Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1886-11-18
Results of Reform" :"

For nearly two years Democrats have
been turning Republicans out of office
on various false pretences, or on charges
ofsOffensive partisansbip. and putting in
meu who were almost all especially of
fensive partisans, and many of whom
were Jail birds or notOriOusly corrupt
persons. The true reason and the only
reason for these changes was that they
were expected to strengthen and in
trench the party in power. The old
fashioned notion that political workers
in official positions can shape and sway
public opinion is at the bottom of these
changes; the result is a test of the cer-
rectness of that opinion.
1t was noticed long ago that the pow
or of patronage was used more sweep>
ingly for partisan ends in Virginia and
Indiana than in any other States. The
late Vice President Hendricks and Sen
ator voorhees, we're in accord about that
one thing in Indiana, and the anxiety of
Democrats to break down Malone led
to the expulsion of almost all Republi-
Cans from office in Virginia before the
old. Virginia and Indiana are the two
States in which the Democratic party
mas sustained the most humlllatlng de-
feat. Both give larger maJOritieS for
Republican candidates than were given
two years ago for President Cleveland.
Virginia, Southern State, elects ma
jurity of Republican Congressman. ln-
diana elects Republican State ticket
by larger majority than it gave to
Cleveland, and majority of Republican
Congressman. So far as the returns go,
a complete political revolution has been
made in these States against the party
which intrenched itself in power by a
vigorous use of patronage. In Ohio,
Wisconsin and Michigan. especial efforts
were made to debauch public opinion
and to overcome Republican influence by
the use of patronage, and these have re-
suited in greatly increased Republican
majorities. In Connecticut, especial eff
forts to retain the advantage which the
Democrats had in 1884 have resulted in
transferring great many votes to the
Republican side, though the Democrats
gain one Congressman. In New York
aud New Jersey, similar efforts to
strengthen the Democratic party by the
use of patronage have resulted in a
heavy loss in Congressman. though the
Third party votes leave the Republicans
still in minority.
These results exactly accord with Re-
publican predictions. President Cleve.
land was warned that the removal of
Republicans from Office would only set
free to work against his party an army
of effective men. He was warned that
an attempt to divide the spoils among
the hungry Democrats would only d.
vide his party, set factions against each
other, cripple the active men selected
for office, and anger or disgust the active
men not selected. All these things the
President himself saw at first, and he
promised to be genuine Civil Service
Reformer. But he has not the fidelity
of character to withstand his party, and
has made his promises and professions
ridiculous by sweeping change of Of
ficials for partisan reasons only, and the
consequences are exactly what Republi-
cans predicted. He has divided and
weakened his friends, and united and
strengthened his foes.-N, Y. Tribune.