The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1886-04-08
HOT SHOT.
The Hypocritical Pretenses of the
Democratic Party Laid
Bare.

rows on the Edmunds resolutions.
II there hes been any one thing in the last
fifteen years to which tho Democratic party
seemed more ardently attached than any other
IL was reform In the civil service. In season and
out of season. in public and in private. by speech
and platform, IL has coveted every occasion to
make solemn protestation OF its devotion to this
new-found object OF its idolatry. It's enthusiasm
at times would brook no restraint.
Although reform and the Democratic party
never had any personal acquaintance until 1872.
when they met for the first time in Liberal
Republican convention, yet from that hour there
sparng up an attachment between them which
has been absolutely phenomenal Some slight
conception of the warmth of its devotion at that
time may be gathered from the following de-
votion preserved in its platform of 1872:
The civil service OF the Government has be-
come = mere instrument Of partisan tyranny
and personal ambition, and an object OF selfish
greed. 10 is n scandal and reproach upon free
institutions, and breeds decentralization dam
gerous TO the perpetuity Of republican GOV ern-
ment We therefore regard n thorough reform
of the civil service one OF the most pressing
necessities of the hour that honesty, capacity,
and fidelity constitute the only valid claims TO
public employment; that the offices of the Gov
eminent cease to be matter OF arbitrary favor
itism and patronage. and that public station
shall become again post Of honor Democratic
platform. July, 1872, baltimore.
In 1876 the Democratic party renewed its vows
OF fidelity with such earnestness to Danish
all thought OF the possibility OF betrayal in the
following language.
Reform is necessary in the civil service Ex-
perience proves that efficient, economical con-
duct OF the Governmental business is not pos
sible il it's civil service be subject to change at
every election, be n prize fought for at the
ballot-box, be brief reward for party ZEAL in
stead Of posts of honor assigned for proved COM
potency, ard held for fidelity I'm the public en-
ploy; that the dispensing of patronage should
neither be tax upon the time of all our public
men. nor the instrument Of their ambition
Democratic platform. 81. Louis. Mo-. june "a,
1876.
In 1880 its ardor had somewhat cooled, and
was fast settling down into respectful consider
alton, as the following declaration in its plat
form discloses: I'VE pledge ourselves to gen.
eral and thorough reform OF the civil service"
In 1884 six words compressed into one curt
sentence, measured its waning regard We
favor honest civil-service reform"
But II the public mind had become distrust-
full Of the sincerity of the Democratic party in
its professions touching reform in the civil SER
vice. II was fully reassured by Mr.. Cleveland in
his letter Of acceptance in which he said The
selection and retention Of subordinates in Gov
eminent employment shall depend upon their
ascertained fitness and the value of their work.
Public employment will be open TO all who can
demonstrate their fitness to enter it." These
are some OF the professions with which the
Democratic party came up To the campaign OF
1884. and under which II was intrusted with
national control.
In view OF these utternnces the people had a
right to expect and in many instances were I'M
doubtedly deluded into the belief. that the
Democratic party would in good faith redeem its
promises in this regard. That, in the language
OF the Democratic Platform, honesty, capacity,
and fd1 lily" would be the only valid claims TO
public employment, and that, in the words of
the President, "the selection and retention of
subordinates in Government employment would
depend upon their ascertained fitness. Indeed,
the Democratic party and its nominee for the
Presidency were so completely committed to
the doctrine OF reform in the civil service that
there no escape from the exec ution OF
the law m this regard but by public renuncia-
tion or secret evasion. The former step would
have been commendable in the highest degree
in contrast with that other course which this adj
minstration seems determined TO pursue. To
have failed TO execute the law would have been
bad faith; TO pretend TO execute IL while secret
ly multiplying IL Is not only bal faith but hypoc-
On the 4th day OF March, 1885, the President
elect in his Inaugural address declared that the
people demanded tho application or business
principles to public affairs" and that civil SER
vice reform shorld be in good faith enforced"
While these high-sounding words were ringing
In the public ear the Postmaster General is
writing confidential" letter to Democratic
Congressman ito get their cases ready" and he
thought from Is to 20 per cent. of fourth-class
postmasters in Ohio might be removed within
L the next two months" This is the application
of business principles to public affairs"
(Laughter.l While the echo OF these words was
yet ringing in the public ear the Postmaster
General quietly whistles to his side the whole
uncounted pack Of hungry office-seek RS and
sets them upon the track OF honest officials
with instruct ns to hunt them down and hold
them at bay until the Postmaster General coald
take their official life This, Mr.. Cuairman. is
reform in the civil servicel This is doing bust
ness behind glass doors" The whole history Il
American politics Giscloses no parallel to this.
1t is no part OF my purpose, Mr..
Chairman, to catalogue tie long list
of removals or count the disreputablo appoint
ments which make up the FIRST yenr's record OF
this reform administration. Every Congression-
al district has its instances and these are within
the knowledge of the individual members OF
the House. only dt sire to summarize tho re-
suit of the application of business principles 10
public affairs, us exemplihed in tie Postofilce
Department during the hrst twelve months or
it's administration
The First Assistant Postmaster General in his
able annual report for the year ending June 80,
1885, at page ~, states the whole number of
Presidential Offices at that date was 2.233, and
the whole numbtr OF fOurth-clas5 lostOiiiCes
49,ol9. To these 2.233 Presidential Offices there
were appointed, between March 4, 1885, and
March 4, 1886, 1,O7s Democratic Postmasters, or
nearly one-half OF the entire number were
changed the first year. OF those LOIS
sary by reason OF death resigna-
ton. or expiration OF commission 2SS
were appointed 10 succeed Postmasters sus-
| pended, in place OF Postinastors removed for
cause, and TO succ 3ed n ostlnaster removed
| nearly 800 suspensions and removals in twelve
months in Presidential Offices alone. Not con-
| tent with 762 vacancies caused by DEATH resig
nation and expiration of commissio Is, the
President suppl mcnts this record by 20 aus
| pensions and removals upon what ground the
country is not yet advised.
/ But this does not furnish n fair illustration OF
the workings of reform in this department OF
the Government The President and undoubt-
| eddy tho Postmaster General have felt them
selves somewhat hnmpercd and embarrassed
| by that provision of the Constitution which
| makes it necess Try in these matters to take the
advice and obtain tho consent OF the United
Stats Senate. such n requir, ment gives undue
| publicity to Official conduct and destroys that
freedom of action which is found in fo1rth-c' ass
Offices. where the will Of the Postmaster Cen
| oral is supreme.
In response to tho request Of tho Senate re-
| gently directed to the Postmaster General call
| ing upon him to state the number OF removals
| in fourth-cass offices between March A. 1885,
and March 4, 1886, no states the whole number
! of removals between those dates to have been
| BC35 This does not include appointing hts TO
| vacancies, but all these were removals stem
| sibly for cause Add to this the Presidential re-
| moval during tho year and we find the total
removals OF postmasters to be 1891 in twelve
| months This is over 744 month, 1S every
| working day, IN hour, or every hitcen min
uts,s This is conducting the affairs OF the Post
! Office Department on business principles
The forcgC ing exhibit In ST. gle branch OF the
Postofiice Department furnish 3 fair illustra-
ton of the practic Workings OF the civilservice
| law as intoi prcted by the Post master General
What is true OF this department is undoubt
| edly true of all. Indeed carly as June,
| 1885, the country was advised by Mr.. Higgins.
when hungry Democrats were complaining OF
/ the delay i'm furnishing them with the means OF
subsistence, that there had already been boz
| tween three and four thousand changes. There