New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-08-06
THE QUESTION OF PERSONAL HONESTY

Do Mr. Curtis, Mr.. Everett and their asso-
ciates in professional reforming realize what
IL means to the great majority of voters when
President Cleveland is recommended by per-
sons who profess to seek true reform and good
government; recommended in most fulsome
phrases as faithful public officer and gen.
uine reformer; and yet not the slightest at
tempt Is made by them to meet or to explain
the indictment which his own bad appoint
ments have framed against him? II would be
a very different matter il these would-be lead
ers declared their adherence to Mr. Cleveland
because, in spite Of incapacity as an Executive
and want Of sincerity as a reformer, he was
nevertheless the representative OF free trade.
But these pretended reformers continue to be-
SLAYER Mr. Cleveland with endless praises as
a reformer, though not one OF them dares to
discuss his record with candor.
The most obvious result of this state Of
things is that the pretended leaders Of Civil
Service reform come to be heartily despised by
honest citizens, and dcspised no longer rs
cranks or impracticablo theorists but as dis
honest men who Intentionally and persistently
lie to the public. That popular impression, II
it does the greatest injustice, can in no way be
removed by parrot-like reiteration of the claim
that the President has tried TO do his best.
For plain citizens arc not so Ignorant as to
overlook the fact that President Cleveland, in
cases with which all are familiar, has refused
to keep his most explicit pledges; has appoint
ed persons of vile character after investigation
had placed their record before him. and has re-
peatedly reappointed such persons after their
rejection for cause; has removed thousands of
excellent and faithful officials in order to pack
the public service with unscrupulon party
workers: has refused to enforce against Of
fensiye par;isans who were Democrats the rules
and the orders which he used as pretextS for
the dismissal Of Republican has retained close
about him men VIGOROUSLY corrupt, whose pres
ence in places Of trust is disgrace to the cOun-
try These and other facts The plain citizens
do not forget, and they know that Mr. Curtis
and his associates cannot forget them.
Yet the assertion is reiterated, day after day,
by pretended leaders in reform, that Mr.. Cleve-
land has been honest and faithful, and has
done what he could TO reform the public ser
vice. If these assertions convince the pubic
that those who make them are personally dis
honest, that is the least important consequence.
IL is far more important that honest citizens
are apt to believe Civil Service reform itself
dishonest sham.
If the men who profess to know most about
that reform. and to have it most at heart, find
in Mr.. Cleveland its fitting and worthy repre-
sentative, the plain voter is likely to Judge of
the so-called reform by this concrete illustra-
ton. According to Messrs. Curtis & Co.,
Apostles Of Reform, it means the organization
Of the entire Civil Service as Mr. Cleveland's
personal machine, openly defying his rules and
orders in its efforts to secure his nomination
and election, shameessly selecting trained
election swinders for places of profit because
they can help to defeat the will Of honest vot-
ers, accepting iail-brds drunkards, wife
heaters and backguards for places Of honor
because they are effective Democratic work
ers, elevating to the Supreme Bench an orig
inal secessionist and copperhead, rewardng
thousands of dsloyal men for their conspic-
nous disloyalty. and crowdihg the pubic SER
vice in Southern States with the very men who
have stolen electoral and Congressional votes
by fraud and crime. II Civil Service reform
means that, il is the most Infamous cheat Of
the age. Yet that is exactly what it does mean
if Mr. Curtis and his associates are to be be-
lieved when they call Mr.. Cleveland sincere
reformer.
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