Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-02-03
The President Talks About His
Policy.

very freely about his policy with respect
to the offices. He says that there was no
misunderstanding as to what his policy
would be before his election, and ne fails
to see any reason for misunderstanding
now. He has not, he says, changed his
poicy-he has simply carried it out to
the letter.
He declares that he shall take no step
backward. The policy that he has been
pursuing with regard to the offices he
intends to pursue to the end. In the
course of the interview he said: "My pur-
pose was announced at the beginning of
my administration. l meant then to adj
here to it. / have never changed 1t. / do
not mean to change it in the future. If
had not meant to adhere to my policy it
/ would have been foolish in me TO begin in
it. l should have escaped much in refus-
ing to begin it. 1t is not at all pleasant
forme to disappoint, and fear sometimes
to offend my party friends. Nothing but a
sense OF duty has brought me TO this step.
Why run all this risk, and incur this hard
feeling, only in the end to retreat? 1t seems
to me it would have been as impOlitic as
it is wrong. No; l have tried to be true
to my own pledges and the pledges of my
party. We both promised to divorce the
Offices OF tie country from being used for
party service. have held to my promise,
aud l mean to hold to it. What l under
stand by civil service reform, as | am
carrying it out, is that the Office holders
shall be divorced from politics while they
fill their positions under this government.
That rule have meant TO stand by. My
removals from Office, such as are made,
are made for cause. Ii would be absurd
! for me to undertake to give the country
my reasons in all cases, because it would
| be impracticable. Where have remOy ed
a Republican for political reasons or for
any other reasons, would apply the same
rule to my own party"
The President oefore.his election talked
with regard to the Offices just about as be
talks in this interview He indicated
what his policy would be, and he was ap-
plauded, and his proposed policy COM
mended. He says that ever since he has
been President he has tried to carry out
that policy and yet he finds that the Re-
! publicans mistrust him and many Of his
| party friends condemn him.
The Republican Senators pretend to
think that a good many Republican Off
cials have been removed for no other rea-
son than to make room for Democrats,
and for a month or more they have been
trying to secure testimony to support
their position. They have not yet sue
ceeded, and from this interview in the
Boston Herald it is fair to assume that
they Will not.
There are cases in which the suspicion
is strong that Republicans were not re-
moved for cause, but it cannot be posi-
lively asserted that the suspicion is well
founded. If the facts could be obtained
it would be found, probably, that
In each case of removal evil
dence sufficient to justify the Presi-
dents action was presented. II the re-
moved official was not incompetent or
| dishonest, the chances are that he used
his official position to advance the inter-
ests of his party.
While the President is under no obliga-
tion to give the Senate his reasons for
making removals it is not improbable that
if it were to ask him directly for them in
particular case he would give them. He
has already said that he would willingly
give any information desired, relative to
removals and appointments, to Senators
who should call upon him and request it.
This shows that he has nothing to con-
ceal. His refusal to let the Cabinet Off
GERS furnish information is not based uron
On foil rara h 10 arff IN Oh
to his policy. lis based upon a deter
mination not to let his prerogatives be en-
crOached upon,
There is phase of this interview that
it would be well for Democrats 20 con-
slider well. 1t is the Presidents assertion
that he intends to stick to his policy. Ii
is folly, therefore, to encourage ill-teeling
in the party by criticising the President
for not making removals without cause.
There is not any probability that he can
be induced to pursue a different course
by attacks. Its better, therefore, to ac-
cept the situation.
The wise course to pursue in localities
where important Offices are held by Re-
publicans, is TO furnish evidence that
would justify their removal. This evil
dence is not difficult TO obtain in most of
the cases. There is hardly Republican
official who is not Jealous party man
and an active party worker.
While the Civil Service Reform law
does not include within its jurisdiction
the Presidential offices there is no doubt
that during the campaign both parties
permitted IL to be understood that they
were in favor of extending Civil Service
Reform principles to these offices, and
while we shOnld like to see all the offices
filled with Democrats, we do not see that
the President can be condemned for NV
ing up to his own and has parties pied
ges. 1t goes against the grain, of
course, 20 see so great proportion OF the
Offices occupied by the Republicans, par
ticularly as no Democrat stood any
chance OF getting an Office when the Re-
publicans were in power.