Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1886-11-04
THE PARTY OF MORALITY.

Champion OF the Spells Policy In 1855
and Their virtuous Indignation Oven
Present Democratic Abuses
In 1884 ''the 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
doubts might be left as to the attitude
on this question which Mr.. Blaine &C.
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 a long elec-
tioneering tour, which consumed
several weeks and carried him over
large part of the country. He took
as political attendant, to render him
all manner of personal service, the
postmaster of 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 virulent-
ly assaulted 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 1S80-when this Commits
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 did Mr.. Blaine thus prosti-
tute the 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
notorious that black list was made of
clerks at Washington who failed to
display proper activity in the cam
paign and who were to be decapitatedi
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-
tempt 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. mo-
Republican organ raised even faint
protest against Mr.. Blaine's conduct
That even the mildest abuse of pow
er by a 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 81
lence under the performances, of their
own party and their own candidate two
years ago show a rare quality of inn
pudence in their criticisms upon pem-
ocratic officials under Mr.. Cleveland
for less fragrant offenses now. The
people have keen scent for 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 best
exponent of their party in 188S.-M
Y. EOst