Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-10-23
The Famous Endicott and Bennett
EsSE Order.


1t is a striking commentary on the Civil |
Service Reform progressions of the pres
ent National Administration. merely to
state the fact and the effect Of the Endi- |
cott-Bennett order prescribing women |
and children of Republican affiliations.
Nothing before like it ever took place in
the history of the lited States Govern
ment. II at first the Democratic news
papers were not inclined to speak Of it.
or represented it to be matter of not
much importance, partisan interest and
necessity finally Brought many of them
to endorse it. Though it goes farther
than the old Democratic and Marcy doc
trine, to the victor- belong the spoils,
meaning that it should be applied TO men
only, this CleyelandEndicott-Bennett
order receives the approval of those who
have been exalting the Civil Service vir-
tues OF the present Administration, and
even many Mugwumps are dumb, or still
commend the Buffalo politician a. a re-
former and a statesman. But there can
be no doubt that the cool, second thought
Of some Democratic editors il lead
ing them to see the folly and
the wrong of drawing political lines
among women and children. The Boston
Post is surely partisan enough aud often
goes beyond facts and reason in the sup
port of its political views. 1t evidently
comprehends that the American public
cannot be brought to sustain this unpar-
alleled proscriptive policy, and deems it
expedient TO call halt in time. Coming
from paper of such pronounced Demo
cratic record a. the Post, published near
the home Of the Mugwump Secretary of
War, its declaration that the order is an
''act of folly" is highly significant and
looks a. though it did not wish to be held
responsible for it in the dark days follow
| ing Democratic defeat. But the Boston
Democratic organ has no ground for its
apologize plea, that the order, through
an "act Of folly" does not include women
and children in it, scope. The text of
this remarkable official document speaks
! plainly its meaning, and affords no rea-
/ intended application. 1t expressly speci-
/ fies in so many words that this rule will
/ apply to women and children as well as to
men, and will be strictly enforced How
the rule operates in actual practice is
shown by the following instructive Incl
dent related by Mr.. j. z. Ellery of Rock
Island, H., in the indianapolis Journal:
/ My sister, the widow of wounded Off
Ger OF volunteers who serred faithfully dur
ing the War of the Rebellion, had employ
ment for herself and her two daughters at
one of our large arsenals until about six
months ago, when they were called before
the commanding officer and told that they
could not have any more work from the
Ordnance Department. When my sister
asked the reason he informed her that he had
learned that she and her daughters were Re
publicans. Are we discharged for that
reason onlyi she asked. He replied 1t is
perhaps improper for me to reply to that
question; | can only say that | am comply
ing with confidential instructions received
from the Chief of Ordnance
utuituuth tiit aulHplilN ltI
the shameful and summary dismissal of his
sister and her children. The astounding
and Infamous circular of the Mugwump
Secretary Of war--William c. Endicott-
was placed before him. If this is not
prescribing women and children for the
political opinions of their relatives, the
Democratic newspapers and Mugwump
converts will please inform the public
what is. This proScriptive manifesto j.
betting the corrupt government of Louis
Napoleon. or the rotten rule of a Roman
Dictator Yet despite this striking evil
dence of political decadence and utter dis
regard of professions by the chief actors
of the present Administration as illus
! trated in notorious facts of shameful pros
titution of the powers of the Government,
| Thomas W. liiggiuson, John +. Andrews.
Carl SChurz, and the memorable zone hun
dred citizens of Newton, Massachusetts"
blindly, strangely, continue to give Gro
yer Cleveland their support. The bright
er side of this dark picture is luminous
with the cheering evidences that the
American people are about to decide
against the authors of this unparalleled
partisan prescription.