The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1888-08-03
A RouslNc ADDRESS.

Private" Joe FiGer. the Republican Can
dislste for the GOvernorship Of lllinOls
Delivers y Grand speech ut Springfield
lL.-Clcveland and His Weak Civil-Serv.
ice Reform Given q Bitter Scoring.
We are now entering upon political canvass
he results OF which must prove Of high and
.asting importance to the people of this Nation
long established American policy, vital TO oil
interests. is on trial before the voters on the
one hand. while upon the other an Administers
ton that gained power under q mask of reform
and by the most solemn promises Of Jefier
.nnian virtue Is TO receive attention in response
to the demand that its doings and pretensi0na
shall be ratified in November.
The result Of this campaign must also 60 q
long way .oward determining whether any
effort In the future is to be made to enforce the
provisions Of the constitution relating to sui.
frage in the South or whether We are to SIT
down helplessly and allow political party 70
enjoy the perpetual fruits Of violence and
fraud. Such questions may well receive the
candid consideration Of candid men. This cam
paign is. hope, to be battle Of opposing
principles, and not . petty fusilade OF personal
detraction and calumny.
Republican ideas have conquered a continent,
and we behold to-day the Democratic party
the old, Incorporating enemy OF Republican
ism. the party that contested with bludgeon,
steel and calumny each step OF the splendid
up to the pure and lofty craftsmanship Of Ar.
thur-crawling under the big tent Of Repub-
licapism. and saying: 20. yes, we agree to all
this and always did, but II you will give US a
chance we would like to reform the civil serv-
ice"
After referring to the fact that Mr.. Cleve-
land was elected upon his repeated assertion
that he would. IL elected, reform the civil serv-
ice. the speaker continued:
"a int IA p n netr n n n
The manner in which these pledges OF Civil
Service Reform have been kept. I shall not re-
sort to the long columns of statistics which are
at hand to show the exact percentage Of re-
movals and appointments which Mr.. Cleveland
has made in three years, moved thereto by
partisan and personal motives. Happily with
men who have been living in this country the last
three years and have kept their eyes and ears
open, no tedious statistics are needed to prove
the recreancy Of this Administration to its
promises. Scarcely had the ink with which the
President wrote his reform inaugural became
dry before the axe of the Administration heads
man began to be wet with the blood Of Re-
publican oficials whose efficiency and faithful
ness were unquessioned, and 1no were slain
solely that their place. uaight bs flied by
Democrats. 1t was only necessary to look and
listen for q single day to be convinced Of the
hollowpees Cf oil the pretenses of the Presi.
dent concerning the civil service, and to know
these pretenscs were put forth for the dishon,
est purpose OF securing votes from the men
formerly afniiating with the Republican party
who really did not believe civil service questions
to be more important than any others. Even
private character was not safe from assassina-
ton at the hands OF the Executive head Of the
Nation in the search for causes. = which would
help to make partisan acts seem to accord with
ante election professions; and We find this
same Executive - the time approached when
he should In all honesty respect his own dec.
laration Of the great danger lying in Presi.
dents personal ambition to renominate him.
self not only setting ut naught his own argu-
nent. but Gliding down from his high pedestal
into the camp Of the party spokesman, where
he has been wholly invisible to the long.
ing eye Of the ''mugwump" for 10! these
many months. All the alleged abuses
which before election furnished the texts
of Mr.. Cloveland's various homilies on re-
form now hold unlimited sway under his i'd
mnistraticn. Pernicious activity by onicials
in party MANAGEMENT: the levyine Of assess
ments upon Government employees for cam
paiHn purposes; the removal OF faithful oflcials
TO make places with which to reward ignorant
party helpers-all these vices and many moro
about which Mr.. Cleveland theor zed SO well
that he won the admiration of Mr.. Curtis and
Mr.. Schurz, have held unbounded sway 1t Wash
ington for the last two years, and that too,
sonal pledges, hut in violation Of the statute
OF the land. o. reform. thou art jewel, but
thou art not Democrat
But are you not more than glad, fell
low citizens, that the Gays OF the civil
service masquerade have drawn to .
closer Mr.. Cleveland makes much better
figure as an avowed spokesman than he
ever did in the guise OF reformer. In the
height OF the exhibition he resembled a hip
popotamus trying to balance on slack rope.
All is now changed. The last "mugwump" has
disappeared down the back stairs Of the White
House. followed closely by the masterful boot
OF the Democratic "bouncer,' and henceforth
there is to be none to modest the President or
to make him afraid. It is to De hoped we shall
in future have less of hypocrisy, whatever may
be the fate Of the civil service.
In the face Of the fact that the Democratic
Administration is distinguished for its i'm.
becility and for its pledges to the people un-
fulfilled Mr.. Cleveland IS accounted by his
party as great leader. To he the leader IN a
party in which man is accounted wise by
reason OF what he has not written or said
reformer by reason of what he has not reformed,
and patriot by reason Of the sacrifices he
has not made, is, in my judgment, rather an
easy position.
Taking up the tariff question. Mr. Fifer said:
predict that the Democratic party long be-
fore the close OF this campaign will be chiefly
exercised to convince the voters. and particu-
1ariy the mechanics and wage-workers of the
country. that they are not free-trade party
ana are not even infected with the kindred and
worse heresy OF tariff FOR revenue only.
out the issue upon this question is now made
ana denned far beyond the power OF any
Democrat to obscure and befuddle il.
Upon this circumstance the country is to be
congratulated. Time was when the Democratic
patty, which lies principally in the South. hated
tne manufacturing industries Of the North and
mad Inc honesty and courage TO say SO boldly.
Away PACK IN the sixties the Democratic party
saio IN terms that IT was forfree trade. As
iA'e as ie'e II SAID IN terms that tarin should
De LOT revenue only In 1850 and 1884 1t pre-