The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1888-01-18
Sham Reform.

D1duutT Ill WIlCl lut IClOlih DlCol-
dent" has fulfilled his declaration that
removals from public service will only
be made for cause and that federal
office-hoders will not be permitted to
influence nominating conventions and
interfere in elections. He referred to
the presidents professed adherence to
civil service reform principles in his
letter of acceptance, and said he never
believed in the sincerity of this pledge,
because if the democratic party be-
lieved in any one thing more than
another it was in the doctrine that " to
the victors belong the spoils." To
demonstrate the insincerity and hum
buggery of the reform pretenses of the
administration the senator presented
the following facts: "The official re-
ports of the various departments show,
for instance, up to June II of last year,
that out of 1919 presidential post
masters there had been 1000 changes;
out of $1,000 fourth class postmasters
there had been 10000 changes; out of
thirty-three foreign ministers, thirty
two changes; out of twenty-one secre
taries of legation, sixteen changes; out
of III collectors of customs, 100 changes;
thirty-two surveyors of customs were
all changed; not one of the six naval
officers remained of thirty-six APP
praisers but two remained; of thirteen
superintendent of minis and assay
offices there had been eleven changes;
the nine assistant appraisers were all
gone; of the eighty-five collectors of
internal revenue, eighty-four had gone
in June last; of the eleven inspectors
of steam vessels, eight were gone; of
seventy district attorneys Ga semi
judicial office, sixty-fve were changed;
of thirty territorial judges Judicial
oflices), twenty-five were changed; of
territorial governors, all were gone; of
eighteen pension agents but three re-
NAMED; every one of the sixteen
encouragement were gone; of 224
local land officers, 100 were gone; of
ten Indian inspectors and special agents
but one remained; of fifty-nine Indian
agents but eight, and of eighty-three
special agents of the general land Office
but four remained"
Up to the time referred to the demo-
cratic administration had been but a
1itt1a w in
the senator hopes to have in few
days further table showing that the
conquering march of the democratic
party in pursuit of office has continued
down to the beginning of this year.
The country did not appreciate that,
under the banner of reform, with its
watch-word written on every banner,
these removals and changes in office
have been going on at a rate uneX-
ampled in any other administration in
American history. The value of the
cry of "civil service reform " has
ceased to be of any estimation in the
minds of the leaders of the democratic
party. This year the land would rock
with efforts on behalf of presidential
candidates. He affirmed his belief and
ventured the prediction that no means
and no appliances that had been in
years past used by the democratic
party would fail to be resorted to this
year. Intimidation, outrage and MUIR
der, if needed, would open again the
bloody grave in which would be en-
tombed anew the free ballot of the
South. There was no device, no plan
of campaign ever resorted to by the
democratic party in the days of Polk,
Pierce and Buchanan that would not
be resorted to this year. The old
means and appliances and practices of
the democratic party would all be re-
sorted to in its desperate attempt to re-
tain its hold of the national govern
ment. In the meantime where would
the independents be?
We are of the opinion that all {" in
dependents " who abhor the republican
policy of protection and who will not
accept the candidacy of Mr.. Blaine
Mr.. Sherman or any other republican
on that platform, will be found voting
for Mr.. Cleveland again next fall. We
believe that the great majority of the
so-called independents have left the
republican party to stay. Senator Hale
has fully shown up the presidents
hypocrisy in relation to civil service
reform, but he is not bigger hypocritt
on this question than the mugwumps
They are birds of feather.
Commercial Union.