New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-01-26
REFoRnERs WORTHY THE NAME.

The frank and fearless attitude Of the lndi-
ana Civil Service Reform Association toward
the wretched sham installed at Washington is
worthy Of praise and commemoration. The
timidity, vacillation and cant of the last four
years, in high places and low, and above all, on
the part of the associations bearing the name
and pledged to the unshrinkng support Of this
particular reform, have been successful in nc
tarding its progress and might have given IL
it's death-blow If they had prevailed in tho
last election. Many of these associations came
into being under false pretences, and nearly all
of them were sooner or later converted into
machines for the personal service Of Mr.. Cleye-
land and for the promotion through him OF
free-trade doctrines. That his overthrow last
November was largely due TO realization on
the part Of individual members Of these or
CARNATIONS that they had been betrayed, and
to a prevalent contempt for the hypocrisy OF
the whole movement, is undeniable but with
few exceptions the associations as such have
continued to play the same disreputable role
Perhaps the most notable Of these exceptions
Is the Indiana association. This is not the first
time that refreshing breeze has blown from
that quarter. During the campaign exemplary
punishment was administered TO Mr.. Cleveland
by Mr. J.. B. Swift, in behalf Of the organiza-
ton which has now made him its president in
place Of Mr.. Foull1e, whose retiring address has
lust been delivered. These Indiana gentlemen
have doubtless felt special stimulus to honest
wrath in having directly before their eyes one
of the most fragrant exhibitions Of incompetent
and malignant partisanship in the whole coun-
try. But the abuses in the Indianapolis post
Office have been so notorious that deaf, dumb,
blind and halt "reformer'' in Key West would
have no excuse for not making his disgust and
condemnation known by signs. And yet the
men who have made il a matter Of conscience
and honor to expose and denounce them have
been criticised and sneered at by their pre-
tended associates elsewhere. But they have
not been duped nor suppressed Speaking for
them, their retiring President explicitly says
that Mr.. Cleveland broke his pledges to secure
his denomination, and contributed great sum
Of money TO secure his reelection, and thus
states the view Of his course which ii would
seem that all honest men must take:
For our part we are not disposed 10 excuse the out
going Executive for his failure. With US neither
tho temptations Of office nor the approval Of his po-
nor the advocacy Of any other wise or benehcent
measure has been sufficient to paiate or oondone
the abandonment Of this reform. Upon tho grave OF
the present Administration, so far at least as me
Civl Service IL concerned, history VIII write the
epitaph OF failure and every political party which
may succeed 10 power WIN be tho better for the
warning there Inscribed.
Turning from the past and present to the
future Mr.. Foulke expresses firm conviction
that General Harrison will keep faith with the
party that nominated him and with the plat
form on which he was elected, and that in his
hands the cause of genuine as opposed to sham
reform viii be safe. This is the belief Of men
who have learned by the experience Of the last
four years that professions without principles
behind them are worse than nothing, who have
in view no Interior purpose which they dare
not ayow, who do not base their expectations
upon whims, chances and secondhand guar
antees, but who trust tho President-elect be-
cause they know him.