The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1886-02-04
.tetserson's Method Of Civil Service
Reform.

~
differs as widely from the
Jeffersonian idea, as his financial
theories differ from the theories Of
the father OF American democracy.
When jefferson was chosen presi-
dent and found the public service Of
the country crowded with the polit-
zeal opponents Of the party which
had elected him he said, in justify
ing removals:
when it is considered that during
the late administration those who
were not Of a particular sect OF poll
ties were excluded from all Office;
when by steady pursuit OF this
measure nearly the whole Offices OF
the United States were monopolized
by that sect; when the public senti-
ment at length declared itself and
burst open the doors OF honor and
confidence 10 those whose opinions
the people approved-was it to be
imagined that this monopoly OF Of
flee was to be continued in the hands
Of the minority? Does it violate
their equal rights to assert some
rights in the minority also? Is it
political intolerance to claim q pro.
portionate share in the direction OF
public affairs? 1t would
have been to me q circumstance OF
great relief il I had found u moder-
ate participation in Office Ia the
hands OF the majority. I would
gladly left to time and accident to
raise them to their just share. But
their total exclusion calls for prompt
er corrections. shall correct the
procedure; but that done, return
with Joy to that state OF things when
the only question concerning can.
| didate shall be: Is he honest? Is he
capable? Is he faithful to the con
stitutiOn?"
We presume no intelligent repub-
lican can be found who will for a
moment question that these words
of Mr.. jefferson are u faithful repre-
sentatiun Of the condition OF all the
remunerative and responsible FEEDER
al Offices when Mr.. Cleveland came
into office. Nor do we see how
President Cleveland can fail to rec.
ognize a direct line OF real reform
in Mr.. Jefferson's method and
action.
But leaving the political question
entirely out OF consideration, it is
manifestly unjust to the majority
party to be excluded from their
proportionate share in the direction
Of the public affairs of the govern
menl. Senator Dawes, Of Massa-
chusetts declared in . speech made
in the early part OF the war that the
the thefts and frauds upon the gov
eminent the first year Of Mr.. Lin
coins administration was more than
the entire expenses Of Buchanan's
administration, corrupt as it was"
And the party which committed
those frauds upon the government
then has not grown modest in such
business by continued ascendancy
and monopoly OF the positions Of
place and power. It has recently
come to light that the people and
their government have been shame.
fully defrauded in New York in the
purchase Of supplies for the govern
ment buildings in that city, those
having charge Of the purchase pay
ing from 80 to It's per cent more than
the materials were worth in the open
market. Aud to magnify the shame
Of the people these contracts were
made under the present reform ad-
minis.ratioD" by = lot Of scoundrels
appointed years ago and retained by
Mr.. Cleveland as experts" in the
contracting bureau. Aud this is not
y solitary case but runs through ev-
cry department where old expert
frauds" are retained out of Difference
to the mugwunp statesmen whose
friends share the public robbery OF
these corrupt officials. Republican
subordinates appointed for their
warm partizanship. it not ready to
perpetrate frauds themselves are
/, disposed to cover up and conceal
/, the dishonest practices Of their po-
! litical friends.
The only way to insure the I'm.
earthing OF past frauds and to pre-
vent the their recurrence in the fu-
ture is to I'LL ut least one-half Of all
the subordinate positions in every
department Of the government with
new men who shall be capable and
thoroughly honest, and who will
have no motive for concealing fraud,
and without faint Of the methods
that have prevailed since 1869 in
nearly every department. Whether
the men appointed are confirmed or
not the duty OF MI. Cleveland is
plain in the light of unquestioned
facts Of which he is fully cognizant,
and of which the senate is not by
any means ignorant. Lincoln, Grant,
HAYES, Garfield and Arthur were
party men who believed I'D and prac.
ticed turning the rascals out" and
made appointments to help 1.-THE
party" the senate endorsing what
ever came to it with the republican
party label. Such lot Of senators
don't appear well in the role OF civil
service reformers. and the sooner
Mr.. Cleveland locks horns with them
and losses their personal and pOlit-
ical friends overheard the better for
him and for the country.
THE NEW YEAR.