The Democratic Platforms Of 1884 And

1888 affirmed: "We believe in honest money." The party then was far from being a silver party; if anything, itinclined towards the monometallists. What has caused the recent change of heart? Pure demagogy. Nothing else. Thi report of the committee on sew erage, printed in full on the flrst page of thie paper, should be carefully read by every voter who has the interests of the city at heart. Every question relating to eewerage has been carefully examined and, in our opinión, satisfactorily solved by the committee. A eemarkablb sight was seen in St. Paui's, London, Sunday last. On that occasion the pulpit was occupied by Rev. J. B. Massiah, of Springfield, 111., who is a colored man. It was indeed a significant occasion, showing, as it did, that the idea of universal brotherhood is beconiing more and more strongly grafted upon modern thought. ________ Tue death of James Russell Lowell deprives this country of one of its greatest and noblest men. As poet, scholar and diplomatische was equally brilliant. IJis voice was always to be heard in behalf of justice and right. His disposition was a happy combination of Puritan conscientiousness and cavalier versatility. America will not soon look apon his like again. Thk refusal of the council even to receive the report of its special committee on sewerage was a gross and unpardonable insult. Whatever may have been the opinión of aldermen as to the wisdom of the course recommended by President Cooley and Aldermen Martin and Wines, there was no reason why they should refuse to consider it - unless, as eeems probable, Ihey feit their inability to meet the arguments therein advanced. The sewerage question is not,however,disposedof,by any means. It will continue to be agitated until some of the present aldermen are led to change their minda or a new counci!, more alive to the city's interests, is elected. ________ O The Times and The Courier both stand agha8t this week because Tue Register 8aw fit to criticize a mistake made by the Republicans in putting a certain unfit man in an important political position. If either of these papers could appreciate the fact, we might inform them that it is just such honest criticism within the party that has con'nued to keep so much better men e lead, in the Republican ranks, i usually found in charge of the '". machine. It is only when newspapers are afraid to nis are their own, that to gain control of liis latter apply to ys wide-awake party ? .lts tbat Clarkson and his to defend the spoils sysi-emely specious.not tosay rirhey hold that it is essential to cess of an administration that all the offices, political, postal and clerical even, should be filled by adherents to the party in power. Otherwise, it is said, the organization would be like an army tolerating deadly enemies within it8 own ranks. The mail carrier, for instance, if a Democrat, would throw away mailjust for the sake of embarrassingtheopposing party. The Itepublican book-keeper would be equally malicious when he saw a chance to do the Democratie party an injury. The Farmers' Alliance boy that sweeps out the postoffice or custom house would, no doubt, take pains to throw valuable document8 intothe dust heap, all on account of his wicked desire to stab his great enemy, the Republican party. And what shall wesay of the " washlady " ■who swears by Bel va Lockwood? It needs but a few illustrations of this kind to show clearly the fallacies of those who try to defend the spoils sysiem. At the same time, all will admit that it is right and expedient that purely political officers, such as foreign ministerp, consuls, judges and members of the cabinet, should bejin sympathy with the policy of the dominant party. This far we can go and no farther. Until Andrew Jackson btcame president of the United States, no one dreamed oi carrying the policy farther. Republicans, of all men, should be the last to defend the odious modern system. lts possibilities for harra are indeed beyond conception. An administration backed by an army of spoilsmen may become quite as tyrannical aB a monarchy backed by an army of men-slayers. There is, in fact, but little difference between them; the allegiance of each army is bought by bread and butter, and while the ofifjce-holders may not hold muskete orswords.they do possess what is far more powerful in this day- votes and political influence. Thanks to the feeble efforts of Grover Cleveland and the more powerful achievements of Benjamin Harrison, the American nation is becoming less and less encumbered with the terrible octopus.