The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1889-05-18
THE CIVIL SERVICE.

THE CIVIL SERVlCE.
The horde of republican office seekers
and the politicians Of the party themselves,
are fast finding out the truth of democratic
ante. election statements, that, In spite OF
the claims TO the contrary, and the com
plants of the professional civilservice re-
formers, who will not be content with
less than the whole earth, President
Cleveland was very much of civil service
reformer after all,-much more so than his
successor is likely to be, perhaps, under
the pressure surrounding him and forcing
him 10 kick out every man Mr.. Cleveland
had named. The Philadelphia Ledger
(Rep), in remarking recently that the as
servation is and was untrue that during
Mr.. Cleveland's term there had been so
many removals of republicans that at the
end Of IL there were not enough left 10
form corporal's guard, says: "What the
truth at this late day determines is that
President Cleveland was a much better
civil service reformer than he received
credit for being, and that the more curl
ousy and carefully his administration is
considered in every respect, the more hon
orable and useful 1t appears" The Tee
gram (Rep) of the same city says: "Pres
ident Cleveland never once let down the
bars and Invited the crowd to come in and
help themselves. Many of the leading
officers In the service were not disturbed
the great army of clerks in the departments
remained at their desks, while some of the
chief appointments, like Postmaster Pear.
son of New York and Corse Of Boston, per-
sistently refused to allow their offices TO be-
turned inside out And now the discovery
Is made that very many Of the most desir-
able consulates are still filled by appointeeS
of former republican administrations. All
this revelation shows the difference be
tween the fictitious stories emanating from
campaign bureaus and the facts as told by
the official records. The simple truth Is,
President Harrison will have hard work to
eclipse the real record of his predecessor
Tor fidelity to practical civil service re.
form"
The example of President Cleveland
must bear finest In the administration of
his successor The precedent he has made
cannot be set aside al the word of the
thousands who clamor for heads In every
direction; and the appointment Of Gov.
Thompson and Mr.. Roosevelt as members
of the civil service commission would
seem to be notice that President Harrison
means to do something to continue the
good work done by Mr.. Cleveland AT the
same time II Is hardly likely that four
wears from now men will be able to say
that Mr.. Harrison's refusal to Dust demo
Gratis from office caused his defeat, as some
people believe may truthfully be said of
MIR. Cleyeland's refusal to do the same
thing at lib. The Republicans will "get
there" in time, certainly; and it is not
quite certain that the mass OF voters will
seriously object if they do 1t in descent
way by letting their opponents serve out
the term for what they were appointed.
This is fair, and way down under the skin
of all pretenses 1t will probably be found
that this is about all the civil service re-
form the great body of voters care any
thing about. They are willing enough for
the victors TO have the spoils provided the
public interest and convenience are not
affected, and the victors play fair