Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-09-20

Time makes strange revolutions in the
attitude and language of men, unless they
are very strongly grounded in good sense
and held firmly in place by an inhexibe
conscience. Newspapers with the same
editors and publishers, even within n
brief space of few years, will sometimes
make singular evolutions, hardly in accord
with Darwinian laws. IIarper's Weekly
has worked itself into queer fix as to
principles and men, somewhat analogous
to that of Cleveland when he suddenly
swung from the English subserviency of
the Bayard treaty to the extreme Retalia-
ton message. II is well to notice the
views once advanced by that heightened
Mugwump journal in contrast with the
recent utterance of the same paper.
In 1881, speaking of Secretary Blaine's
Panama Canal letter, Harper's Weekly
said
1.-THE letter is temperate and dignfed
document, stating our position with blended
spirit and courtesy and decision. 1t is CAPT
tally adapted To meet any such proposition as
. joint European protectorate, had it been
advanced. But whether the project was
merely n tentative rumor or a design serious
ly entertained the letter has sutfced TO ar
rest it, and it is another illustration of the
skill and ability with which Mr.. Blaine has
managed the department contded to him.
He has what may be called the American in
stinct, an essential quality in our Foreign
Secretary, yet restrained in its official ex
preston by an equally American tact and
good sense"
About the same date, the Weekly COM
mends the remarks of Senator Warner
Miller, who In his address before the Re-
publican State Convention took occasion
to say;
another question has agitated the Ameri-
can people, and has been eagerly discussed,
and that is the question of civil service re-
form. Applause. BY the logic of events
that question of events has passed out of the
category of discussion. Ii is no longer a
question whether we shall have a reformed
service which shall see to il that minor offices
are properly flied by competent men, and in
such way as to embarass neither the Execu-
tive nor the Legislative branches. | say that
question has passed out of the realm of dis
cussion. 1t is now question of how it shall
be best done. Applause That is the only
question. The Republican party has made
the only record upon that that has been
made. We owe it to the old Democratic
party under jackson that TO the victor be-
longs the spoils, and whatever of advance
has been made yet upon this question has
been made by the Republican party. II is
for the Republican party TO take up this
question and properly settle and adjust it. 1t
may require time to do it; il may require ex-
perimental legislation; but the people re-
quire that something shalt honestly be done,
80 that when we may number 100 ,000, 200 of
people, as we shall do by the end of this cen
fury, the people shall still be free, and that
this shall not degenerate into a nation of
oficeholders and e-seekers." Applause.
Today Warner Miller is the Republican
candidate for Governor and Benjamin
Harrison the Republican nominee for
President. both standing on strong
civil service plank and sustained
by an excellent civil service record,
while Cleveland has VIGOROUSLY
violated his civil service pledges by one
of the most proscriptive partisan Ad-
ministrations this country ever knew.
Yet this same Harpcr's Weekly is now
supporting Cleveland for reelection,
though 1t may oppose David Hill. whom
1t might just as consistently support as
the Presidential spokesman. The only |
real difference between Cleveland and
Hill is that the former makes loud pro-
fessions which he disregards with shame
less effrontery, while Governor Dave Hill
Is an open and avowed follower of Jack |
son and Marcy, who maintained that to
the victors belong the offices which the
appointing power can reach. The man who
can support Cleveland can have no moral |
scruples to prevent his voting for Hill.