The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1896-05-13
EDITORIAL NOTES.

Gov. Evans and Mr.. l.. J. Will
liams are using rather strong
language concerning each other
apeut the seizure of liquor shipped to
the latter gentleman. The statements
made by each Of these we'll known re
formers have been given. bat it the pub.
lio is any better acquainted With the
inwarduess of the matter, then the pub.
lie is possessed Of unusual powers OF
discernment. If these we'll known and
promiueat official reformers are to be
believed both of them are expert pre-
yaricasors and rather tricky withal.
The Northern papers are of the opin-
ion tba. Senator Tillman dropped his
candy in the sand when he made his
last speech in the Senate. with Hill as
an antagonist. 1t is said that be dis
gusted and antagonized the free silver
Congressman and Senators, who have
since openly declared that Tillman had
done the silver cause more injury than
all the auti-silver forces had done by a
systematic crusade. The silver men
are crying to some power to save them
from their friend Tillman.
The order Of President Cleveland
extending the civil service does not IN
clude the postmasters whose appoint
ment goes before the Senate for con-
frmation. Therefore there will be as
great scramble for the larger postoftlces
after the oezt presidential election as
there ever was. The order of Presi-
dent Cleveland is in keeping with his
record, and is a move 10 the right di-
rection. There is neither good sense
nor good business policy 10 changing
the minor officials under the govern
mens every time a President is elect
ed It is calculated to disorganize
s5e servises and make the highest
state of efficiency impossible. 1t is of
coarse necessary aud desirable that the
cabinet officers aud the heads Of depart
ments who, in measure, control aud
direct the policy of thegoverneot should
be of the same political faith as the Presi-
dent and 10 full sympathy with his pol
icy, but more than this is highly uudesir-
able. and par.akes two strongly of the
apoils system of government. which is
scarcely better than co government at
all A civil service honestly and con.
sistently enforced will render the pub
lie service under the national govern
meut both efficient aud respectable,
which it has not been according to the
best aud most reliable data obtaiDable
on the subject.
There is one thing that can now be
said of South Carolina that is 70 her
credit. There is a great deal more in.
tsrest being taken 10 legitimate busi-
ness and iuustrial enterprises than 10
politics by the people at large. The
professional politicians aud the Office
huuters-sheee terms are 80 nearly sy-
nonymous it is almost superaous to use
both-are Of course deeply interested in
politics aod are eudeayeriug to arouse
the people to similar state, but their
efforts have been crowned With but the
sligtest success. The people have found
that there is neither meuey nor relief in
pursuing politics aud they have wisely
quit the business, have gone to work and
are attending to their own affairs. They
learned that the politicians we're the oo-
ly gamers from political agitation. and
they are now leaving the agitation to
politicians. We believe the era Of strict
attention to business aud industrial en-
setprise will be much more profitable to
to the State than the era ofpolitical sgi'
sation through which we have just
passed.
Tie United States Government mus;
maintain the principle that American