Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-11-25

Mr.. Watterson appears 10 be utilizing
the strength he gained during mis- Euro
pean trip to attack. through the columns
II the Courier-JOurna civil service re-
form, 1t will not be questioned that he
writes entertaininglv, but as he confines
himself chiefly to assertions and ridicule,
it is doubtful If he makes many converts.
Mr. Watterson is not a consistent man,
and the paper OF which he is the editor
does not exert the influence it once did,
even IN Kentucky. But instead of attack
ing civil service reform and criticising
the President for carrying out the civil
service law in letter and spirit, why do
not Mr.. WattersOn and those who are in
harmony with him in this civil service
business advocate the repeal of that iawI
If they don't like II let them try to get rid
OF it. If they think IL is bad thing, and
inconsistent with Democratic principles,
let them insist that 1t shall be stricken
from the statutes and condemned in the
next national Democratic platform. The
best way is to be frank and manly about 1t.
The attempt to saddle the responsibility
of defeating the law upon the President,
by bulldoZing him into dIsregardiug it, is
neither right nor generous. The Demo.
cratic party passed the law and COM
mended it in its last national platform. If
it isn't satisfactory the party, and not the
President. must take the responsibility of
rendering it imperative.
But the party isn't going to repeal the
law, and neither Mr.. Watterson nor any
OF IN IaoI 10 tn wi - 70
do so. Every Democrat Of prominence
knows that the Democratic party
couldn't do more unpopular thing. The
people are in favor OF it, and the Presi-
dent isbut obey IN Z the voice OF the people
in enforcing it. The fact that he is en-
foreing it, will do more to give him
second term than any other thing con-
nected with his administration.
1t Is even doubtful If many of the Con-
gressmen who talk against it want it re-
pealed. If they really wish to serve their
constituents they ought not to want it
repealed. Congressman Kielner, OF In
diana, who refused a denomination, and
hence is In position to talk freely, said
in Washington few days ago that ne
had secured changes in all but one of the
1874 post offices in his district. and that in
every case OF a change he had made Bit
ter enemies. For nearly every office there
was number of applicants, and the dis
appointed ones, together with their rela-
tions and friends, became hostile to him.
In the course OF his remarks he
said: at is no wonder that
the House was charged with inefficiency
last session. The Democratic members
we're kept so constantly engaged in look
ing after places for constituents that they
had not time to give legislative subjects
consideration. know that l found 1t i'm
possible to keep the run OF current bust
ness. The greatest reform we could bring
about would be to free Senators and
Representatives from all responsibilities
as to the distribution of Offices"
If, as Congressman Kleiner says, the
reason the House did 80 little last session
was because the members were wor-
RED by office seekers, is it to be wondered
at that the people are in favor of civil SER
vice reform? Many of those who are
criticiZing the President for enforcing the
law were its strongest advocates. They
not only ignore their own arguments in
favor of it but they now lack the courage
to advise the Democratic party TO repeal
| it. Under the circumstances they can
hardly expect to have much influence
with the people.