Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-07-20
The Presidents Order.

To the Editor ofthe Free Press and Times
| Most certainly, far distant be the day,
when the FREE Pass AND TINES will hesitate
to honestly critcise the policy and conduct
of our President and all other public men.
| admire manly independence in the press.
| despise trucking, dishonest partizanship.
| only regretted that you felt " it to be your
duty" to endorse the critisims of the journal,
lie, | regretted that you did not see things
as did
| do not understand that the President
proposes to discourage anything but " off,
cious OF offensive interference in political
affairs
Notwithstanding what you say of Federal
Office holders in Vermont, it seems to me
that the President must have seen il some
,Chere, and that it had come to be so great
an evil that he, with his Cabinet, have
thought that the purity Of the Civil Service
required that something should be done to
check it,
1t cannot be that we have Don QuiIote
in the Executive chair lie has not made
an assault upon wiDd-mills, installing them
for giants. lie has seen every evil he
proposes to prevent or remove aud has re-
garded it as Of sufficient magnitude to claim
the interposition OF the Government
| Perhaps your inference may be Justly
dra~n, that intended to apply the charge
to Federal office holders in Vermont. 1t is
incorrect, however. know of no such Off
eious conduct in Vermont or Grand Isle
COunty-since the Democracy went out of
power. know how prominent Democrats
used to complain Of their Office holding
brethren
A distinguished soldier holds the most
important Federal office in Vermont, and |
have never heard any complaint about his
interference in political affairs. The fact is,
that our conventions are manipulated morel
in the interest of those who want Office for
themselves or friends. The politics of Yer
mont are so sure, that a Republican Admin
istration has not regarded it as at all impor-
tant that its servants should do anything to
secure the permanence of Republican major
tiles here. About all that has been expected
Of ofice-holders in Vermont, was to paw
their assessments to sustain party move
ments, or Jay the expenses of ,,arty cam
paigning.
Now if this is not corruptinp and dis
graceful, do not know what is. An Ad-
ministration taxing it, army of hundred
thousand trained men to perpetuate itself
II there IL no improperly in Federal Office
holders exertng a controlling influence in DO
lltical movements, what is it that keets
members OF the Cabinet and the President
himself FROM active participation in party
operations
Why does not the President take the
stump, attend mas meetings, pack cOnyen-
tons, and dc what any other citizen feels
authorized to do? Why should he not, if
he desires denomination, or TO discharge n
debt Of gratitude he owes somebody, who
put him in his place. employ the influence
and powers his position gives him, to secure
the desired object II he is one of "our
best men he will not accept the office of
President, unless he can do Just az it is
proper for any body else to do.
Why should the President any more than
any other Federal officer, ~ you say, .'lay |
aside the American citzens birthright-the |
right TO mingle on equal terms with his fel- |
low-citlzens and in the selection of public |