The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1885-08-27


Only few weeks ago George William
cur,is, Cbiei Of the Mugwanps. 10 q
public speech maintained that President
Cleveland has Substantially lived up 70 The
promises made 10 bis famous letter 70 the
civil service reform association. and that
hs course has been satisfactory to tae
Performers, generally. This view Of the
case Mr.. Curtis has also maintained
10 his paper. H'DPeS Weekly Journal Of
eiyilizstiop.D Mr.. Curtis acknowledged
that the presiden, has made some mistakes,
but 10 these cases be has been deceived
by the ''hupgry aud thirsty crowd thai
Ia behind him.
IA is possible that Mr.. Curtis has not
heard how the Democratic machine has
been run 10 Vermont. This is a small
State and possibly does not count in Mr..
Curtis estimate. bu, we think MIR. Curtis
has possibly heard Of Mr.. Edmunds, and
he certainly has OF Minister Phelps. We
do no, see how he could have been ignor-
nm, Of the fact that Mr.. ID. b. Smallcy OF
this State has been a member OF the Ma.
tional Democratic com mittee for the past
dozen years. its Secretary for the past
eight years, in which capacity be has de-
voted months OF earnest and effective la
Dor for the party. II is possible that Mr.
Curtis is unaware that Mr.. Smalley. dur
ing ell these years has held responsible
and lucrative federal Office, which he
must have sadly neglected or turned over
to be performed by deputies. 10 this
Office he has held on until appointed by
the President to a higher federal Office,
that OF Collector OF Customs OF this dis
trict
Gen Wells who was removed to make
room for Smalley was gallant union
officer during the war, one OF the best IN
the service. II is conceded by Mr.. Small
lev himself that Gen. Wells always attend
I'd faithfully to the duties OF the Office. 1t
is also the testimony OF all who are ac-
ouainted with the facts in the case that
Gen. Wells has taken no active part in
politics since he has been collector. He
has taken no part in conventions, devoted
no time to political work Of any kind. 1t
is probably true that few er pdrfe afiida'
Wits have been filed in Washington, to the
the effect that Gen. Wells is an offensive
partisan At any rate he was removed
on that ground though the evidence has
never seen the light. Grant that the
charge is true, though we do not believe
it would have ghost OF chance before
an impartial jury in court of law, grant
the charge is true, how about Mr. Small
ley? He has held Office and has devoted
months and years Of time to active politi-
cal work. President Cleveland was as
well aware of this fact as any man in the
country for he owes his election in great
measure to Smalley's efforts, and since the
election Smalley has spent weeks Of
time in Washington looking after the
claims OF the "hungry." In fact he is
the acknowledged political boss OF the
State, and all the time federal office
holder. II Gen. Wells is an offensive
partisan in the eyes OF George William
Curtis what would he call Smalley? Is
civil service reform jug with the handle
on the side Of the Democrats? Ye godsl
Is this the George William Curtis who is
such stickler for justice that he parts
his hair in the middle? The only con-
clusion that any sensible man can arrive
at is that Mr.. Curtis and others like him
who, having full knowledge Of passing
events, claim that President Cleveland is
living up to his promises in regard to the
civil service, are either fools or knaves'
Which?