The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1886-04-03
position of ha,s>u1
- D. 81! 81 s! :! q: =:


lest and svdst favored by birth or
- Can be excluded. The doors of caste,
privilege or favoritism can be closed against
no one.
The mechanic goes from his work bench to
the Executive Mansion, and he who in his
youth held the pillow and turned the sod be-
comes a Senator or takes the head OF De-
partment. Every place is open to honorable
ambition and virtuous industry. 1t is the
right of the citizen and creditable to him to
aspire to the confidence of his countrymen,
whether as township trustee, county commls-
sioner. neighborhood postmaster, department
clerk, consul abroad, or in any other official
station, from the lowest to the highest. Any
movement in curtailment of this great popular
right is, in my Judgment, violation OF the
shirt of our institutions and an offense against
good government
The interest of the people in the affairs OF
their Government is the only remedy for cor.
rupt practices and maladministration, and
this interest will diminish and grow cold II
they are barred from all participation in its
control. | am not speaking OF the spolls oil
Office now, but of the equality and dignity OF
American citizenship.
The people also have the right to demand
a change in the administration of their Gov
eminent, and such change is not properly
confined to a few of the chief offices. Each
neighborhood, each township, each county
and each state has within it Federal officials
who in the discharge of their duties may have
given more cause of offense to the voter and
a greater desire on his part for change than
the President himself.
This is not a government for life tenures in
Office TRAINED bands of Office holders
will not be tolerated here as they are by the
laws of England and other monarchies. The
! ~ tina nj 1
not commend itself to my judgment when 1t
passed this body little more than two years
/ ago, and very recently | voted in committee,
aud shall repeat the vote here, for its absolute
| repeal. After full and fair trial 1t has
proven a violent and odious obstruction to the
will of the people, a source of confusion and
injury to the public service, and constant
stumbling block in the way OF rational and
successful administration:
The experience of this Government, and
indeed of all governments, has amply and
overwhelmingly demonstrated that no politi-
cal party ever did or ever will administer sue
cessfully, harmoniously, and for the public
good the affairs of a nation through the IN.
strumentality of its enemies. The laws OF
human nature would seem to forbid the at
tempt of such an absurdity. What employer
of labor, what commander of an army would
willingly rely on subordinates filled with hos
tility, wishing HIM defeat ana 1ailure, censo'
rious in mind, unfaithfnl in heart, and often
only waiting an opportunity to betray him to
his ruin?
At this very hour have reason to believe
there is not confidential communication Oh
transaction in any one of the Departments
which has not been betrayed to the leaders Of
the Republican party. The very papers de-
manded in this controversy are familiar to
eager Republican eyes, and their contents
whatever they may be. are better known. Oh
the other side of the Chamber than on this
There is not record or a file in this Govern
ment closed to Republican search and inspec
ton; there is not room. hall, corridor, innei
chamber or closet which is not under the daily
and hourly espionage of the enemies of the
present administration. Chief clerks ane
chiefs of divisions, and even private secre
taries, confidential shorthand writers, and
those who open letters for heads of Depart
ments and bureaus, are well known as malig
nant opponents of the Democratic party, anC
infamed with desire for the confusion ant
overthrow of the President and his constitu
tional advisers.