The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-06-30

who have it in their power to put an
end to this ferocious nightmare, and
would have this whole nation at their
back. Covert sympathy with SPAIN
forsooth! At least, that first word will
not describe the Mckinley policy. Open
and avowed is the sympathy which
this administration mas expressed by
its inaction with Spanish atroci-
ties; and it is not only the flag of
Spain, but "Old Glory itself that is
smeared with the blood of the victims
of Spanish cruelty, linked arm in arm
with American cowardice.
THE SPOILS SYSTEM TRIUMPHANT.
Mr.. Mckinley, having by few Of
his earlier appointments catered to the
/ opinions and wishes of civil service re-
formers and lovers Of good govern
ment, is apparently now giving free
rein to the spoiIsmen, and apportioning
the remaining places among them on
the basis of party service with a zeal
and activity that are no less than scan
ments to important offices reflect any
thing but credit upon his administra-
ton. He has chosen, in many cases,
men without either personal charac-
ter or ability, solely as measure
of the work done by them during the
last campaign; and, when called to ac-
count, sheltering himself occasionally
behind the plea that the appointment
is one personal to himself, and de-
handing its confirmation on that
ground. With all the uproar that was
raised about Mr.. Cleveland's dictatorial
methods, any such message as this sent
from him to the senate would have
aroused instant anger and wrought his
own discontinue. The Republican SEN
ators, probably having favors of their
own to ask, show no sign of revolt
against the extreme enforcement Of the
spoils doctrine, to which Mr. Mckinley
is. now committing himself.
There has been no more conspicuous
instance Of his contempt for reform
rendered than the demand for the res
ignation Of the Hon. M. r. Baldwin as
member Of the Chippewa Indian COM
mission. There is no man in the fed
eral service, and certainly no one in
the bureau of Indian affairs, who has
given more whole-hearted, painstaking.
honorable effort to the work assigned
to him to do than Mr.. Baldwin. His
as the public knows, above reproach.
The position which he fills is one that
should be protected by every possible
safeguard against the inroads Of in
efficiency and the assaults of the place
hunter. If we are not to have honesty
and competency in dealing with the In
dams, if places in that service are to
be given out once more, as they were
in the earlier and evil days of Indian
affairs, then we shall have a return Of
those scandals to which we owe every
Indian outrage and every savage out
break Of any CONSEQUENCE that stains
our annals. When a man is found in
the federal service who has had to do
with the administration of Indian af
fairs, and has been upright and eff
Gent not merely the demands of civil
service reform, but common honesty
and common sense and common hui
mainly demand his retention. In the
face Of an excellent record Mr.. Bald
win is to be discharged. His resigna-
ton is demanded, although his reten-
ton as commissioner was asked for
with unanimity by the representatives
of the Indians themselves, and by men
as familiar with their affairs and as
interested in their welfare as Bishop
Morrison, Archdeacon Gilfllan and a
large number of men who did not set
their Republicanism above their devo-
ton to the public veal.
Although Mr.. Baldwin is a Democrat.
he belonged to those who believed i'm
and stood for the cause of sound
money; and, therefore, there Is no
ground of offending on his part in this
respect. There is not one single rea-
son, apparently, for his removal. ex-
cept the hunger Of others for his place.
and the more than whispered OPPOSE
ton to his appointment by those who
have covetoustl eyes fastened upon the
valuable timber preserves Of the Chip
pewa Indians3 For years it has been
necessary to wage constant battle
against certain great interests that
would despoil' the reservations in this
state Of their standing timber for pri-
vate gain. That effort has not been
abandoned. Every man who sets his
face against the schemes of the pine
land ring mayjexpect to suffer- What
part his refusal to lend a willing ear
to these gentlemen has had in the dis
favor in which Mr.. Baldwin finds him
self at Washington our readers must
judge for themselves from the coin
on any and all grounds, in the light
of his faithful and able discharge of his
trust and his determination to stand,
at any cost for the property and the
rights Of those committed to his care,
that the demand for Mr. Baldwin's
resignation is not merely a trampling