Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-11-22
The Spoils system.

whenever the Presideni-elect shall make a
apeech hereafter bis words will be studied ana
Wondered by all persons interested In civh-ser-
vice reform. In addition to the large nuniper
Who win read carefully whatever be Gays IN Or
der 10 ascertain whether or not he INTENDS 70
make ciyil-soryice reform a feature OF bis aduiin-
istration, the grand army Of place-hunters VIII
srrutlnizs his words In order TO learn AS soon as
possiblo whether he purposes to let the boys get
near enough 10 the fire TO - warm their toes, 10
use the words OF AIIKs G. THURMAN. "the no
hest Roman VI them al" and who was himset
tina Democratic nominee for Vice-Prestdent four
years ago
We have been inclined 70 infer from what MT.
CLEVELAND has said as different times and places
during the campaign that he was us
posed To be more tolerant Of onice-ssekefs
than he vas up 10 1888, and would
look with a charitable eye upon the men
who. having worked day In and day out Tor
tbs success OF the Democrats party, feel that
10 harm would be done 1t some OF the more
humble OF the Democrats were allowed al the
proper time to partake with the President ana
the Vice Presidentelecf ~ the fruits OF victory.
We understood Mr.. CLEvELASDS recent remark
that he was nov more Of q civil-service reforIner
than ever but "in q general way 10 mean
that his intarrogator need not be disheartened {;
because. though he Was still q civiLservice re-
former, be would he 30 In a general s~ense-that
A.. his administration would be a Democratic
one, his advisers Democrats, and his sppointoes
TO once Democrats We object 10 thai sort OF
ciulsuvice reform which would produce
stte Barnscles, but not TO anything That VIII I'M
prove and perpetuate our free government
studying Mr.. C~LkvELASD's little speech OF Sat
urday night last TO the Manhattan Club OF New
York-"tbe foromOst Democratic social organl-
zation In the country" 80 the telegraph tells us
the public may be assisted to a eonclusion ON The
question whether be intends 70 leave the boys
out IN the cold or not. He said:
They the American peoplel are considering
now vastly greater questions tnan they were
then item years agol. They are giving import
snce TO party policy rather than party spoils.
the situation must be intenigently met by those
"a charge OF our party organization: NO party
ian get the support OF the masses OF the voters
by merely promising Offices, nnahcisi re"a Th
or other attributes OF tho spells systen- The
whole people will be satisfied with nothing less
than redemption OF the pledges made TO them
collectively. the demonstration OF WISE poheisS'
and the giving OF an honest government
would not have IL otherwise. 1 am wiling
that the Democratic party should only hope TO
succeed by meeting the eitnatton fairly and
s~quarely: By being absolutely ana patrlotlcauy
true TO ITS principles and Its professions. This
IL the assured guarantee Of success, and Know
OF no other.
A: the first reading Of the above sentences
addressed 10 a club whose members do not want
any onnces-the public viii be apt to conclude
that those sentences hold out little room for
hope on the part Of the thousands Of gentlemen
who are willing 10 serve their country In ONCE
and who have already made that willingness
known. But we think that Mr.. CLEVELAND
meant only 70 exclude from the list OF possible
appointees the mercenaries who, like the
aeagles," nock where the carcass is. He would
have his subordinates so devoted to Democratic
principles mot to Democratic men) that they
would serve their country as Democrats even al
the risk Of losing their places. In q word. Mr.
CLEVELAND does not wish either 70 favor the
spoils system OF TO oppose the Introduction Of
Democrats into the various ofices open 70 them
He would leave that question to the future. lie
intends 10 be governed by consideration such a:
ought 10 govern him. and would have the party
which he leads to be content with or without the
Offices.
Mr.. CLKvELANDs unprecedented triumph-hi;
overwhelming success-mlght well turn his head
but we see no sign that il has done %. On the
contrary, he seems to US 20 have learned from
experience much that he did not know four years
ego