The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-07-28

Coz. MCCLURE has taken up the cudgel
in defense of President Cleveland's late
Civil Service order against officials inter
fering in elections, and in the Times chucks
a few historical facts into the teeth OF the
Pennsylvania Democracy which, with his
comments and conclusion thereon, make
rather interesting reading at the opening
of the State campaign. says the cratic
Colonel in diagnosing the situation;
Where did the Pennsylvania Democ-
racv stand on the issue of a more elevated
civil service when il Was out of power
and struggling to gain control of the state
and National government? In lSS2, when
the Democrats were without power and
spoils and We're seeking to win the trust
Of the people, its State Convention made
the following emphatic d%elyerance IN
favor OF civil service reform:
We protest against what l. called the bOs> Sy-
TEN aud the plundering OF stockholders by a.
sessments OF money for political purposes rune
gfics arc ne pTupTfa y geo pLffV Peg ~ 4pts m
>lcB cft11i hDHsst, ofyubic, dHd gdshgW - Ne 01f-
saaaiea, quail aoaiioas gsat JegtsoH daiarod ioFe
he n~oguisifes for grioc
~, pfo,ca agalas ne apoas yaoa; i Is d proet
tuition III Hs gHoes NJ The DfDgde, ~ that they btts1e
he Rert penqaisfz # ne p~oila1aH.
The same platform declared the party
TO be against ~monopolies and in SYM
pathy with labor, seeking IT. protection
and in favor of the protection of the IN
dustrial interests of Pennsylvania, and
on that platform the Republicans tolerat-
ed the election of a Democratic Govern
or low a minority vote. But for the bold
attitude of the Democracy in favor of
civil service reform and of the protec-
ton of the industrial interests of Penn
s~vlyania." the Stewart revolt would have
been unknown and General Beaver would
have been elected Overt Governor Pattison
bv tens of thousands. In the following
wear. when the Democrats had elected a
Governor by a less vote than the Repub-
licans polled for their two candidates,
devotion to civil service reform was not
visible in the platform, but il declared in
favoro a Tariff that would " prevent I'm
equal burdens. encourage industrial inter
ests al home and afford Just compensation
to labor. but not to create or foster mo
nopolies." IL also declared in favor OF
the entire abolition of the present system
of internal taxation, as a measure of re-
lief demanded by the people from an
unnecessary and unequal burden. In
the platform of 1854 civil service reform
was again overlooked, but il declared for
"a Tariff for revenue so adjusted in
its application a. 10 prevent unequal bur
dens, encourage productive interests nj
home and afford just compensation 10
labor. but not 10 create or foster monop-
olies." and il also demanded the aboli-
ton of the internal revenue system Of
taxes
The Democratic leaders see a remote
chance to defeat General Beaver again
and elect a Democratic Governor; hut few
Of them seem 10 understand that they
viii have a remote chance 10 elect their
candidate only 10y presenting a better
platform and a better candidate than the
Republicans offer. ANY lowering of the
standard of civil service reform erected
BY the Democracy in 1852 or any evasion
OF the issue either in platform or candi-
date, viii decide the election of General
Beaver by tens of thousands. The only
inclination Of Republicans toward revolt
j. dictated by a desire TO break up the
spoils system, that the Democrats declar-
cd in 1882 to be "a prostitution of the
offices of the people 80 that they become
the mere p~erquisites of the politician" If
the Democrats shall plant their party
boldly on hat platform and place upon
tia candidate whose character and record
are a guarantee to the people that the
pledge to the people will be Slcredly
fulfilled, they will have a hopeful contest
for Governor: if not, not.
II = idle To assume that Wolfe viii 50
largely divide the Republican vote as to
elect any Democrat over Beaver. The
measure of Wolfe's strength will be de