Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-02-21

and tear or fn9 contest.
THE HAppIesr MAN IN THE COUNTRY.
1t is an open secret that he accepted
the Democratic nomination last summer
with genuine reluctance and after earnest
efforts TO escape it. HIS supposed polit-
zeal aspirations for the future do not
exist There Ia no rivalry on his part
betveeu himself aud anybody else. IT
am in no ones way" he says, II shall
be delighted to be relieved OF the cares
OF the Presidency. Ga the. 4sh OF March
next, on purely personal grounds, there
will be no happier man in the United
States."
srEAD7Asr FOR CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
With raterence to the civil service sys-
tenn be ia as fl IN and decided as in his
views on the tariff question. He believes
that civil service reform has opme to
stay. He has treated it solely az prBc.
teal question, and has been much ham,
pered and embarrassed by the vagsries of
sentimental reformsrs and theorists who
have bsen continually urging him to do
this or that for mere sensa ional efect,
which he did not regard as judicious. He
has endeavored to give the civil service
scheme fair trial, aud expire ,sss himself
as fully satisfied with the results, There
may be difer noes of opinion rs to de-
tails, but he thinks the examinations are,
on the whole, about the best test Of merit
that eau be devised. It is certainly far
preferable to the spoils system, and he
has no fOar that it will degenerate Into o
mere bureaucracy.
WEDDING OUT INopsIPETENTB,
The worst type OF bureaucracy was de-
velopsd under tine spOils system Of former
administrations. When Mr.. Cleveland
came into Office he found the departments
tillsd with incOmpstents who had found
permanent iodgment there through favor
itism. His dOnbt is whether suffi ,ient
clearing ont has been done to subserye
the best interests of the government and
to give wider scope for civil service re-
form through it's methods in filling tho
places OF inefficient with capable men.
DISSATISFIED REPUBLICANS.
The President recognizes fully the
feeling of the great mass of Democratic
olfise.ssekers who expected place and
recognition, and the disappointment and
irritation which resulted from his in
ability to satisfy them. II IL a mstter of
deep regret to him that he could not do
SO, but lie had higher public duty to
4 perform, tina publication and elevation
OF the public service and the elimination
! from party politics as far as possible of
the degIsding use of patronage" an
evil which had grown TO gigantic proper
tions and was steadily increasing.
BETTER DEMOCRAT THAN HIS CRITICS.
He Is very earnest in advocacy of the
civil service system as being thoroughly
practical reform and in no sense uudem-
ocrstic. Ee thinks the work OF his ad-
ministration has fixed this reform as q
! permanent feature OF our system of gov.
eminent and that no party can AFFORD to
antagonize it openly. So far as his own
status in the party as affected by his at.
titude on the civil services question is
concerned, it may be said that ne regards
himself as better Democrat than many
Of his critics.
THE ADMINISTRATION AND THE SOUTH.
The President is especially Rratihad g,
the effect OF his administration on the
prosperity and happiness Of the southern
people, both black aud white. He be.
lieves in Masking no distinction between
any OF tbs sections, rnd 10 dspFecste'
strongly the revival If GnjnOAitles whici
we've sapr .lsG. ~ u dead aad buried
He is satisfied that the race problem Cal
be worked out by the people Of that sec
ton without outside interference.
HARMONY IN THE CABINET.
He speaks in terms of grateful apprs
ciRtion OF tho hearty aud united supper
accorded him By the members OF hi
cabinet. The administration, it must b
conceded, will 60 down in history a
unique in the fact that all its member
have pulled together from beginning &
: end, AID no personal i9alousies or re
sentiments have marred the harmony o
its DELIBERATIONS. Every member of /
has been hard-workiEg, energetic an
, wholly devoted to the public Interests
and every department presents an engi
: able record o. important reforms On
economics accomplished and OF sabstaI
tisl results in TIM effort to promote ia
pubic good. No breath OF scandal q
tsint OF corruption has attached TO On
branch Of TIE public service.
GIVE HAVE NOTHING TO HIDE"
), In view Of tns jo5b-rY and schemin
: thet permeatel every department Of th
= pu lie Hetvica rnGtr former regimes, OF
whion seemed 70 have become perm
! nent feature Of official lie in Ye6hln.
ton. no niorc honorable epitaph ccult I
1 applied to the administration now dray
ing 10 cioSo than tie emphatic dtclsr
4 ton o. the President 70 the writer, "M
I have nothing TO hide"
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TCmncrnurc s,ru.a3,,rs Sa,oo,