Middletown transcript., 1888-10-25

vote for General HARRISON. Or even
if he saw only the offence, and had no
other object in the election than to re-
buke the President. But if he takes a
general view of a complex situation,
and conscious that an election offers
but a choice between courses not
wholly consistent or satisfactory, aims
to do the best practicable thing, his
vote this year will be determined by
his view of the true method of reduc-
| iug the surplus. His vote for Mr..
CLEVELAND, therefore, would mean
not that he approves the Presidents
course in regard to the civil service.
| On the contrary, he will frankly admit
and condemn what seem to hitn viola
tions of sound principle. Nor will it
mean that great advance Of reform
is to be expected from President
whose party is unfriendly to it. 1t
will mean that in the actual situation
very much more is to be gained for a
sound public policy and for political
progress by Mr.. CLEvELAND's elec
tion than by that of his opponent.
This is, however, not partisan but an
independent view."
In such light does the Editor OF
Harper's Weekly view the situation,
from the same hypothesis to how diff
ferent a conclusion.
Pregnant with reason and sound com.
mon sense in contra distinction to
Mr.. LEAFS language is the following ::
" Neither party as experience proves
- - is Civil Service Re-
form party. 1t is therefore useless
to expect from a President elected by
one of the parties, uniform and con-
sistent action on the subject" 1t is a
well known fact as is cited by Mr..
Curtis, that the issue, clearly drawn, is
Tariff Reform and not Civil Service
Reform. We believe the Republican
party to be unsound OH this question
more so than on the other. If therefore
there is any hope of remedying the
evils of either, it is with that party
that has inaugurated at least the
one, and emphatically promised the
other. A vote against Cleveland is
susceptible of but one of two inferences,
if by the misguided Civil Service Re-
former it must be, as quoted above, as a
rebuke; if by any other, then by a
protectionist, and against Tariff
Reform. This is the whole matter
in nutshell and this is where we be-
lieve Mr.. Lea, and any who follow his
leadership place themselves.
Lastly we would put question,
relevant we think in connection with
the above, to those Independents who
may, in pondering the Reform ques-
tion, forget others not less important.
Is the assured domination of Blaineism,
in the supposition that Harrison be
elected, nothing to them now
and so great four years since ?
Let them consider that as
one of the component parts of their
final decision.
Refe rring to what may be consid-
cred Mr.. LEAFS strongest point,
namely the apparent inconsistent
cies existing between any and
all of President Cleveland's pro-
mises, made prior to, and since his
election and his official acts as in
stanced more especially in removals,
we remark casually that it would be an
easy task to disprove both the charge,
inferentially made, of party favoritism,
and the more open one of bad faith,
were the necessity fol- such action,
in our opinion, imminent; but we do
not think it is; still we will mention in
passing, that we are aware of several
instances, where changes have been
made. that were bitterly denounced
at the time by both Independents and
Republicans, but that to-day are re-
cognized and admitted by the same
men to have been the best and wisest,
for the interest of the public.
In the above remarks we may have
appeared to some in the role of an ap-
ologist for the President; if so, we are
wrongly viewed. Acknowledging frank
ly that things are not as we would
wish, and recognizing the assistance
given, not to the Democratic party
alone, but to any party, by the inde-
pendent voter, we simply desired to
sho the alternative, believing it much
worse than the present evil, and with
view to retaining the good wishes of
our friends of '84. The present ad-
ministration may like all previous, or
future ones, need some corrective, let
it be either of friendly criticism or re-
buke, and as the executive head Of our
government, and the Democratic party,
our President may by association come
in for share; but as man, single in
purpose to elevate and purify our pub
lie service, his record stands out as
better eulogy than any we can offer,
nor do we see the least reason for
apology. ED. TRANSCRIPT.
Ringing Noises
In the ears, sometimes a roaring buz-
zing sound are caused by catarrh, that
exceedingly disagreeable and very
common disease. Loss of smell or
haa..ir,cr alsn rocI,lE