Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-02-08

Republican State was not long since one OF
the many pilgrims to indianapolis. de was
not there for Cabinet place for himself or
any one else, but to make arrangements
for the transfer Of the patronage IN his
State from Democratic to Republican hands
at the earliest possible moment after March
4. The Senator says he was much sur
prised when General Harrison declared to
him his intention of allowing the Demo
Gratis now in Office to remain till the expira-
ton of their terms. excepting, of course, in
cases where good and sufficient reasons ex-
ist for making immediate changes. General
Harrison intImated that he would early
after inauguration causeeit to be known
what his policy is in regard to all officers of
the Government appointed to fill terms,
and by this means he hopes to relieve him
self of much of the pressure for place,
which is at best great burden for
President who succeeds Chief Executive
elected by the opposition.
The irst-ciass changes VIII be made in the
organization on the department STATS at
Washington, from Cabinet Ministers down
to heads Of divisions and chief clerks.
After this is done the diplomatic service
viii be taken up and then clean sweep
may be expected. General Harrison called
this Senator's attention to the fact
that President Cleveland had permit
ted 80 Of the 10 officials CON-
missioned for four years in the Depart
ment of Justice to serve out their terms;
that of AGO Presidential postmasters, fully
one-half were permitted TO remain in Office
till the expiration of their terms, or tlll they
died or voluntarily resigned and that i'll
other departments, excepting the Treasury,
many commissioned officers were left I'M
disturbed. 1t IS quite clear to the mind OF
this Senator that General Harrison will fol-
low similar policy-the policy Of a gradual
but clean sweep-and he thinks, moreover,
from what General Harrison said TO him,
that the policy of the incoming Administra-
ton will be even more decent and generous
than that of the outgoing, applying the rule
to collectors of customs and internal rev.
enue who are personally unobjectionable
and clearly capable and worthy, as well as
to postmasters and United States district
attorneys and marshals.
The policy thus foreshadoWed is IN accord
with General Harrison's convictions. In
his letter of acceptance he said: "Only the
interests of the public service should sug
gest removals from Office" and in q speech
made in the Senate three years ago he ar
raigned President Cleveland IN this rather
lively fashion:
1.-The President Of the United States re-
peatedly put himself under pledge, not
simply in his public utterances, but in pri-
vate letters, voluntarily written, in favor
of such policy 1t went through ali the
land to those Republicans in Office who had
fragment, small or large, Of a legal term
to serve that if they discharged their duty
faithfully and honestly they would not be
disturbed in serving out the remainder OF
their terms. 1t has turned out that it was
deceptive feast to which these gentlemen
we're invited 1t was almost as full of de-
ception and as fatal in its results as some
of those feasts of old story to which men
were invited for purpose of assassination"
Senator Vest, who served in committee
with General Harrison when the latter was
a Senator, relates an interesting incident.
In the committee room one day a discussion
arose between General Harrison and an
other Senator on Ciyil-Service reform, which
General Harrison warmly advocated, and
finally said:
''Do you know that my grandfather was the
original civil-servlce reformer in this conn
try: If you do not know that you viii find
on examination of the records that such was
the fact"
And General Harrison then took the
trouble to hunt up and point out some OF
William Henry Harrison writings on the
civil service, among them striking letter
written before Harrison, the grandfather,
was elected President The occasion was
public dinner IN Cincinnati to General Solo
mon Van Rensselaer,, military hero who
had been Old Tippecanoe's friend, aud who
had been removed from the Albany post
mastership by Martin Van Buren,. Wrote
General William Henry Harrison.
When the disbanded legions of August
were suffered to eject the happy husband
men of the fairest portion of Italy we have
reason to believe-we know, indeed-that
some were spared. The ruthless warrior
was not suffered to usurp the seat and vio-
late the groves which had resounded to the
songs of the greatest poets. We may con-
clude also that the SCARED veterans of for
mer wars were exempted from the other
wise general prescription. Indeed, we must
suppose that the sympathy naturally felt
between men of the same profession would
have induced the usurpers TO spare the war
worn followers of the great Pompey, al
though they had been the soldiers of liberty
and the sworn enemies of their own faction.
But, gentlemen, let me ask you now to
point TO an exception in the prescription
which has ragged in our own country for the
last twelve years. " no has been spared
that protested any thing which could tempt
the cupidity of the spoilers: My friend is
the last victim. The reason Of this hon
orable distinction l could tell. 1t is some
what different from that which induced the
giant Polyphemus TO intend the like honor
to the King of Ithaca.
But you may, perhaps. be anxious to
know the reasons which have been assigned
for this outrage upon the feelings of the
American people. Why, it was precisely
that which has been given IN all countries
for all the violent and unjust acts of
tyrants: The public good IN the midst
Of such abomlna:aons, how appropriate is
the exclamation of one of the distinguished
victims of the savage Robespierre: %,
democracy how many crimes are com
mtted in thy namen ! conclude. gentle
men, by offering you a sentiment: May
Solomon Van Rensselaer, be the last victim
in our country of party violence, and may
the services which are to be the future
passports to Office De not those rendered to
party, but TO the whole people.
"W. II. HARRISON"
As Senator Vest remembers the incident
General Benjamin Harrison declared he
was as good a civll-service reformer as his
grandfather, and that were he to sit in the
White House decercy ana justice should be
considered before craftsmanship in making
removals and appointments in Office.