Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-03-11
The Task of Senators ingalls, and
Harrison.

Harrison.
Senators ingalls, and Harrison, il is
expected. Will try to show, during the
debate now in progress in the seua'e, that
the President, in making appointments,
has nor been guided by civil service re-
form principles. 1ley have been selected
for this work doubtless because OF their
disposition and ability to say disagreeable
/ things, and their willingness to attempt
/ 10 mabe the better side seem the worse, in
political matters, regardless OF facts.
There is no doubt that the President
has made some appointments which can
not be defended, but the number IS not
large. There is no reason TO think that
the President wants them defended. There
Is no instance on record where he has
knowingly made bad appointment. The
mistakes that be has made have been
wholly due to the misleading information
furnished by those In whom he placed
confidence and upon whom he had right
TO rely. Who is there who wants to
blame himg Why not place the blame
where it belongs? If he should insist
upon putting unfit men into Office 1t
would then be just TO condemn him. 1t
is not possible for him to know the COM
plete record Of every APP licant tor Office.
However searching an Investigation ne
might make into an applicants fitness
be would not always be able TO get the
truth. The people will not lose confidence
in him for making mistake with respect
10 appointments once in awhile, provided
be shows a willingness to correct mis- mis-
taxes. And has he not shown such will
ingness?
1t is doubtful if any former President
was 80 solicitous about filing the offices
with honest and competent men, and it is
safe to say that no former President made
30 few bad appointments. 1t must not be
forgotten that every appointment has
been subjected to extraordinary scrutiny,
not only because OF the desire Of the Re-
publican party to bring the administra-
tion into disrepute, but, also, because Of
the Presidents announcement tn at he
would appoint men to office becaus Of
their fitness, and not because they had
performed party services. This announce
ment aroused the hostility OF all advo-
cafes Of the spOils system, and no vulner-
able appointment has escaped their at
tacks.
Neither Senator Ingalls, nor Senator
Harrison can say anything against the
President so far as his appointments are
concerned that will do him harm. Indeed,
their attacks Will, in all probability, do
him good, because they Will force bis
friends to come to his defense and COM
pare his record with that OF some of his
immediate predecessors. Is there any
one who DOUBTS that a comparison of that
kind would be to his advantage? 1t
would show those who have been disposed
to listen without protest to attacks upon
him that they have done him an Injustice
in seeming to assent to the charge that be
has been untrue to the trust repOsed in
him. Whatever may be the outcome Of
the debate on the question of the right Of
the Senate to the information upon which
removals are based, it is certain thai any
effort to show that the President has not
steadily kept the reform idea in view, in
making his appointments, will be q fail