The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-04-13
DEMOCRACY AND THE OWL SERVICE.


occasion of its delivery, the friends and CO.
p~artisans of the President made no attempt at
reply, but on the contrary there were not
wanting evidences of satisfaction on the part
of the Democratic members. This feeling
was very ill concealed. Among the public
the impression obtained that a formal reply
would be made at the earliest possible occa-
sion, the charges made being some Of the most
serious ever put upon an administration in
this Nation. More than two weeks have
elapsed since then, and absolutely nothing has
been done to refute the allegations so damag-
ing to the Democratic party. 1t is apparent
to the stupidest that this neglect is not acci-
dental. In short, it is intended. The esti-
mate placed by the public upon Senator Har-
rison's speech was made apparent in the fact
that it was published by all the leading papers
Of the country, the startling exposure being
generally commented on as being most re-
markable. 1t was apparent that a speedy re-
ply in behalf Of the administration was con-
fdently expected, though many did not hesi-
tate to say that it was hard to see how an ade-
quate defense could be made. There was a
disposition. however, to give the President the
benefit of the doubt until such time as his de-
Tense should be forthcoming. More than a
fortnight has passed, and no reply has been
attempted. Such indifference has probably
never been evinced before in the history Of
the country by an executives friends and fell
low-partisans. There can be but one e~xplana-
ton of this, and that is that they secretly re-
| joice in his discontinue.
Mr.. Cleveland has incurred the ill-will of
the Democratic party in and out Of Congress.
The great mass of that party hold to the doc
trine of spoils with a tenacity little less than
fanatical. Senator Harrison's arraignment
of the President was a duty he owed to the
country, since he exposed his dishonesty in
making a pretense of respecting the civil
service law, when in truth he has made a bur-
lesque of ii. A large measure of the blame
Va tAN ~ w ASSPSNo sAAo A&V NNStAS
rests on the Democratic party at large, which,
through its intense desire to reward the blow
ers aud strikers, the bummers and shoulder
hitters, that do the dirty work of the party,
has caused it to recommend to office men
whose appointment could be no less than a
scandal. The President might have succeed
ed in carrying out the duplicity planned to
deceive the mugwumps, but for the fact that
his party was not in accord with him, and
were more intent on getting at the spoils than
in electioneering for the next campaign. AS
it is, the President has made many very
questionable and many very bad appoint
ments. He has seen men appointed by him
deliberately and publicly show their contempt
for the civil-service rules. There is not a
voter in Indiana with enough sense to eat
when hungry but knows that the President
has made a burlesque of it in this State. But
bad as the President has proved to be, he is
and Congressman rejoice at his discomforture,
and have no intention Of defending him. Why
should they9 While tearing the civil-service
law to tatters he has not helped the faithful,
and they can forgive anything before this.
With none of the elements Of craftsmanship
in his composition, he has estranged his own
party and has not compensated himself by
winning friends from the opposition. Nor has
he won on that uncertain quantity in Ameri-
can politics, the mugwumps. This last would
have made a sorry showing among the mill
ions of voters of this country, but it would
have shown that he was not absolutely with
out friends and defenders. The Presidents
policy is no policy at all. His playing fast
and loose has made everybody chary of in
dorsing him, for it was not certain how soon
he would show that he had no settled convic-
tons and no policy that was not rather a ca
price. It will take years to rescue civil
service reform from the disrepute into which
it has been allowed to sink. Meanwhile the
country has the spectacle of seeing a Presi-
dent deserted by his party, who will not so
much as speak in his defense when he is
charged with the most serious ~offenses as a
public officer. There are two reasons for this
failure to come to his aid; oae is that defense
is practically out of the question, and the
other is that the party sees no compensation
for the service, and Democracy is not a party
that works without a compensation in view.
1t coolly offers to undertake the Presidents
defense for a fee.
THE New York World unkindly raps the
mugwumps over the knuckles for presuming
70 intorfora with thu dminiefrafio,, md nro