Democratic Sentinel, Volume 8, Number 50, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 January 1885 — POLITICAL. [ARTICLE]

POLITICAL.

The Democrats of Michigan are claiming a Cabinet position for O. M. Barnes.

In the construction which they place upon Gov. Cleveland’s letter to the CivilService Reform Association, says the Washington correspondent of the Chicago Times, Democrats and Republicans are about equally divided, and they are pleased or dissatisfied accordingly. The general tenor of the proclamation is commended by a large portion of both parties, but many officeholders and the Democratic spoilsmen are puzzled to measure the length and breadth of Cleveland’s meaning in the paragraph which declares that there are many persons holding office who have forfeited all just claim to retention because they have used their places for party purposes, and proved themselves offensive partisans and unscrupulous manipulators of local party management. It is claimed that this paragraph opens a wide door through which he may drive out nine-tenths of the emp'oyes of the Government, and that he would not have been so careful to insert it unless it had been his purpose to take advantage of that easy method of displacing Republicans to make room for Democrats. Another class of Democrats approve of the theory of the letter that merit rather than mere party service should be the test of fitness for office, but they question the judgment of Cleveland in committing himself on the subject of civilservice reform to anticipation of his inaug-

ural deliverances upon public questions, and without sufficient reason for discussing the subject at this time. An intimate friend of Mr. Bayard says that it is very doubtful if the Senator will accept a place in the Cabinet President Arthur’s Senatorial boom in New York has collapsed. It is authoritatively announced that he is not a candidate. The seats of Brown and Butterworth, from Ohio,.are to be contested; also the seat 'of Romeis, who beat Hurd. In the latter case the notice has been served. Judge Bradley of the United States Supreme Court seems to have no idea of retiring, and those who hoped to succeed him are likely to be disappointed. The Democratic members of Congress are growing more liberal in the matter of building up tne navy. A Louisiana member is advocating the appropriation of $10,000,000 for new steel-armored vessels, and others are favoring liberal appropriations lor coast defenses.

Taxes will fall due this year on 14,594,406 gallons of whisky. It is denied that the opinion of the Attorney General, if carried into effect, will necessarily extend the bonded period, but the whisky men say that they will be satisfied if the intent of the opinion is carried out. Secretary McCulloch is said to be in favor of extending relief to the whisky interests. Gen. Raum, ex-Com-missioner of Internal Revenue, says that the plan proposed is an easy way out of the difficulty. The United States, he declares, will not lose a dollar of revenue.