The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1886-03-20
HON, JOHN H. OBERLY AS CIVIL SERVICE
COMMISSIONER.

When Honorable John II. Oberly was
appointed to the position of Supernter-
dent of the Indian School Service Of the
United States, many Of his warmest friends
were free TO express their disappointment
that place Of so small significance, and
whose objects were SO little known, should
have been rendered him by the President
The belief, not only among democrats of
his state and Of others adjoining illinois,
was that his unquestioned abilities, his
long and efficient party service and his pro.
found knowledge Of the needs of our gov
eminent and its political history entitled
him to a more conspicuous place under the
new administration, and one that would
bring him more prominently before the
people at large. This belief was strength
ened to certainty when it was observed
that there was a disposition on the part Of
President Cleveland to 20 to Illinois Tor
men to fiji many Of the leading offices
within his gilt.
The appearance in November last, Of Mr.
Oberly's annual report upon the Indian
school service of the country fully justified
every statement made by his friends AMI
personal admirers that he was possessed of "A
mind that fitted him for Il more important
lace and such knowledge Of the theory
and philosophy of popular government rs
ha mis-
some branch of the public service that was
more pressing in its needs than Indian edu-
cation Having taknn hold of an indefinite
and underlined educational system, providtd
for and controlled by vague and loosely con
struCted Statutes and having brought from
it order and efficiency, the President vol
UNFAIRLY, has seen tit to show his approval
of Mr.. Oberly's labors and his personal
confidence in and esteem for his worth as a
public officer and man by rendering 10
him, unsought and unasked, the position OF
civil service commissioner, in the stead OF
Commissioner Trenholm, appointed comp
troller % the currency.
Aside from the pleasure Mr.. Oberly's
friends take in having the President honor
him in so pleasant Il manner, they feel, As
does the democratic party at large, that the
appointment Of him to his new position is
most fortunate for President Cleyeland's
administration, as well rs for the cause of
civil service reform. 1t cannot be dis
guised that the disposal IF the offices is
the question that has, throughout the year
President Cleveland has conducted public |
afr tirs, caused the administration more
anxiety and dillisulty than any other pre- |
scented to it for consideration A thorough |
believer in the public good that would |
proceed from proper application Of q E
civil service acts on our statute books, the |
President has been in many ways ham. |
pered by much of the democratic press !
aud by large numbers of democrats, who, |
priding themselves upon their Jacksonian /
training and ,JefIersonian simplicity have /
the course of President Cloye |
lands term of office the democratic party
II the civil service measures are properly
ana honestly enforced Such men, thor.
,ughly honest in their conviction and crit.
'isms, fail 10 appreciate that since the day
hat the doctrine of jackson was popular
md rigidly enforced changes have been
wrought in public opinion and government
needs.
Their failure to see and appreciate this
act is causing themselves much trouble
md useless annoyance TO the President.
The great trouble with such democrats is a
allure 10 understand President Cleyeland's
ttitude upon the question on which they
AXE issue with him. They fail 10 grtsp
he fact that his idea of discharge of the
functions of government is purely busi-