The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1888-12-06
NEAR THE THRONE.
Significant Words Of Harrison's Private
Secretary. The Clean Sweepers Cau-
toned Not to be too Sanguiae.


toned Not to be too Sanguiae.
INDIANAPOLIS, Nov. 27.-Upon on
after another of the questions of execu
tive policy the Indianapolis Journal
whose editorial writer is President
Elect Harrisen's priuate secretary
sounds warning and suggestive note
In the, utter silence of General Harri
son upon all these matters there can be
no more significant indication of the
trend of his opinions than the edito
rials Mr.. Halford writes. He has been
Gen. Harrison's companion and politi-
cal ally. In all his canvass for the
governorship, senatorship and presi-
dency, Halford has been in his coun-
sells and at his elbow. The doctrines
of Halford upon such subjects as civil
service reform and solid south are set
great store by here, and Office holders
and Office seekers read the utterances
in the Journal, "Ciyil Service Reform
and a Clean Sweep" with complacen-
cy or discomfort, according to whether
they were in or wanted to be.
|. "It wasy' the article says, 'the doc
trine and practice Of to the victors be-
long the spoils, which created a neces-
sity for civil service reform. The move
ment did not come any too sooa> And,
if held to its original purpose, it cannot
be too earnestly prosecuted for the vel
fare of the country. The fact that it
has been made more or less odious by
hypocritical professions and Peck
sniffian pretenses is not the fault.
of the movement itself. The
movement is essentially right.
Civil service reform in its true sense,
that is, in the sense introducing an
element of stability into the civil ser
vice, and conducting it on basis of
merit and efficiency rather than Of
mere political spoils-civn service re-
form in this sense has come to stay,
and will move forward rather than
backward.
''The republican clean sweepers
should not be unreasonable in their de-
mands on the next administration.
The democrats made that mistake four
years ago, and republicans should profit
by their example. The more unrea-
sonable the demands and expectations
in this regard the greater the inability
to disappointment, and of its proving a
source of party weakness. Those who
make it forget that therepub ublcan party
is fully committed by It's platform
pledges to civil service reform, and that
Gen. Harrison has declared himself in
full sympathy with it. They forget
that the clean sweeping business was
one of the main counts in the indict-
ment against the Democratic party,
and the consequent Generalization of
the public service one Of the principal
causes of its defeat. If there is any
honesty IN politics, the Republican
party is pledged to use discrimination
in removals from Office as well as in
appointments thereto, and to use both
primarily for the public welfare rather
than for supposed party advantages.
Above all, our friends, the clean sweep
ers, forget that Gen. Harrison will be
surrounded by some restrictions in the
matter of removals and appointments
which he cannot disregard. The civil
service law must be obeyed. It has
not been altogether ignored by the
present administration, and it would
be scandalous for Republican admin
not to give it further con-
. After remarking what officers are
and are not included under the civil
service law, the writer concludes
'sFrom what has been said it is evident
there are many things to be taken into
account in connection with the demand
of the clean sweepers, and if they have
the welfare of the party at heart, they
will recognize the necessary limitation
Of the situation. One thing they can
rest assured of, the President-Elect is
as old and earnest a Republican as any |
Of them, and can be depended on to do |
the very best thing for the party, as
we'll as for the country. Il
A COLUMBIA SENSATION.