Democratic Sentinel, Volume 9, Number 15, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 May 1885 — INDUSTRIOUS OFFICIALS. [ARTICLE]

INDUSTRIOUS OFFICIALS.

Toll and Self-Sacrifice of the Laborers Who Form the New Administration. [Washington special in Philadelphia Times.J Idleness is certainly not one of the besetting sins of the present administration. I saw the Secretary of the Treasury hurrying through his belated dinner at 8 t clock last evening, o resume official duties. I saw the President hard at work at half-past 10 last night, with the'Secretary of War in waiting to confer with him on official business. and I saw Postmaster General Vilas at bis office before 0 this morning, after having made a tour of inspection through several of his subordinate departments. It may be the old adage of the new broom, but it looks as if an era of official industry bad been inaugurated as one of the substantial reforms of the new political rule. And what the heads of departments are doing in the way of industry is systematically enforced through all the ramifications of public service. Idlers, favorites nnd drones generally are all quaking in their boots at the new stmdard of public duties, aud searching inquiries are now in progress to ascertain the needless employes, preparatory to their dismissal. Army favorites, who have, by their social and political influence, retained desirable positions in Washington, are unable to find any weak spot in the impartial armor of the new Cabinet officers, and they will be required to take their share of hard service. With most of the leading men of the new administration, this habit of industry is simply the continuance of the methods of their lives. The President has been noted for his industry, and he is doing as President what he has always done as lawyer, Sheriff, Mayor and Governor. Manning is also a natural hard worker; one who does everything himself that he can do. and he is rigorous in the effort to master every branch of the Treasury. Vilas is another natural worker. Like the President and Mauning, he is just in the ripest vigor of life, and he means to manage his department himself. Whitney is another systeniabo worker. Like Vilas he is a great lawyer, with the keenest business qualities added, and both declined special professional fees very largely in excess of their pay as Cabinet officers, to accept their present position. Vilas was offered, by a large Western railroad interest, $15,000 a year simply as consulting counsel if he would decline the Cabinet office, and when Whitney commanded such clients as the Vanderbilts, it is needless to add that lie sacrificed much, in a pecuniary sense, to become Secretary of the Navy. But Manning, Whitney, nnd Vilas are the politicians of the Cabinet, and they are all broad-gauge men in politics as well as in law or business, and they are all quite too independent in fortune to accept public place for either immediate or remote profit. They have staked everything upon two great aims—to make exceptionally creditable and successful administrations of their departments, and to make Democracy a successful and ■enduring power in the land by eminently deserving the trust of the people. Bayard, Lamar, Garland, and Endioott are heartily in accord with the President, Manning, Whitney, and Vilas, in the aim to merit the favor of the country, but they are not politicians in the broad and liberal sense of the others.