The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-01-19

OFFICES AS REWARDS.
David B. Hill may be, as his enemies
claim him to be, the embodiment of all
that is base and disreputable in politics
but he is also able, brilliant and elo-
quent, and his arraignment of the presi-
dent in Mondays executive session was
one of the most dramatic events Of the
session. as well biting, caustic presen-
tation of Cleveland's abuse of the power
of appointment to reward his personal
friends. That president should sur
round himself with advisers in sympathy
with himself and his policy is natural
and proper, but to call to the cabinet
personal friends for friendships sake, and
to make other selections to
pay campaign debts is manifestly
improper and indecent. Senator
Hill was Cleveland's defeated rival for
the presidential nomination; he has
contested with him the supremacy in
New York and here he defeated Cleve-
land. No love therefore is lost between
the two men, and so naturally Hill
would be able TO present the presidents
weakness In its most forcible aspect,
but unless there were facts to substianti-
ate it his eloquence, no matter how Sc
ductive, would fail to convince, and
his charges would fall fiat.
Unfortunately for Mr.. Cleveland,
Senator Hill was able to present facts.
Leaving one side Cleyeland's treat
ment Of the senators from New York,
upon which Mr.. Hill dwelt at
length it is interesting, and to the civil
service advocates, and the purists in
politics it Is humiliating to note presi-
dent using the high Offices at his dis
posal to reward personal friends, as Hill
charges Cleveland with doing. In his
cabinet, as Hill declared, is Daniel S.
Lamont, promoted from private secre-
tary to the Office of the secretary of war.
Senator Hill called attention to the fact
that Mr.. Lamont had no representative
standing in the Democratic party in the
state of New York, that he was never
elected to any Office by the Democratic
party and yet seat at the cabinet table
was given him to represent the great state
Of New York simply because he was
the personal friend and protege of the
president. He next called attention to
Postmaster General Bissell, man
practically unknown to the Democracy
OF New York, although resident Of the
state, placed in the cabinet to preside
over the post Office department solely
because he was the presidents former
law partner. He might have added
Gresham, appointed as secretary of state
to pay of political debt incurred to
secure his election; Hornblower, nomi-
mated to the supreme bench from friend
ship and TO reward another political
debt; and Van Allen, appointed to
foreign mission for campaign con-
tributions. A score of other cases might
be cited were IL worth the while.
As the New York Sun declares in its in
teresting account of this scathing ar
raignment of President Cleveland
''the speech was an adroit, masterful and
effective attack upon the one-man
power in politics, rs exemplified by the
president" IL showed how President
Cleveland has, from the moment of his
election to the present time used the
grear power OF federal patronage to
reward his friends, punish his enemies
and pay off his political debts. No
Office has been of SO high n character
as to prevent this prostitution. and none
SO low but it has been made to serve its
turn.