New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-07-22
"pERNICIOT2 ACTIVITY"

Certain recent occurrences at Washington
must have made Civil Service Reformers, even Of
the Mugwump and Cuckoo varieties, vince, and
we confess to a mild degree Of surprise ourselves
Before President Cleveland left Washington for
Buzzard's Bay, Civil Service Reform was making
rapid strides and achieving new and important
conauests To quote the words Of an enthu-
siastic Administration newspaper, thousands or
Government employees have been brought under
1.-THE aegis Of Civil Service reform" We do not
recall the exact number Of Democratic Office
holders and employees who were thus drought
under the aegis." but It included the Democratic
chiefs OF division In the executive departments
at Washington, the employees Of the Government
printing office, and, also, we believe, the plate
printers and other employees Of the Bureau OF En-
craving and Printing. as well as the deputy col
lectors storekeepers and gaugers and other en-
ployes in the Internal Revenue Service and the
clerks in the pension agencies throughout the
country. Those were indeed the halcyon DAYS or
Reform"
But a surprise was in store for all Of us. OF
course we knew-Or supposed we knew-that
''pernicious activity" in politics on the part Of
Democratic officeholders would not be tolerated
by Civil Service Reformer Cleveland, except
when it was employed against Republicans.
That supposition was Incorrect 1t appears, and
any amount OF political activity exercised by
Democratic ofiiceholders will be regarded as
wholly praseworthy and In no respect as per
nlcIous," when directed against Democratic OPP
ponents of the Sound Money" policy OF the Adj
ministraton. OF course it may be that In Presi-
dent Cleveland's absence members Of his Cab
met are doing things that he would not approve
Of or allow II he were present, and yet there Is
ground for q suspicion that that theory Is ar
fected with blow holes" However that may
be. 1t Is a fact that the pains and penalties for
.'pernicjous activity" are not to he inflicted upon
Democrats whose efforts are directed against
the free silver heresy" which afilicts their party
Secretary Hoke Smith has undertaken 10 re-
assure not only the officials and employees OF the
Interior Department on this point, but the Geor-
cla postmasters as we'll We regret TO observe
that his advances and assurances are not al
ways we'll received. Here. for example Is a
COPY of a ribald letter addressed TO him on July
1G by the postmaster at Lamars Mil. Ga:
Hon Hoke Smith. Secretary OF the Interior. Wash
ington. ID. G.
Dear Sir: Your letter and copies OF speeches re-
Gently made by Secretary Carlisle received. as
sure you that will take pleasure In distributing
them, should | ind any one VINO desires 10 rean
them Bu, I apprehend that there are very few
people in this section OF The country who care 10
road Mr. Carlsle's on finance since he was ap
pointed Secretary OF the Treasury. II you can send
copies OF some Of his speeches made when he rep
resented the people OF his State In Congress and
was not representing class. as he IL now. the
people OF this section will be glad 10 read them or
II you send some OF the spt eches made by your
honorable self few years ago. when you were try
ing 70 make the Popuists believe that you and the
Democratic party were friendly 20 the free
coinage Of silver than the Populst party was. am
sure tho peop.e would read them with pleasure.
The reopi. Of this section are Democrats. pure and
simple and cannot be fooled. cajoed bought or
budozcd ~ the powers at Washington. though they
were aided by ali the imps Of Hades, into the sup
port OF Republican principles on finance. Their
IT anhool rovolts at the idea. They are not fools,
neither are they children. They will not be led
from their iime-honored principles By any traitor
Who. By accident. has got into power or wears the
collar OF his masters sir. yours respectfully
GEORGE r. HOLLEMAN.
We submit that this sort OF thing ought not to
be tolerated and we call upon PostmasterGe
ernl Wilson 10 make an example OF this heretical
posi- master. 'Pcrniclous activity" OF this KIND
must not only be dlscountcnanced but promptly
punished or the Administrations campaign OF
education In behalf Of sound money will Ian
gilsh and mayhap end In disaster.