Omaha daily bee., 1889-03-22
OFFENSIVE PARTISAN,S


The administration has been giving
some consideration to the question
whether charge Of offensive PARTISAN
ship against an official Of democratic
politics shall be deemed a sufficient
reason for his removal. An. Illinois re-
publican congressman was the first to
present a test case. He asked the re-
moval of the postmaster in his town
solely on the ground that he had been
Extensively active as politician in the
last campaign. The postmaster general
was reported to have assured the con-
gresham that the charge was sufficient,
that the removal would be promptly
made, and the position filed by whom
soever the congressman should recon-
mend. The matter is understood to
have been discussed in the cabinet, but
it has not transpired that any definite
policy was agreed upon. Since this in
cident there have been several other
similar demands upon the postmaster
general, and according to the report of
his treatment of them the intention
appears to be to re gard offensive par
tizanship as sufficient cause OF re-
moval, but that there will be more tes-
mony required than the simple accusa-
ton Of a congressman. Fur
thermore, according to the
quoted statement of the first
| assistant postmaster general appoint
ments will not be made on the mere
recommendation of congressman, but
| the department will require that a
| member of congress shall show by petl-
tion and letters of recommendation that
his candidate is approved by the people.
| Thus it appears that congressman are
not to be permitted to so completely
| dictate appointments, at least so far as
| the postoffices are concerned, as was at
first supposed. Their recommendations
will of course have prior consideration q,
but in order to be successful they must
have an adequate popular support. The
wisdom Of this policy will not be SER
iously questioned, as return to con-
gressional bossism would assuredly be
condemned by great majority Of the
people.
| Regarding the policy of removals for
offensive partisanship it cannot be fairly
objected to by any class of politicians.
1t was made cardinal principle by the
last administration, and though it came
at the last to be tolerated SO far as dem
ocrats were concerned, it is not recorded
that any republican who was found act
lively working for his party was per-
mitted to remain in office. Dem
ocrats, therefore, are estopped
by the course of their own
administration from finding any
fault with the policy. Civil service re-
formers have always insisted that Of
fensive partisanship on the part of pub
lie officials should be held sufficient
reason for their removal, so that no OBJ.
jeotion can properly come from this
source. The result OF general appli-
cation of this policy will leave very few
democrats in the federal offices, for
despite the instructions and injunctions
of the late administration the demo
cratic officials nearly everywhere were
as active and Jealous and offensive" in
party work as in the days before the re.
form innovation. They made them
selves prominent in caucuses, conven.
tions, public meetings, and wherever
else their influence and money could be
of party service, and they continued
this with increasing freedom and vigor
to the close of the last election. These
officials cannot reasonably expect any
leniency from the party they thus
fought in open and bold violation of the
spirit, if not the letter, of the civil ser
vice law, and in disregard of an execu
tive order emanating from the head o
their own party. However meritorious
otherwise as officials, the offensive par
tisians forfeited all just claim to tie
consideration of the victorious party by
their conduct in politics, and they must
expect to receive the penalty to which
they willingly rendered themselve'
amenable.
THE suggestion of Mr.. j. l.. Mile
| tbot 10 Jriob oitizanc of Orn ha chnul