The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1886-11-04
THE PARTY OF MORALITY.

Attitude of the Republicans Toward tho
Champion OF the spoils Policy In 1884
and Their yirtuous Indignation Over
Present Democratic Abuses
In 1884 'sthe party of moral ideas"
appealed for popular support on the
ground that it was the only party
which could be trusted to enforce Civ.
il-Service reform. In order that no
doubt might be left as to the attitude
on this question which Mr.. Blaine oc-
cupied, he proceeded to give the coun-
try an object-lesson as to the relation
which members of the civil service
should hold towards party politics. He
started from his home on long cleo
tioneering tour, which consumed
several weeks and carried him over
large part OF the country. He took
with him ON this long tour,
as political attendant, to render him
all manner of personal service, the
postmaster cf Augusta, who was paid
large salary by taxes raised from the
people of both parties for discharging
the duties of that Office. He called to
his aid the United States District At
torney for the Eastern district of New
York, and the occupant of that judicial
branch of the Federal Government
abandoned his post to deliver series of
stump speeches, in which he yirulent-
ly assailed the man who was then like
ly soon to be, and who shortly after
really was, his official superior as head
of the Government. He commended
the zeal of the Commissioner of PEN
sions-a man who had been appointed
by Garfield three years before solely on
the ground of partisan service in the
campaign of 1880-when this Commis-
sioner left bureau in which the work
was shamefully behindhand. and de-
voted weeks which he owed to the
public service to the management of
the Republican campaign in Ohio, then
an October State.
Not only cid Mr. Blaine thus prosti-
tute tho civil service of the whole peo-
pie to the advantage of one political
party, but it was notorious that such
partisan abuse of official position was
the surest road to his favor should he
become President. The conduct of
Postmaster Manley, District Attorney
Tenney and Pension Commissioner
Dudley in the fall of 1884 should have
insured their prompt dismissal, yet
every body knew that they not only in
Cured no danger of that just penalty
in case of Mr. Blaine's election, but,
on the contrary, were taking the best
course to secure their promotion to
higher positions. Moreover, it was
made known to all Federal officials
that it was at the risk of losing their
places in case of Republican success
that they refused to. do any partisan
service required of them, and it was
no. o.orious that black list was made Of
clerks at Washington who failed to
display proper activity in the cam
paign and who were to be decapitated
as soon as Mr.. Blaine came in.
In the autumn of 1886 it seems al
| most incredible that in the autumn of
1884 great political party presented a
| candidate for the Presidency who made
such open proclamation of his con-
| temp: for Civil-Service reform and of
| his purpose to "have no nonsense !"
about his Administration in case of his
election. If Federal officials under a
Democratic President were to be guilty
| of such shameless abuse of official trust
now, the Administration could not
stand up for day under the volume
| of just criticism which the misconduct
would provoke. Yet two years ago no
Republican organ raised even faint
protest against Mr.. Blainc's conduct.
That even the mildest abuse of pow
er by Federal official is now visited
with public censure constitutes the
surest proof that reform ideas have
made wonderful progress. But the
Republican newspapers which kept si-
lence under the performances of their
own party and their own candidate two
years ago show rare quality of i'm
pudence in their criticisms upon DEM
ocratic officials under Mr.. Cleveland
for less fragrant offenses now. The
people have keen scentfor hypocrisy,
and they rate at its proper value the
present virtuous attitude on the ques'
ton of interference in politics by Fed
eral officials of Republican organs
which sustained the champion of the
spoils policy in 1884 and are now clam
oring for his denomination as the bes
exponent of their party in 1S8S.-N
Y. Post.
The Tribune publishes "scath
ing review of General Black, th'
Commissioner of Pensions, by Colone
! Dudley, his predecessor. Colonel Dud
/ lev complains that the Office as nov
: conducted is Every little else than
, political machine" Colonel Dudley
It will be remembered, is the man VIII,
+ forced President Garfield to discharg
, a most efficient Commissioner In orde
r to give him the place, because he ,has
\ carried Indiana for the Republicans il
$ 1880. and who distinguished himself i
I ~. .o,,,oo;rrp of 1874 hv aha ndouin