The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-17
STEAMSHIPS.
The Gems of the Tropics.
CUBA

sible for the safety and success of the
country should select it's own employees.
then it is right. If the party cannot be
trusted and if it cannot furnish efficient and
meritorious employees, then 1t should not be
given the reins of government. | do not
contend for the. principle of ito the victor
belongs the spoils," but do insist that to the
trustee belongs the trust. To advocate the
life-tenure-in-off1ce system (miscalled by
some merit system to make it appear COM
mendable) is a confession OF weakness, In
ability and corruption on the part of the
party to which the advocate belongs. Mr..
Long, secretary of the navy, praises the
civil-service law, and yet Mr.. Long himself
is a protege of this sO-called spells sys-
tenn; and his accepting his present position,
after his efficient predecessor had been re-
moved to make place for him. is weight
Ter argument against the principle of the
civil-service law than all he may now say
in favor df it from his beneficiary chair.
tenn from the President down through the
Cabinet offices TO few other high fupc-
of the but m Reow ne Is 7 long ps
in giving his reasons in support of the
civil-service law, says THE old system
was absolutely undemocratic and un-Amer-
lean. If there is democratic or Ameri-
can principle it is that every man shall
have chance and win according to his
merit" Did Mr.. Long get his place that
way? Was his predecessor removed be-
cause of his inefficiency and untitness, aH~
was Mr.. Long appointed because he was
more efficient and better qualified than Mr..
Herbert? Was it not partyism that placed
Mr.. Long and Mr.. Mckinley where they
are? To be sure, they are qualified. The
people trusted Mckinley and his party. 1t
was the sound, safe and American princi-
pies of the Republican party that caused
the majority Of the American people to call
that party to power and to make II the
custodian of their interests. To the trustee
belongs the trust. Whenever the Republic
an party or the Democratic party, IL 1t be
in power, betrays that trust and proves
it's inefficiency, then let the people turn the
party out. Some politicians seem to think
it is wonderfully patriotic to decry and de-
nounce partyism and talk about raising
themselves above partyism and prejudice,
as if the two were twin sisters wallowing
in the gutter. They seem to forget, or
else do not know, that, our country was
born, nurtured and rocked in the cradle
of partyism washington Jefferson Hamil-
ton Webster, Clay, Calhoun. Lincoln,
Grant and, indeed. every great American,
was strong partisan. Destroy partyism,
and you dissolve the republic, dethrone de-
mocracy and enthrone monarchy. Party
ism is in line with republicanism and Is
theory of government, as distinguished from
monarchica forms of governments OF
the old world. 1t IS peculiarly American.
Any theory of government policy that
smacks of life tenure in office and tends to
prevent a party in power from selecting it's
own employees, where so much responsibility
rests upon it, is antagonstic both to our
/ free American form of government and to
the business principles and methods upon
which our industrial and commercial life
and interests based and under which
they operate. JONATHAN KEITH.
Vincennes. Ind, Dec. Is.