The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1894-02-22

supreme court. The failure to confirm
was due to three elements: % A DISPOSE
ton on the part Of republicans to take
advantage Of dlssensions in the democrat
&c party to discredlt the administration;
(2) the personal hostility of Senator Hill
to the nominee and to the president: 81
dissatisfaction with Cleveland's action
10 using the appointive power TO humili-
ate rival, and the use OF federal patron
age to secure the confirmation Of his ap-
pointee.
There is not feature in the whole
affair that Is not disgraceful IN the eX-
IRENE when the character OF the Office is
considered ard the promiL ence OF the
persons taking part in the proceedings.
1t is perfectly safe to assume that if
Cleveland was in happy accord with the
members Of his party in the Z. 5. senate,
the republican members of that body
would have voted for confirmation, with
practical unanimity. As a cOrallary 1t
may be asserted that no matter how dis
tinguished for legal learning Judicial
temperament and high character an APP
pointee for the position of justice OF the
supreme court may be, his confirmation
will be antagonized by the opposition if
such action makes rejection probable.
And this for the satisfaction given IN
harassing the administration, and the
partisan advantage accruing from lack of
amlty between two departments OF the
government. In these days when there
are SO many quack devices for teaching
patriotism" it would seem proper that
those who are put forward as the peoples
representatives should eschew the petty
vices which have brought politics into
desrepute and act consistently with pa
triotic regard for the nations welfare. A
little more exhibition of patriotic action
aud less rodomontade would teach genu-
inc patriotism, and make more respected
the Z. S. senate whose dignity and USE
fulness have ceased to be anything more
than tradition.
Liz COuulIS 10 W Do vi
| the rejection of Peckham in so far as it is
| due to the influence of Hill, and that 1t is
so in no small measure the facts abund-
| antly prove. In 1892 Hill set his person
al ambition against the united wishes OF
| the national democracy. Cleveland was
the unmlstakable choice Of the democrats
| for the presidency, as he proved to be of
| the people as WELL Hill relied upon
manipulation and the audacity Of an or
ganlzation which he dominated, to defeat
the will of his party Failing in this, his
| resentment blazed forth against the in
| strument the people used to teach him
becoming modesty. 1t IS by no means
creditable to democratic senators that
they permit themselves to be used as
tools by Hill for the qualification Of his
ting the party they profess to serve.
Neither does it rebound to the credit of
republicans IN the senate that they sink
| the dignity of their position in ready ac-
| quiescence with the promptlngs of Hills
petty jealousy.
PER CONTRA: Cleveland's humiliation
is simply poetic justice. Though not re-
| trlbutlve IN its source, 1t is such ID its
| effects. The Cleveland administration
! has debauched the democratic party in
| this state to such extent that venality is
IL 81, H.
| fore were appointments to federal office
| openly regarded as perquisites of the
| members of the legislature who defied
| the expressed wishes Of their constitu-
| ents and voted IN disregard Of decency
| and protest as their individual interests
dictated. The shameless bargains which
were made have been faithfully carried
ont by the administration, and the peo-
pie have had the humiliation heaped up
| on them of having furnished tie means
| which went to reward the pe1tidy of their
servants. the Cleveland administration
has thrust official station upon a hoard
of mercenaries, has advertised that vote
mate source of revenue, and that draft
upon the administration for such service
will be promptly honored. Administra-
ton democrats in Wisconsin to-day are
those whose political faith has been
quickened by recognition of their SER
vices to some individual, notwlthstand-
ing that SO per cent. of the democrats
here were Cleveland men before he dis
graced his administration by using It's
patronage to debauch our Legislature.
Publish list of the democratic mem
bers of the legislature who voted for John
Mitchell for the United States senate in
caucus and you have list of appointees
to federal office, excepting such as are
local. Is it not Infamous that presi-
dent, elected largely because of belief
that his personal integrity would prove
an obstacle to barter and sale, should
himself become the disbursing agent of
dealers in political merchandise? Faugh
Dave Hills methods are clean in COM
parlson. The reward bestowed upon
Maynard was apparently, at least. for
party service and was subject to the ratl-
tication of the people. The democrats of
Wisconsin have been given 70 means of
redress. They have been spat upon and
then left to digest the insult
The President has belittled his position
in making appointments IN which the
qualifications of the appolntees were sec
ond to the more important consideration
that they would be displeasing to Hill. |
The senate Invested itself of it's dignity
and took part in the puerile contention.
Cleveland was defeated because his dis |