"In numerous instances the post-offices were made headquarters
for local party committees and organizations and the centers of
partisan scheming. Party literature favorable to the postmaster's
party, that never passed regularly through the mails, was
distributed through the post-offices as an item of party service;
and matter of a political character, passing through the mails in
the usual course and addressed to patrons belonging to the
opposite party, was withheld; disgusting and irritating placards
were prominently displayed in many post-offices, and the
attention of Democratic inquirers for mail matter was tauntingly
directed to them by the postmaster; and in various other ways
postmasters and similar officials annoyed and vexed those holding
opposite political opinions, who, in common with all having
business at public offices, were entitled to considerate and
obliging treatment. In some quarters, official incumbents
neglected public duty to do political work and especially in
Southern States, they frequently were not only inordinately
active in questionable political work, but sought to do party
service by secret and sinister manipulation of colored votes, and
by other practices inviting avoidable and dangerous collisions
between the white and colored population."*

*Cleveland, "Presidential Problems," pp. 42-43.


The Administration began its career in March, 1885. The Senate
did not convene until December. Meanwhile, removals and
appointments went on in the public service, the total for ten
months being six hundred and forty-three which was thirty-seven