no
mere tritle TO be an American citizen; to
be clothed with the rights of suffrage; to
be guaranteed a voice in the conduct of
national affairs, state affairs, county at
fairs, municipal affairs to have your in>
dividual voice heard. There is no man
so humble but within his grasp to receive
the highest office within the gift of the
people, and there is no man so poor
within the borders of the country clothed
with the right of citizenship if he sail
across the water and stand in the shadow
OF some OF the many KINDS OF monarchlal
governments, but is secure; and if they
touch one single hair of his head, If they
heap upon him one single indignity, tina,
privilege of an American citizen guar,
antees him all the armies and men in the
borders OF the country. Martin Coates,
who only had declared his intention OF
being an American citizen when Austria
attempted TO press him into the
Austrian service, claiming only the
benefit of half citizenship. Captain In.
graham would have Numbered his can
non at the Austrian vessels had not Coates
been restored individual rights by So
clalists and communists. The individual
nnohf To take unnn him GOLF thu rnSnnnsi-