The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-02-20

deavored to give the civil service scheme fair
trial and expresses himself as fully satisfied
with the results
There may be differences of opinion as to de-
tails. but he thinks the examinations are, on the
whole, about the best test of merit that can be
devised. Ii is certainly far preferable to the
spoils system, and he has no fear that it will
degenerate into a mere bureaucracy. The worst
type OF bureaucracy was developed under
the spoils system of former administrations.
When Mr.. Cleveland came into Office he
found the departments filled with ineompe-
tents, who had found permanent Judgment
there through favoritsm. His doubt is whether
sufficient cleaning out has been done to sub
serve the best interests of the government and
TO give wider scope for civil service reform
through its methods in filling the places of in
efficient with capable men.
The president recognizes fully the feeling of
the great mass OF democratic Otfce-seekers who
expected place and recognition, and the dis
appointment and irritation which resulted
from his inability to satisfy them. 1t is mat
ter Of deep regret to him that he could not do
so, but he had higher public duty to perform,
the publication and elevation of the public
service and elimination from party politics, as
far as possible, of the degrading use of
patronage" an evil that has grown
to gigantic proportions and was stead
lily increasing. He is very earnest in
advocacy of civil service as being a thor
oughly practical reform, and in no sense un-
democratic. He thinks the work of his adj
miniStration has fixed this reform a perma-
nent feature of our system of government and
that no party can afford TO antagonize it openly.
So far as his own status in the party, as
affected by his attitude on the civil service
question Is concerned, IL may be said that he
regards himself as better democrat than many
OF his critics
The president is especially gratifed at the
effect OF his administration on the prosperity
and happiness of the southern people, both
black ana white. He believes in making no
distinctions between any of the sections, and
he deprecates strongly the revival of animOsi-
ties which were supposed to be dead and
buried. He is satisfied that the race problem
can be worked out by the people of that sec
ton without outside interference.
lie spoke In terms of grateful appreciation
OF the hearty and united support accorded
him by the members of his cabinet. The ad-
ministration, 1t must be conceded, will 90 down
IN history unique, in the fact that all its
members have pulled together, from beginning
10 end, and no personal jealousies or resent
ments have marred the harmony of its deiber-
atoms. Every member of it has been hard
working. energetic, and wholly devoted to the
public interests and every department pre-
sents an envabe record of important reforms
and economies accomplished, and of substan-
tial results in the effort TO promote the public
good. No breath OF scandal or faint of cor
ruption has attached TO any branch Of the
public service.
In view Of the jobbery and scheming that
permeated every department under former
regimes, and which seemed to have become
a permanent feature in official life in Washing
ton, no more honorable epitaph could be an
piled to the administration now drawing to
close than the emphatic declaration of the
president 10 the writer: 1--WE have nothing TO