Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-04-04

seekers, terrible -evenges si6 b
taken. and President Harrison driven
almost to the verge of distraction.
These Democratic papers all seem
glad they will escape the awful con-
vulsions soon to afflict the Republican
party. Why these Democratic ankle
ties and alarms? Have not the Demo
Gratis been able to deal with.the offices
during the last four years and yet
keep their party organization intact?
Did any trouble over the offices pre-
vent them rallying the Bourbons to
the last man in support of Grover and
free trader Did not the Republicans
during twenty-four years manage to
apportion the Offices with reasonable
degree of equity and thus avoid unu-
sual or destructive factional contests?
Surely the Republican party can do as
well now as before the Eruption of
the Clevelandites?
As there are not offices enough to 60
around there must be disappointment
and heartburning, but President Har-
rison will no doubt be able to dis
tribute the official favors without oc-
casioning any serious disaffection.
Chastened by defeat, and well remem.
bering what it is to lose all the offices
and see them seized by the Democracy,
the Republicans are disposed to be-
moderate and make no demands at the
expense of party harmony. On tina
other hand, the Republicans have not
been out of power long enough to be-
come unduly voracious. Enough is as
good as feast. Where two or more
Republicans aspire to an Office the de-
feated candidates must remember 1884
and feel grateful that this time one of
the faithful will seoeze the honor and
the salary. Next to getting an Gffce
for himself every Republican afflicted
with the desire for place should be
gratified to see some other holder Of
sound National doctrines honored snd
rewarded. Personal disappointment
should be assuaged by the thought
that the Office which one or more Re-
publican aspirants may fail to get will
still go to fellow partisan and ~sso-
ciate. Such will be the general teel-
ing inside the Republican party. The
Republicans are better situated chan
they have ever been to apportion the
offices and have as a result minimum
of heartburning and disappointment.
Not more than one or two Repub-
licans out of a hundred have any
direct personal interest in appoint
ments to Office. There are not over
$4,000 places worth seeking, and, all
told, not over 100000 expectants-
small proportion, indeed, of the
5000, 900 voters who make up the Re-
publican party. Eight-tenths OF the
Republican voters don't ask or expect
Office, and, while many of them take
a lively interest in the success of GER
tain candidates, they expect their
favorites, if need be. to submit to de-
feat with good grace. They dislike
whining and have no sympathy with
soreheads. They know personal dis
appointments are inevitable, and mis-
takes must occur, but they take Is for
granted the Republican Admifsstra-
ton is doing the best it can undfr all
the circumstances. As for defeated |
for Office, the worst thing
they can do is to let disappointment
get the better of party fealt5. A
sorehead gets no sympathy any
and the man who surrender |
his political principles on account of
the loss of an Office is jeered at by |
one party and secretly despised by the
other.
Contests for Office cease to be per-
sonal and endanger party integrity
only when they affect factions Or
ganized in support of some principle |
or policy. There are no such organi-
cations now inside the Republican
party. President Harrison will not |
use his authority to build up or break
down any element of the party in the
interest of another. Hence, there is
no reason to suppose he can be made
the victim of a factiOnal spoils war
fare, or will be any less successful
han his Republican predecessors in
the Offices and satisfying
Just expectations Chicago Tribune