The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-01-31
TOTE FAIR, NEIGHDOR.

TOTE FAIR, NEiGHBOR.
The Morris Sun cannot be put in the
class of either reckless or ignorant par
tisan papers, given to making state
ments as for fact that they either know
are false or do not know are true. It
aims to be candid and fair, and gen.
orally is. When, however, it gives
place to the following, it challenges its
reputation:
One instance of the means resorted to under
the first Cleveland regime, and continued
ever since, and which has practically made
the law burlesque, was the manner in which
offensive craftsmanship was used to defeat
the purpose and aim of civil service regula-
tons. II is undeniable that the simple fact
that an incumbent was a Republican was
cause sufficient for his prompt removal, and
it must be conceded that in every instance
the place vacated was filled with most Of
fciously and VIGOROUSLY active partisan of
the administration faith.
The Sun confuses places within with
those without the classified list of the
civil service, appointment to the for
mer being made only from the lists of
eligibles, those who have passed an ex-
animation, and to the latter at the
pleasure of the president. Had Mr.
Cleveland wished to, he could not have
filled a vacancy in the civil list cover
ed by the rules, caused by the removal
of an offensive PARTISAN" by a per-
son of his choice, whether a most Of
ficious and VIGOROUSLY active partisan
of the administration faith" or not.
The law forbade him, and he was not
a man to defy or evade law. AS to
the places appointive at pleasure of
the executive, it is true that removals
were made and Democrats were ap-
pointed to fill the vacancies so made,
but it is also true, and the Sun, if it
will but rub the dust of the years off
its memory, will recall that there was
tremendous outburst of indignation
because President Cleveland refused to
make a "clean sweep" and, when a
senator or representative or boss" de-
manded the removal of Republican.
he asked if the term of the incumbent
had expired. If it had not, he then
asked what cause there was for his re-
mOval. Had the official failed to per
form his duties? Does the Sun not
remember the loud complaints made,
the disgust expressed by prominent
Democrats at thi: unprecedented
stand, and does it not remember that
the precedent of allowing an officer to
serve out his fOur-ycar term was set
by President Cleveland and has been
followed ever sinca nv hic c11coacSorco
Did it never hear disgruntled Demo-
Gratis say that they might as we'll
have elected Republican PRESIDENT"
1t is true that officials were removed
by President Cleveland before their
terms expired not only because they
were faithless in discharge of duty, but
because, while in office, they had made
themselves offensive to a portion of
those whom they served by their ex-
IRENE partisanry. He modified his rule
of serving out the term to cover such
cases. Where an official had been ac-
lively engaged in his party's campaign,
neglecting his office to give politics at
tention; where, for instance. a post
master had made the office party head.
quarters, or where he had been bitter
in his denunciation of the opposition,
forgetting that ne was as much a serv-
ant of his opponents as of his asso-
ciates, it was termed offensive parti-
sanship," and he was discharged It
is true that some of these removals
were unjustly made, on trumped-up
charges, for Democrats, no less than
Republicans, let their desire for place
get the better of their truthfulness
sometimes. And it Is true that the
president appointed Democrats to fill
vacancies, but, taking Minnesota as a
sample, will the Sun say that the ap-
pointments made were all of "the most
officiously and actively partisan" Of
the Democrats? Was fitness subordi-
mated to partisan efficiency? 1t is true
that there were exceptions, as in Mary
land and Indiana, but they were lapses
from an otherwise uniform rule.
Another thing the Sun should wipe
the dust from and admit. If, prior to
Mr.. Cleveland's first term, the four
year tenure of Office was never re-
garded by any president since Jackson,
after that and until Cleveland's sec
ond term large number of officers
who were mere tenants at will, such as
fourth-class postmasters, were swept
out with each incoming administration.
1t was in this second term that the pres
ident, without the intervention Of law.
practically put all these tenureless Of
fees under the four-year tenure by
simply refusing to make removals until
incumbents had served that term. That
precedent, also, is being adhered to by
his successor quite strictly In view
of all these facts, to which the fur
bished memory of the Sun will attest
does our esteemed contemporary think
that it tOted fair in the article uuoted3
ONE MAN EWHO DARE NOT LIE,
One cannot help feeling a certain ad-
miration for the man who differs radi-
cally with him and is sincere enough
to follow his logic to its farthest limits
i1Ict