Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1885-09-04
Stand by the President.
BY LEE DAVIS LODGE, A. NJ.

BY LEE DAVIS LODGE, A. NJ.
Four years ago when President of The
United States was laid PROSTATE by the bullet
Of an assassin, amid the tears and excavations
OF the people there arose from high and low
all over.this land a determined cry that the
spoils system must be put down by the
strong arm of the law. The pulpit and the
press charged that system as guilty of the
blood of the slain. Men versed in the art
of government saw the peril of the country.
The people awoke 10 their danger. And by
the open grave of the Chief Magistrate OF
the Republic patriots swore with uplifted
hand that the serpent which had left lis
loathsome trail in every department of the
government and had at length stung To
death an American President should be
killed. In accordance with the demand of
the people, a Democratic Senator introduced
in Congress bill whose aim was ITO regu-
late and improve the civil service of The
United States" That bill, after fierce fight
in which the principles of reform were cham
pioned by some of the ablest Democrats, be-
came law. Became @ lao. What do those
words meang They mean that this bill was
passed by the Senators and Representatives
In Congress assembled and approved by the
hear noisy denunciations of Mr.. Cleveland
and his administration, because IN good faith
he maintains the integrity of this law. He
took an oath TO preserve, protect and de-
lend the Constitution" which declared that
she shall take care that the laws be faith
fully executed" Would we make him u
perjurer2 Would we have the high officer
chosen by the people of these States TO exc
cute and enforce the laws refuse to do his
duty and become the insidious foe of those
lawsY Shall we wage war on the President
because he keeps his oath 4? Ii the civil ser
vice act be wrong it should be repealed, but
30 long as it is a law of the land let us obey
its commands. AM not specially an adj.
vocate of this particular law II has, think,
some defects. But do most honestly believe
that it has done and will do great good for
our country Remedy the defects, make
perfect the law, but save the fundamental
principle that the work of the people shall
be economically done by the men whose
moral, intellectual and physical characters
best qualify them for its performance.
In u previous communication, stated my
opinion that all offices in which the oppos-
ing political vsws Of the incumbents could
in any way interfere with or obstruct the
action or policy Of the Democratic admins
tration ought TO be illled with Democrats
And this, too, should be done without re.
gard 10 the likes or dislkes of those crack
Drained and visionary men Of one idea, who
have yet 10 learn that politics is science of
compromises, and whom the Sentinel aptly
dubs tho professional civil service reform.
ers" 1t has come, ] know not WHY, TO be
a widely prevalent idea that il was the prac-
tice and doctrine of the earliest and great.
est Democrats TO make what is called in ex-
pressive terms a clean sweep when they
came into power. This is a mistake. quote
now from that good old Democrat, Thomas
ii. Benton, who was wont TO rain sturdy
blows on the helmets of the Wings: "Far
from universal removals for opinions sake,
General jackson, as l have already said,
lett the majority of his opponents in office,
aud re-appolnted many such whose terms
had expired, and who had approved them
selves faithful officers. Having indicated
General jackson and Mr.. Adams from the
reproach Of Mons de Tocqueville, and hav
ing shown that IL was neither principle
nor practice ol the Jefferson school To re
move officers for political opinions, | now
leel bound 10 make the declaration, that the
doctrine of that school has been too much
departed from OF late, and by both parties,
and Ia the great detriment Of the right and
proper working os the ernment"-Thirty
Years View, Vol |, p. 1862
Mr.. Benton, II will he seen, writing after
1850, speaks of the doctrine as departed
irom Of late" Now hear his private opinion
"lconsider sweeping removals, as now prac
ticed by both parties, great political evil in
our country. injurious 10 individuals, To the
public service, 10 the purity of elections, and
u the harmony and union of the people,
Thirty Years View, Vol Up. 1862. Right
plain talk, that
The Hon. Jefferson Davis, whose calm
dignity in misfortune suits well that wis,
dom with which he so admirably admins.
tered the whltest and purest government the
world has seen, is believer in civil service
reform. Referring 10 his career rs Secretary
of War OF the United States he says, "Undrr
lDrmer administrations of the War Office il
had not been customary to make removals
or appointments upon political groun IL, cx
crpt IN the case OF clerkships. To this Usage
l not only adhered, but extended II tl in.
clude the clerkships also. Rise aud Fail
oil the Confederate Government, Vol !, D. "a
When some Democratic Representatives
complained that certain man appointed by
him 10 clerkship was a Wing, Mr.. Davis
rnplnI that the man in question "had been
appoiHted Reilipr rs u Wing nor asa Dema>
crai, but merely rs the fttest candidate Tor
the place IN the estimation Of the chief Of
the bureau to which II belonged. | further
gave tliem 10 understand that the san ,
principles Of selection would be followed in
slini'sr cases, SO far us my authority exta..
ei.'-lbid., Vol. !, p. IS
The socalled Republicans have held an.l
l',stercd and defended the dogma that the
offices are the spoils of the yictors in elec
tons. During their misrule Of tho country
the evils OF the spoils system have grown
greater and greater and more and more dan
gerops. Twenty years of rottenness and
dishonesty and yllainy have passed. The
people have risen In their might, and hurled
the corrupt party from power. They ex-
pect US 10 cast out of the offices all the un-
worthy and inefficient; they expect us to
provide against the recurrence Of such ills
they expect US 10 give them sound Demo.
cratic administration, and expect Us 10 re
deem the promises and pledges we made be-
fore the elections. They are right. Then let
us stand by the President, Il would be pc.
litical madness 10 fight the Administration.
Let US stand by the fathers. They were wise.
Let us stand by our great leaders to-day
They are true.