The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-02-16
The Three Reforms

It Is noticeable that in all parts % the
country democrats are earnestly in favor Of
tar. II reform, ballot reform and civil service
reform. In his speech at the chamber of
commerce banquet in Atlanta on Thursday
Hon. W. T. Russell, Of Boston, spoke
strongly in favor of them, and recently in
an interview. Mr.. Cleveland said enough in
support Of them to justify the statement
that they will be the leading features in the
next natl 1nal democratic platform. About
every de nocratic governor that has been
inaugurated this year has devosed a part OF
his inaugural address u ballot reform.
The people are thinking seriously about
these three reforms They are gradually
getting a clearer and more cOnprehs Isive
idea of their imp)rtance, AMI their con-
science, as well as their intelligence, assists
in making converts to them. These reforms
are what the country needs, and what, there
is reason to believe. the country will have
in the near future.
Civil service reform is upon a reasonably
safe basis now. There is, however, a great
deal yet to be done in its behalf. Both of
the great political parties declare in
their platforms that they are friendly
to it, but there is much hostility to it
among the politicians and party leaders.
The spoils system has its attractions for
those who have the power to distribute
patronage and those who are seeking places.
There are party leaders who, while pre-
tending to the people that they
favor the reform, insist that
the offices shall be used to pay for
party services. They dare to be insincere
because public sentiment has not yet
reached point whore it will not toll crate
insincerity. 1t will reach it, however, and
then the civil service laws will be- enforce
in letter and spirit.
Who doubts that tariff reform is gaining
ground! Even the protectionists admit
that the tariff laws must be reformed, and
the republican ways and means committee
is now trying to discover a way to reduce
the arff without offending the protected
monopolists. One of the most distinguished
of the republican leaders of the House,
Representative Butterworth, of OHIO, when
asked the other day if he was a candidate
for reelection said: at depends: If the
a revision of the tariff, l shall not be-
There will be no prospects of nv election
believe that the only hope of continuing
the republican control of the House lies in
the fair and thorough revision of the tariff,
but am afraid our people will only do as
they have done; that is, give the country
great deal of squealing for very little
wool" Mr.. Butterworth is a keen-sighted
politician. He reads the signs Alright, In
New England and in Pennsylvania there is
growing demand for free raw materials
Mr.. Cleveland's tariff message to congress
may have cost him a second term, but it
aroused the people on the tariff question as
they had never before been aroused on that
question. 1t set them to thinking, and the
results Of their thinking are becoming more
and more apparent every day.
Ballot reform has a firm grip on the con-
science Of the country. The people want
pure ballot. They want the ballot box to
tell the truth without regard to which party
is hurt. They are tired and sick of ballot
box corruption and frauds. They don't
want elections decided by partisan return
ing boards, by "blocks of five" voters, or
by So bills judiciously distributed. They
want a ballot by which the will of the
people can be ascertained honestly.
When the three reforms named are firmly
established, the country will have taken
long step forward-a step nearer honest, in
telligent, and economical government.