Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1886-04-09

President for his faithful execution of
this law, and for his devotion to its prin-
ciple. honor him because he seeks to
extend the operation of this law to all
cases coming within its spirit. As a pri-
waite citizen, loving my country with un-
failing devotion, dissent from the pro-
scriptive spirit which will not tolerate u
mere difference of opinion on politics in II
public officer who discharges the duties
of his position faithfully and skilfully
and refrains from the offensive position
of partisan. TO the second question
put by you, "Was not the election of
President Cleveland "A rebuke to the adj
ministration of the government by Re
publican methods and office holdersy" |
answer that, as understand the meaning
of that election, it was a rebuke to the
administration of the government by Re-
publican measures and methods and Of
ticeholders so far as they were connected
with and responsible for these measures
and methods, and no further. If the
Democratic party in its platform in 1884,
or Mr.. Cleveland. in his pledges, oral or
written, during the campaign had taken
the position of "a clean sweep, not con-
lining their position to removal OF the
rascals from office, the country would
now be under Republican rule. What
would have become of the Democratic
party and its candidate in New York if
such Il policy as is now advocated, not
only of turning out the raScals, but all
Republicans. had been adopted. 1t would
have been beaten out of sight, and de-
servedly beaten. look upon the present
effort to change from the position occu-
pied by the Democratic party during the
campaign of 1881. and to force the Prcsi-
-llent by the power of the Democratic
press to abandon the principles avowed
by himself in 1881, rs morally wrong and
"A great political blunder. Parties and
men who 20 back on their professions
made to get pOwer-can never prosper
and should never prosper. TO your third
question, did not the election of Pres
ident Cleveland mean that the Otlicehod-
ers were to be turned out and competent
Democrats entrusted with the offices in
every department of the government
| answer most emphaticallv, No. The
Democratic platform of 1854 and the re-
peated pledges of Mr.. Cleveland while a
candidate all say no to your question.
This is not all. The position of the Dem
ocratic party in the present Congress in
refusing to repeal the civil service act.
which keeps in office many thousand Re
publicans beyond the control of the Pres
ident or members of his cabinet. says no
to your question. The election of Presi-
dent Cleveland in 1854 expressed the dis
satisfaction of the people with Republi-
can measures and methods. and Office
holders who had acted cOrruptly and
abused their official positions-''the ras-
Gals, as they were properly and justly
named. 1t further expressed the desire
on the part of the voters to fill the places
held by Republicans with competent
Democrats a. fast rs terms of office eX-
PRED by lapse of time. death or resigna-
ton, until the Democrats of the country
held Il fair share of the public office,
from which they had been excluded. Had
the greedy, unfair, exclusive spirit now
manifested by some of our leaders and
press been manifested in 1854. Blaine
would now be the President of the United
States. More than this. unless the abuse
of the President for his honest adherence
to his pledges: unless the unjust sheer.
at Ibis policy" as it is called; unless the
countless misrepresentation of his inten-
tions and motives are stopped. the coun-
try will again 90 under Republican rule
for another fourth of a century, and We
at the South will feel again the strong
arm of the federal government intcrfer-
ing with the operations of the State gov
ernments. In your fourth question:
HAS the administration of President
Cleveland met the full expectation OF
Democrats in the State:" reply it ha,
not: not, however. from any fault of his
BY this. mean 10 say that the Democrat
L. press of the State. spreading all sorts
of unfounded and unjust rumors Caught
up at Washington by special correspond.
ence) concerning the President aS to his
intentions and motives. and advocating Il
clean sweep without regard to law and
party pledges. has created Il feeling OF
disappointment with portion of the PEG.
pie. TO your fifth question. us PreSi
dent CleVeland'S policy calculated tC
strengthen the party and insure success.
in the coming election?" my reply is
Ies-if success follows fidelity to princi
pies and pledges and sound policy. Iii,
policy is the only one which will bring
permanent and valuable success, because
it is based on wisdom. justice and moder.
alton. The policy opposed to President
Cleveland's, of putting up all the offices
of the government to be fought over in
political elections every four years must
end in the overthrow of the Republic-it
will be attended with such monstrous
| lTduuS anu tAClltlllcHl llldl men Will MOI
submit to the results of elections and will
appeal to the sword. So much for your
questions; and now a word upon youl
editorial, which claim, with due respect
to yourself. cannot be maintained. You
say in your editorial: although Presi.
dent Cleveland has been in Office nearly
thirteen months, he still retains in office
the great horde of Republican placement
violent. blatant demagogueS and parti-
ZanS who had come down to Us from the
hands of General Grants partisanship on
Mr.. Hayes imbecility"-a statement ir.
reconclabe with existing facts, such a.
the filling by President Cleveland of the
entire internal revenue department in thi,
State with Democrats; his filling all the
principal poStolliccs in this State but one
or two with Democrats; his filling the
entire department of justice in the North,
ern district of Georgia with Democrats
Another word and | am through with
this reply. \ short time since your cor.
respondent in Washington city became
greatly excited over the appointment by
President Cleveland of colored man
named Matthews. to the office of recorder