Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-04-04
A LITTLE RETROSPECT.

A LITTLE RETROSPECT.
 Just one month ago to-day Benjamin Harrison was inaugurated president of the United States. In his address on the occasion he vented some airy persi- fiage in regard to the civil service which it was eagerly claimed by the republi- cans implied a promise of better things than they were willing to concede exist ed under Cleveland. Some of the mug wumps even clutched at the meaningless phrases of his inaugural address, as drowning man grasps at straw, and professed to think they saw therein a gleam of hope for their pet hobby of civil service reform. But retrospect is Q safer basis of judgment than prom iseS."
 During the month that President liar rison has held the helm of the nation he has made 374 nominations to the senate against I'll for the same period by Mir Cleveland, which it will be admitted is going it pretty fast for man who is ambitious of having the retrospect" creditable to himself-creditable we mean from the point of view of civil ser vice reform. A good many other changes have been made, notably of fourth-class postmasters and others that were supposed to be so far removed from the public gaze that the changes would escape extensive criticism. Indeed, it has been stated, with probable accuracy, that Assistant Postmaster General Clark son has been swinging his club with all the vigor of shillelah at Donnybrook fair and hit ting democratic head wherever he saw it. He has been turning the ras- calls out" at the rate of 200 day or more. In no case has there been a pretence of cause other than the fact that the in cumbent was democrat, and in no case was any other reason alleged by Mir Clarkson to justify his Donnybrook tao tics. The removal of the Illinois post master secured on this ground at the in- stance of Congressman Payson and that of Postmaster Connolly of Scranton are conspicuous instances in point where democratic utilization was regarded as iustitiable reason for dismissal. Mir Clarkson's course, which has the ap- proval of Postmaster General Wanamak- CT and it may be presumed also of President Harrison, is in direct con- tradiction to the latter's statement that heads of departments, bureaus and all other public officers having any duty con nected herewith will be expected to en- force the civil service law fully and without evasion" It is neither accord ing to the letter or spirit of that law that wholesale removals should be made of officials on the sole ground that they are democratic in their political princi- ples and affiliations.
 As consistent opponents of the un- American system that the civil service reformers would foist upon this country we are not disposed to criticise President Harrison and his understrappers for turning the democrats out as fast as they can reach them. We believe, religiously, consistently and conscien- tiously, that every officeholder in the land, from the secretary of state down to the janitor of the smallest postoffice, should be in political harmony with the administration. We have no word of criticism therefore for the administra- tion for turning the democrats adrift. But we do most emphatically protest against this sniveling hypocrisy that makes pretence of devotion to civil ser 1 vice reform while every sentiment or idea connected herewith is outrageously and shamelessly violated. We protest against the chicanery and deceit that would pretend to ''do something more to advance the reform of the civil service
 while catering to the baldest riot of the spells system. We protest against the dishonesty that from the hustings and the study breaches the sanctity and desirability of reform while secretly that to the victor belong the spells. President Harrison might better revise his apothegm about retrospect being a safer basis of judgment than promises and shape it by an old and ever true maxim that honesty is the best policy
 Honesty is better than their present policy of hypocrisy and cant for Harri son and the republican party. At the rate they have gone thus far in turning over the spells there will be nothing ir the retrospect, after Harrison's fou,
 years of office, but the bald truth that
 under him, as under republican presi
 dents for twenty-four years, to tht
 victors have gone the spells.
 InISTRICT of Waterbury ss Probate Cour U April 3. 1889.
 Estate of Joseph W. Morrssey, late of Water bury in said district, deceased.
 l The administratrix having exhibited her ad | miniStration account with aaid estate to thi