The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-03-17
WHICH Is THE REARGUARD4

For many years during the unbroken
Ascendency Of the Republican party II
was the boast Of it's press and spell
binders that it was the progressive
leader, the pathfinder in the advance
of civilization, and that whenever it
had taken and made secure some ad-
vance against the strenuous resistance
of the powers Of darkness, embodied in
Democracy, the Democratic party came
reluctantly and tardily up and went
into camp with the advance guard.
This was one of Tom Reeds favorite
comparisons; the Republic IN party. tile
advance guard, resting and waiting for
the Democratic rearguard to "ketch
up" 1t served it's purpose we'll as long
as that party had nothing to do but
to hold it's majority, for it f1attered the
vanity and lf-complacency of its
members; and, if it irritated the oaIc-
'sition, all the better, for converts were
not needed. f.s~ -.
We have not heard SO much of that
kind Of talk since that party has met
with decided rebuffs in some Of its adj
Vances, and especially since its famous
retreat from Moscow in 1890, a. cam
paign whose meaning it's Napoleon has
not appreciated, but has again entered
upon. But the old boast is recalled by
the information given out by Postmas-
ter General Gary, that the administra-
ton decides to allow all fourth-class
postmasters to serve four years unless
there be good cause for removal rising
out of their misfeasance or malfea-
sance. 1t suggests the fitness of a little
inquiry into the instances where the
Democratic party has been the one to
make the advance and the Republican
party the one to follow and adopt the
ground cleared by the advance guard.
OF these there are several whose promi-
nence and Importance will be readily
admitted.
Prior to Mr.. Clevelands first term no
federal appointee was sure of holding
his place when one Republican sue
ceeded another in the presidency. even
If his commission assured him that he
was appointed for term Of four years.
IF he had used such poor Judgment as
to attach himself to the cause of the
unsuccessful candidates for the nomi-
nation, he was made to walk the plank.
President Cleveland reversed this. and.
much to the chagrin and wrath of those
in his party who thought that there
was nothing more in party victory than
the spoils, refused to make removals.
except for cause, until the four years
term had expired. Mr.. Harrison sue
ceeded, and, equally to the disgust of
the same kind of cattle in his party,
announced that he would follow the
precedent established by Mr.. Cleve-
land. Mr. Mckinley will make no
backward move.
But the unfortunate fourth-c1ass
postmasters, commissioned during the
pleasure Of the president, remained
prey to the spoilsmen, whose appetites
were made keener by denial of the
toothsome morsels in the four-year
NiSnS, anu lHe late ana not 1amenteQ
vice president, when assistant post
master general. esta blished his guillo-
tine and earned the appellation of
headsman by :;ie slaughter he made of
tle innocents Who held office at his
pleasure. His SUCCESSOR under Harrison
put fresh edge en- The knife and work.
ed the machine Wi1h equal vigor during
his incumbency. Then came Mr.. Cleve-
hand again and, without authority or
express statute, announced that the
&our-year term would be extended to
fhe fourth-class pOstmasters by retain
ing them that length Of time if they
lRere worthy. There was a great gnash-
Ting of teeth among those who wanted
to get in, but the order stuck, and now
I'VE are glad to see that this advance
is secured by the decision Of the presl-
dent not to go back to the old and
bad practice. In the language of Mr..
Reed "the rearguard has caught up
In another and more noticeable case
has the Republican party waited for
Democracy to make an advance, and,
when the ground was found tenable
and safe, moved onto it. For years