The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-08-25
KENTUCKY REPUBLICANISM-

The Republican party is really in the
saddle in old Bourbon Kentucky With
an electoral vote, a governor and
United States senator, the party is be-
laying a BIT. and talking out in the hear
ing Of the star-eyed goddess herself.
The accusation OF tmidity lodged
against the Republican party of Ken
lucky will not lay. In state conyen-
ton it is true they only endorsed the
St Louis platform in a matter of three
lines without yenturing any further.
But that was enough. "Bimetallism"
is as far as ii Is safe TO so now with
silver tumbling every day. How much
free and independent coinage" would
stiffen the price Of silver no man would
dare venture an opinion No man now
knows that international bimetallism
would raise the commercial value Of sill
yer 10 S1-29 per ounce. Ii is a matter
of guess and speculation depending on
the future relative productions of the
rope in bank and national treasures
has fifteen hundred million in silver
bullion, or more than all this country
holds in both coin and bullion of that
metal But Kentucky Republicans
were bold and emphatic enough when
it came to a civil service reform which
shuts out the faithful and competent.
and crankily protects Gray Gables pets
Kentucky Republicans declare that four
years is long enough at the pie counter.
civil service or no civil service. and that
the present rule tends TO build up an
office holding class against which u
popular government should set its face.
theoretical mugwumps 10 the contrary
Notwithstanding. In other words, the
Republican party of Kentucky very
well understand that Kentucky Will not
long hold to its new Republican faith
If Cleveland Democrats are To hold all
the offices. The way TO make kentucky |
permanently Republican is to put Re |
publicdnS on guard.
Speaking of this new extra-vlrtuous |
political fad. the Hon. Jacob II. Gal |
linger, in the Illustrated American, |
makes the following Well-niSh incon- i
testable points: He says that Iii is in |
disputable that no proof whatever has |
Yet been forthcoming that the work of |
,a
performed now than it /
was in the days when honesty and cap !
ability 10 he determined by actual trial, !
under the supervision of honest and ca
pable heads Of bureaus and depart
mentS. were the fundamental require
mentS. In this connection, do not hest
tate 10 put on record my own individual
opinion. even at the risk of being class
ed among the Spoilsmen in public life.
that instead of the service having been
strengthened and bettered. it has actual
" been weakened and emaSculated by
The idea that there shall he an indefinite
tenure of office. and that public officials
and pensioners Of the government.
nus establishing an office-hOlding arts
-ocracy, after the manner of China, In
liza England and certain other mon
lrchical governments.
During the last administration many
thousands Of discharges were made, al
most wholly for political reasons. In
single day several hundred dismiSSals
we're made in one branch of the service. !
ma so far as could he ascertained they
III belonged TO one political party.
'one thousand three hundred and
linety-four Union soldiers were dis
'harsed. forced 10 resign. or reduced in
he departments AZ Washington from
S'i3 10 1897, 10 make room for Demo-
rats, scarce one of whom had seen ser
ice in the Union army. while many Of
hem had fought in the ranks of seces-
hon l have it upon good authority
hat IN the mint al Philadelphia. during
hat time. over sixty Union soldiers
we're dismissed, thirty-two of whom re
eyed notice Of discharge on Memorial
Day, May 81. 1894.
1t is safe 10 say that every bureau
nd department of the government is :
in the hands OF the political
arty that WAS defeated al the polls last
'ovember. In many Instances high of. il
Gals hesitate. and even refuse 70 cali I
, their desks certain Of their suhordin-
les TO discuss with them matters of
i.a concern 10 the government, Tor the !,