The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1885-08-01
Reform i'm Ohio.


A great deal of purely fictitious
significance is being attached to the
question Of whether the platform Of
the. Ohio Democracy will contain a
plank indorsing the Presidents civil
service policy. Various more or less
creditable speculations are rife
touching this question. We see it
suggested that the Ohio Democrats
will not insert the plank because
the convention would reject it by an
indignant and overwhelming vote.
1t is also suggested and with equal
earnestness, that although many
leading Democrats in Ohio approve
the Presidents policy and would
like to sustain it openly. they fear to
make it an issue in the campaign
because they doubt the adhesion of
the rank and file Of the party under
such a banner One hears it said
that they are all opposed to that
feature of Mr.. Cleyeland's admins
tration, and will take this opportu-
nifty to declare themselves by ignor-
ing it in the platform. One also
hears it said, and quite as positively,
that they have determined to re
buke the President by getting beat
en-, and that they will ostentatiously
introduce the civil, service plank, so
as TO make it responsible for the dis
aster. And over all this rubbish
there is vast amount of cackle, as
may easily be imagined.
Il seems ,absurdly superfuous to
intimate that, as usual. the Ohio
Democrats are making a lamentable
show Of themselves. Ii it were
possible for them to bring a perfect
ly clear vision to bear upon their
own predicament, they would see
that the wisest course possible to
them is to adopt the Presidents
civil service policy, and to plant
themselves upon it with all the en-
phasis and ardor they can summon
to their aid. If anything will serve
to erase the evil memory of their
Legislative record of the past two
years, and repair the shattered con-
fidence of the people in their fitness
to control Ohio politics, it must be
sought in some such act as this. To
pronounce in favor of Mr.. Cleve-
land reform ideas would be to pro-
claim their conversion to decent
craftsmanship and reputable meth
DDS of government They stand in
sad need of some rehabilitation in
popular respect. Their salvation
depends upon some deed or declara-
ton which shall testify change of
heart and guarantee a return to
those observances which honest and
patriotic citizens venerate. Where
could they find a more suspicious
point at which to inaugurate the new
departure.
The Ohio Democracy may assure
themselves of this: Their best hope
of success lies in aligning them
selves with the administration
Evidences multiply that civil SER
vice reform is gaining hourly in the
respect and confidence of the coun-
try; that the sober and intelligent
masses are drawing close to the
Presidents policy. and yielding it
heartier and more fervent approba-
ton 1t is not; at all impossible
that they may be beaten, even
though they invoke lhe grace of
that excellent and worthy philoso-
ply. If so, they will be beaten in
spite of and not ON account of their
Endorsement Of the President De
feat in such case would argue
merely that they had forfeited
the peoples regard so utterly that
not even their death-bed repentance
could avail to save them. 1t would
argue nothing else.
But we hope that our Ohio con
temporal1es wall waste no time
brooding over a situation which is
so simple and straightforward. |
There is only one right and proper
thing to do; why not do it without
further hesitation? The President |
is engaged in great and admirable
work-a work which in its fruition
will honor the Democratic party and |
illumine the political epoch in which
it was contaminated. He may of |
fend politicians here and there
even ALLEVIATE few who cannot for
give him for setting at naught their
plans ond paralizing their methods,
but he is surely winning upon the
int igent convictions of the coun-
try and he is the eNemplar to-day of
those principles and practices which
constitute a party's most enduring
hold on popular sympathy and CON
fidence. To follow him can cost
in dignity and reputation.
TO renounce him is the most effec-
tive way to court reputation by the
people, Washington Post.