The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-03-20
Performance VS.. Promisc.

We find the following in leading edi-
torial in the inspired organ entitled,
president HARBIsoN's Policy"
He (the president) viii take the republican
party at Its word, and endeavor as far as may
be 10 shape the administration according to
the promises and pledges contained in the
platform on which he was elected. This is the
honest course, and therefore characteristic of
the president. The vicious idea which to
some extent prevails in our politics that plat
forms are made merely TO catch votes to be
used during a campaign and ignored afterward
will not be entertained by President HARRISON.
lie is pre-eminently an honest man in politics.
IN all other respects. The idea Of saying
one thing and meaning another, or of making
public pledge for political effect with no pur-
pose of carrying il out Is entirely foreign to
his nature. He did not make the Chicago plat
form, but the party that nominated and elected
him did, and his acceptance of II, and election
on it, will doubtless be construed by him as a
continuing compact on his part to put it in
practice. In endeavorlng to carry out these
pledges he may go further in some directions
than some republicans approve, but they can
rest assured he Will never go further than the
platform justihes, and his Interpretation of it
will never be open 10 any other criticism than
that OF being too honest We think il will be
found that President HARRISON SCW not treat
any part Of The Chicago platform as sUrplusdge
or construe any of its declarations in Pick
wickian sense.
Right here is part of the Chicago plat
form, which President HARRIsoN is al
ready treating as ''surplusage:"
The men who abandoned the republican
party in 1884 and continue to adhere TO the
democratic party have deserted not only the
cause of honest government of sound finance
OF freedom and purity of the ballot, but
especially hare deserted the cause Of eiritSerUice
REFORM. WE WILL NOT FAIL TO KEEP OUR
PLEDGES BECAUSE THEY HAVE BROKEN
THEIRS, or because their candidate has
broken his. We therefore repeat our deciara-
ton of 1884, to-wit: ''Ihe reform OF civil SER
vice, auspiciously begun under the republican
administration, should be completed by the
further e11eaSiOn Of The reform system already
established be- Law 10 al TIE grades Of the service
to sclich ii IS applicable. The spirit and ptr-
pose Of the reform should BE- Observed IN ALL FX-
ECUTIvE APPOINTMENTS and all laws at vari-
ance with the object of existing reform legisla-
ton should be repealed TO the end that the
dangers to free institutions which Turk In the
power OF official patronage may be wisely and
effectively avoided"
Here is a distinct and positive pledge,
not only that the civil service laws would
be enforced, but that they would be ex-
tended TO every department of the gov
eminent to which they are applicable !;
and not only this, but that the spirit and
purpose of the reform would be observed
in ALL the executive appointments.
In Gen. HARmsoN's letter of acceptance
he said:
The law regulating appointments to the elias
sifed civil service received my support in the
senate, in the belief that il opened the way to
a much-needed reform. ! still think so, and,
therefore, cordially approve the Gear and