Democratic Sentinel, Volume 9, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 July 1885 — A PLEA FOR REMOVALS. [ARTICLE]

A PLEA FOR REMOVALS.

Al. Open Letter to the Postmaster General. 1 Hon. William F. Vi'as, l ostma.'ter General, | Washington, D. C.: Dear Sir —lt is now almost four ! months since we have had a Democratic administration, and still no Dem- ! ocratic Postmaster has yet been ap- | pointed in this county, except one in a little village to succeed one who had j been removed by death. Our people are getting impatient, I and begin to feel dissatisfied. Ido not ! blame them for it. If such are to be the results and fruits of victory, it is j foolish to exert ourselves and vain to I conquer. We did not fight for the postoffices, but, after defeating our adversaries, we do not want thorn to rule over us any longer. The patriotism of the Democrats and their adherence to principle have been sufficiently demonstrated. Through many long years they fought and suffered for opinion’s sake, even without the expectation of success, bore defeat serenely, and after it prepared for the next combat. It can not be said of them that they were mere spoils hunters trying to get at the tlesli-pots. Keeping an undaunted courage through many a weary struggle, their perseverance finally brought about success. Tho people, tired of the party so long in power, declared that they wanted a change—reform in all the branches of the Government, in the system and in the personnel. Under our political system tho officers aTe not only servants of the Government, they are a part of it. If there is a change in the head, there must be a change in the members also. There is no need of going very slow in making it. The business interests of the country will not be injured by proceeding with dispatch. All they require is that persons equally competent should be put in the places of the officers removed. That can be done now. We have the men at hand. There is no probation required for us to get used to our new clothes, the robes of the victors. We need not bind out our intelligent Democrats as apprentices to Republican officeholders to learn tho trade of carrying on the Government. The Republicans now occupying tho offices were not appointed by reason of their special fitness or qualifications, but for their work for the party. This is a notorious fact. It requires no proof. A court would take judicial notice of it. You, all your colleagues, I, and every one that lias observed what was going on around him, have seen it done, time and again. These partisan appointees have made themselves as useful to their party after being placed in office as before. This again is notorious. Every postoffice was the Republican council chamber for the place, every postmaster the head of the gang. Why should we be required to charge these mdtters against individual officers, when everybody knows that they apply to all, jointly and severally? The presumption is against all;, let them prove ! the exceptions, if any there are, instead of reqiring us to prove patent facts. It is hateful to make charges, anyhow. It creates personal enmity, while a removal without such would be taken with the calmness and good grace with which men otherwise submit to political defeat. I believe that we Democrats have a right to expect of a Democratic achninistration that it should remove such Republican officeholders as are liable to removal at pleasure, and such as are not so liable should be requested to resign. If they then refuse, show that all their pretentions to political principles are fraudulent; that the essence of their political faith is to stick to the offices like the leech to his victim, then we will file charges against them, agd prpye enough of tjjem to rid theservice oTthatkinclofemployes. Our people expect this much of the administration. A differept policy will be injurious to tho party. The Democrats want to know that we have a Democratic Gayenijagnt. Tl|o postmaster is its representative heardsi t<3 afiS inunediately with the people. A dozen cabinet officers and a hundred ministers abroad do not have the importance, as far as making votes is concerned, of one good postmaster in a good-sized town. The people see him and transact business with him every day. Our postmaster must teach the masses that we are competent to carry on the business of the Government as well as 5 the Republicans. To leave the postofiice in the hands of the Republicans conveys the impression to the joeoplh that a Democratic President can not trust the Democrats. A Democrat getting hia mail from a Democratic postmaster feels that his party, that is himself, is “in power.” A Republican postmaster reminds him of his former subjection, and that his efforts to “get on top” have thus far been unavailing. Our county gave 1,900 Democratic votes at the last election. As things are now I would not count on 1,000 were an election to take place. You must do something for us. There are proper applications on file for . Have them acted upon. If your First Assistant cannot do the work of his office by reason of ill-health, make him resign and let a man of vigor succeed him. I wrote you about Postmaster a long time ago. He is tho worst Republican bulldozer imaginable. Why has he not been put out yet ? If we must bear with that class of men, it would have been better for us to have folded our arms, and let Blaine t be elected. j The views I express are universal , here. I hope you will pay some attention to them. Very respectfully, J. Kopelke, Chairman Democratic Central Committee and late Elector Tenth District, Indiana.