Rensselaer Republican, Volume 17, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 May 1885 — Mad Mugwumps. [ARTICLE]

Mad Mugwumps.

Even the mugwumps cannot swallow the Pillsbury dose. The Boston ftecord says: “If Eben F. Pillsbury, just appointed intemal Revenue Collector for the Third District of Massachusetts, is uot an ‘offensive partisan,’ he must have experienced a remarkable conversion.” The Springfield (Mass.) Republican says: “When the administration gets down. to Pillsbury of Maine for Collector of Internal Revenue in the Third District of Massachusetts, the drop is heard all over New England. There will be general impatience at this wanton lowering of the standard hitherto maintained. And then there is Troup, of New Haven, also made a Collector of Internal Revenue, who has no particular political principles because he does not see what use a politician can have for such baggage. These men are well mated, and the tender care which this administration displays for Ben Butler’s political orphans is something more than a crime—for it is the silliest sort of apo itlcal blunder. It would be very interesting to know what influences have sufficed to compass this bad break in Mr. Cleveland’s record of appointments. Can it be that the fine Roman hand of Secretary Manning was enlisted by Messrs. Pillsburv and Troup to ‘strengthen the party,’ thereby brilliantly exhibiting the foolishness of professional politics?” The Boston Advertiser, speaking of the appointments of Pillsbury and ( base, says: “The appointments of Internal Revenue Collectors for Massachusetts and Maine made by the President yesterday are as bad as they could be, unless he had chosen men convicted of crime. Pillsbury's record of consistent antagonism to the efforts to suppress the rebellion, and the notorious participation of both in the scheme by which it was attempted to steal an election, are not the whole of their disqualification for service under an administration which professes a motive of progress, and reform. Neither of them, in bis political career, has been so much as named in connection with any action which looked to the better and more honest methods in politics. They are devotees of the old spoils system, and are held in such disesteem that neither of them in the State where they are both best known could command the full vote of his party for any office. They have been useful in such ways that it would be extremely unwise to expose either of them to the fierce light of a popular election. Their selection for honor by the Democratic administration is a blunder of large proportions, significant of an essential weakness. ” The selection of Pillsbury, and Chase may be included also, was a direct defiance to the ordinarv decency and self-respect of every man in New England. If Cleveland had scoured the political slums he conld not have found more offensive representatives than these upon whom to bestow offices of honor and trust And yet we arq*compelled to lis'en to the reiterated twarldle about this reform administration! It is time to stop it It is becoming nauseating. If Cleveland actually belietes that these men whom he has been appointing recently are not offensive partisans, but men of spotless virtue and official integrity, he is not fit to be President If he does not believe it, then let his friends acknowledge that he is carrying out the doctrines of the spoils system and give us a rest on this “reform" humbug.— C'hicage Tribune.