Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1885-11-06
GOOD AUTHORITY.

Complaints are made against the Ad,
ministration that it is not Democratic.
The complaints are without foundation.
1t is said that the slowness of the Admin
istration in making appointments is the
cause of great impatience on the part OF
the Democratic party. The same thing
was said of Jefferson. 1t is said that the
election of Democratic President meant
clean sweep in Federal offices. The
same thing was said in 1901. Every
Democrat knows what the course of the
Administration has been in regard to ap-
pointments to office and in regard to
removals from office. 1t is also
known what constitutes an offensive par
tisan. In view of the complaints against
the Administration and the theories upon
which they are made, we desire to call
the attention OF all to the views of Thomas
Jefferson on these matters, and ask
them to compare things then with things
now; and after such comparison, We ask
if the names and dates in Jefferson's s
letters were changed to suit the year 1885,
if these letters would not accurately and
truthfully describe the condition of affairs
under President Cleveland?
On the 10Th day of August, 1901, Jeffer-
son wrote, from Monticello, to Levi Lin
coin, as follows:
l had foreseen, years ago, that
the first Republican President who should
come into office after all the places in the
Government had become exclusively occu-
pied by Federalists, would have dreadful
operation TO perform. That the Republic
ans would consent to continuation of
everything in Federal hands, was not to be
expected, because neither just nor poll
tic. On him, then, was to devolve the Office
of an executioner, that of looping off.
cannot say that it has worked harder than
expected. You know the moderation of our
views in this business, and that we all con-
CURED in them. We determined to proceed
with deliberation. This produced impa-
tience in the Republicans, and a belief We
meant to do nothing. Some occasion of
public explanation was eagerly desired,
when the New Haven remonstrance offered
us that occasion.
am satisfied that the heaping of abuse
on me, personally, has been with the design
and the hope of provoking me to make
general sweep of all Federalists out of Office.
But as / have carried no passion into the
execution of this disagreeable duty, shall
suffer none to be excited. The clamor which
has been raised Will not provoke me to
remove one more, nor deter me from remcv-
ing one less, than if not a word had been
said on the snbiect.
We ask if the situation in which Cleve-
land was placed after twenty-four years
OF Republican rule is not almost identical
with that in which Jefferson was placed
after twelve years of Federalist rule? JEFF
ferson plainly foresaw the great difficulty
attendant upon all the Government
offices being in the hands of the Federal
lists: and Cleveland had the same diff
Guilty to contend with.
On October 25, 1902, Jefferson wrote.
from Washington, TO Levi Lincoln, in
these terms:
Their bitterness increases with their des- |
peratlon. L shall take no other re-
venge, than, by steady pursuit of economy /
ana peace, and by the establishment of Re- |
publican principles in substance and in
form, to sink Federalism into an abyss
from which there shall be no resurrection
Tor 1t. still think our original idea as to
Office is best ; that is. to depend. for the
obtaining just participation, on deaths.
reslgnatlons and delinquencies. This will
least affect the tranquility of the people.
ana prevent their giving in to the suggestion
OF our enemies, that ours has been contest
for Office, not for principle. This is rather
slow operation, but ii is sure if we pursue it
steadily, which, however, has not beer
done with the undertaking resolution could
have wished 70 these means of obtaining
4 just share IN the transaction of the public
business, shall be added one other. to-wit.
'emoval Tor electloneering activity, or open
and industrious opposition to the principles
'f the present Government, Legislative and
executive. Every officer of the Government
nay vote at elections according to his con-
science; but we should betray the cause
committed to our care, were we to nermit
ne influence of official patronage to be used
o overthrow that cause. r
We would ask whether the contest of
SS4 was for principle or for office? No
loubt many said that Jefferson's Democ-
acy was personal, and cited his resolu-
ion to adhere to his rule for making ap- !;
ointments as proof of this assertion, the 4
anne as Cleveland's resolution to do as .
e pledged himself to do is cited as an
violence against his Democracy. 4
In letter dated Washington, Nov. 5, T
BOP, Jefferson wrote to William Judd rs y
blows: h
Exercising Is
lat discretion which the Constitution has n