The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1889-02-14


Of President Cleveland in the expiring
DAYS cf his power. in regard to Civil Ser
vice reform Effected by the Mugwumps
as The apostle and exponent CT that mod
ern invention. be was loud in his plati
tuoes aloat the dignity and purity of the
public service before and after he took
the oath of office. and simulated practi
cal Observance of it III one of the first acts
of his administration. But the appoint
ment Of Pearson, postmaster at New
York, was merely a blind-a little dust
thrown into the eyes Of tie aitituGinous
raformers, to ob cure The real purpl Sc be
had in view. When it cane 10 the general
policy CT bis administration, the reco,d
manifested HAT rs fast as the official axe
could fail eff wrn1 the head of AL Efficient
Republican, and in came in his place q
partiZan Democrat. When it came to
Virginia there wa6 one broad sweep of the
guillotine blade. and an indiscriminate
slaughter Of the iDnocents. Under the
direction and inspiration Of cabal of
Democratic Congressman from the State,
a policy Of relentless prescription Was in.
augurattd, AID 1hefe Republican was
found holding a Federal position, high or
low tie revengeful knife of these reform
els fell with uHerring and merciless force.
1t was lot only TO punish them for their
political opinions. bat dastardly excuses
we're invented, to reflect upon them as
citizens aad their social standing. Asan
excuse for violating unsought pledges to
obscure The civil service idea, cause" was
manufactured in the moral standing of
Republican cilice holders. and the charge
made that 10 Republican in Virginia was
qualified either morally or mentally 10
discharge public duties. Under this false
and wicked plot. the official axe fell fast
ard furious, until every appointee Of
Republican administr dion was slaugh-
tered. Villas, III the Posioflice Depart.
ment, INVITED spies and informers TO In.
vent falshoUd5 and manufacture charges.
to constitute cause for removal Yet in
no instance was the fated officer furnished
with copy of the allegations, upon which
his removal was presumed to be predi-
Gated. It was wholesale assassination of
character, perpetrattd in tie dark and in
stigated by the inendacious spirit of the
bandit who stabS in the back from am
bush.
With this record for four years it is
travesty upon honesty and fairness fol-
Mr.. Cleveland to affect regard for civil
service reform in the removal of Mr.
Edgerton from the Civil Service Commits
sion. 1t was not because the decapitated
officer was not in sympathy with the pO-
sition of the administration, that the or
der was issued for his removal and Mr.
Thompson, of South Carolina nominated
to succeed him. 1t was for the reason,
that Mr.. Edgerton hal led from a State
that did not vote for Cleveland, and is
honored by the citizenship Of the man that
is to succeed Grover in the Executive
chair. Indiana is hop9lessly committed
against Cleveland row and hereafter
while South Carolina, the home of Thomp
son. may be safely calculated to remain
solid for the Democracy, SO long as the
law is 80 rule to regulate the ballot MOI
primarily the criterion by which political
methods are judged. Had Thompson
been a citizen OF any other section thar
the solid South he would never have
been favored by the recognition Of thu
President in the appointment received
and had Edgerton been a resident of i
safe Democratic State, ard within the
charmed circle Of the cotton belt, his de-
l!nquencies as Il civil service reformer
would never have been discovered.
1t was the merest pretense Of virtue
that instigated this last eyolvement of the
inner consciousness of the President il
this expiring profession to cover mul
titude Of betfayas The fierce light thai
beats upon the civil service record OF
this first and last Of Democratic admin
istrations since 1900 fully reveals the du
pliaity and deception which this dying re
form adm Illustration exposes. 1t will no.
be misundt r5tood by the public, nor b,
his party, f0r C )temp0saneous with it, tht
leading opponents of his policy in tb, |
Senate, Senator's German and Daniel |
placed their feet square down upon civil |
service reform and all the rosy professions |
Of its extinguished Buffalo disciple.