The Helena independent., 1892-04-29

Pic than to buy legislature. Familiar IN
ciaenta % the last presidential oampnipn,
.h6 collection Of mn immense sum pf money
MAR ~ Pa,w " mansger. % % spent v.thont
general public conviction that ii was sim.
pie corruption fund not only spent ia,
Illicit purposes, but by which high Office
was bought, and the aqually general con-
| vlotion that II this other party could have
| procured the same sum of monay II would
spread the evil has become.
i, new YORK morning paper of tho highest
character rscsntly published the remark Of
Y eonsplcuous politician whose name waa
given, that two-fifths OF tho democratic
votels ot the state are represented III con
oI .he various departments in New York
ana ai1: hiag1 county, that Ia to say, Ia the
oities Of New York and Brooklyn, Au even-
ing aper OF the same day, speaking Of the
| republican nomination for the COVE, nor
snip IN Rhode Island, said, "it is notorious
~ aata tae ,.. state that every republican candi
h,n has heretofore ranged from $40, ,oOO 10 t4o,-
600. y II has frequently nnp-
panea that second assessment has been
necessary when the election by the people
nas Ia falied and the choice has fallen upon
sne me :, !. legislature" These statements
a.e hv moad not disputed. They are read languidy
tenness OF politics. They are read with
alarm BY many others as signs Of taint
that Will rot the whole system If not extir-
patau. Inc wrong Is not peculiar to any
party Tor Its source is the party spirit
,, xnloh Washington foresaw. The pot in
.u,,a aeea solemnly rebukes the kettle, but
When traders in mules denounce traders in
blocks OF five for political corruption, we
lnstruotlvely recall the legendary Roman
augurs and tho stage direction in Robert
the Devil. "infsrnal laughter"
The individual partisan forced to excuse
himself can only say that it is bad bust
worse than the other. This was the plea Of
Thaddens Stevens, the Leader Of his party
in the house Of representatives, who ID said
to have asked in contested election case.
which ls our damned rascal?, in order
that he might vote for the right wrong.
-Four years ago as the presidential election
approached. the league stated in som. d.
tnil the reasons for its dissatisfaction with
the administration Of that time. It tested
the administration by tho simple standard
OF reform, and all that it could say was that
the scope Of the classified service had been
somewhat enlarged and that the rules aud
proved. It declared that the general
party change in the service which had
followed the Inauguration OF the new presi-
dent Was not demanded by the welfare of
the service itself, nor BY any public advan-
tnge whatever, and WAS duo solely to par
tisan pressure for partisan objects which
unfortunately the president had not re-
Sisted. But it will not be forgotten not
only that the party Of tho president had not
demanded reform, but that its controlling
sentiment was hostile to it. All that whs
done under the last administration-and
what was done gave tho question Of reform
place IN practical politics which 1t will
not lose until the reform is fully achieved
was done by the president alone. Except
for his courage and fidelity to his personal
convictions. the reform law Of 1889 would
have been practically nullifed, and the
reform ignored and discarded. Tried by
the standard Of absolute reform, be failed
rs President Grant failed ton years before
and for the same reason-the hostility Of
ms party. But tested by the actual situa.
ton Of day. Notwithstanding the e1ecu-
tive yielding to party pressure, the pure
hame OF reform sentiment not only WAS not
extinguished during the late administra-
ton, but burned moro brightly in the pub
lie mind as the administration ended
burned so brightly. indeed, that the oppo-
sition party in the platform upon which
they carried the election made the strong
est profession of reform faith and purpose
that any party ever made.
The present administration came into
power not with the usual vague platitude
upon tie subject, but with definite prom
ise Of reform and the distinct pledge to
fulfill its pledges. But it celebrated the
success of it's party with a wild debanch Of
spolls IN which its promises and pledges
were the meats and the drinks that were
riotously consumed. Nevertheless. the re-
form law has been as faithfully observed as
by lts predecessor, and the scope of the
reformed service has been greatly en-
larged.
The record of this year, as of the last
year. and of every year since the leapue
was formed: even the reiterated pledges Of
platforms, although reiterated only to b.
largely broken; the most sweet voices cf
che stump, that sink into barren silence:
The bills introduced that gasp and die in
committee, on the one hand. and on the
other the constantly larger scope of tie
system in the public service, ali
reveal the ever stronger public purpose,
md the constantly greater achievement of
That purpose, to add in civil service reform,
mother golden link to the shining chain of
historical precedents which by wisely re-
'training executive power promote the
public welfare.