Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-02-24
THE ADMINISTRATION AND CIVIL
SERVICE REFORM,

Mr.. Chauncey NJ. Depew, in his address
before the Chicago Union League Club,
on Wednesday, arraigned the President
upon his supposed ambition for a second
term. Mr.. Depew, while conceding hon
esty and directness of purpose as virtues of
Mr.. Cleveland in his political character,
charges him with evasion of the civil
service reform, and with ignorance of the
great issues before the country. To the
latter, Of course, Mr. Clevelands friends
Will reply that the charge has no greater
force than is given by the personal and
partisan opinion of Mr.. Depew While
that is probably entitled to as much weight
as the views of the Democratic leaders
since Mr. Depew is publicist of expert
ence, foresight and cultivated intelligence
concerning the former there can be made
no successful denial Mr. Cleveland took
office under express contract with the peo-
pie to enforce civil service reform regula-
lions. But he has permitted his party to
control IN that matter, with the result that
the reform has not, during his administra-
ton, made the slightest advancement. On
the contrary, retrogression has been its
rule. No less than seven bills antagonistic
to the reform, in one way or another, have
been introduced by Democratic Represent
atives, and two for the direct repeal of the
reform law; but Mr.. Cleveland has uttered
not one word of rebuke to these opponents
of the real thought of his party. Indeed,
the membership of the organization openly
assails the reform, and allows no opportu-
nlty to escape to sneer at and revile the
law and the principle involved. The
President went into office having the power
to carry out the reform in its integrity, and
to repel all assaults upon it. instead
of which, with apparent unconcern, he has
witnessed numberless attempts to bring it
into disrepute. If there were no other is
sues before the country, the dismal failure
of Mr.. Cleveland to stand true to civil sery
ice reform is alone sufficient upon which'to
arraign his ambition to succeed himself
The spoils of office, patronage, place, these
are the motors and the aims of bossism.
Remove them, and the most odious
incubus of American politics will be
shaken of. Has Mr. Cleveland manifested
since he entered into office disposition to
foster the effort of civil-service reformers
to attain these ends? His three years
record fails to disclose any evidence that
he has done so, but it does prove that his
administration has seriously crippled the
reform, while claiming to be its friend.
As the Oregonian well puts it, in speaking
Of Mr.. Conkling's rumored letter to Chair
man Jones, in which he treats Of Mr.
Cleveland's administration almost loosely
and particularly finds the civil-service
pretentions of the administration source
of infinite jest:
The civil service policy of the administration
has consisted in looking one way and rowing
another. OF course Republicans have no occa,
SION to complain of the fact that the public
service has been transferred to Democrats
hands. They had 10 right or reason to expect
anything else. But all men have right to crit
lcise and protest against hypocritical preten-
SONS ana false statements: and Mr.. Conkling,
therefore, very properly makes the civil-seryice
professions of the administration the subject of
pungent jest That there has been, virtually. a
clean sweep for the sake of party, and in most
cases Tor the sake of lubricating somebody's
political machine, is the fact that stands now to
view before the whole people. The considera-
ton governing the appointments has been
either the reward of partisan services in the
past or expected party service in the fuiure