Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-06-08

the officers and agents Of the government.
Mr.. Webster did rot explain how the
President was to secure the removal OF
Estate officers" who interfered with cleo
tions: bnt as affecting federal ofhceholders,
and as explained in the paragraph quoted
above, the circular seems to us good one. 1t
also seems to US that it goes about as tar as
the President can wisely 90 in that direc-
ton. President Hayes goes little further
He says: Party leaders should have no
more influence in appointments than other
equally respectable citizens. No
officer should be required or permitted to
take part in the management of political
organizations, eaucuses, conventions, or elee-
ton campaigns. Their right to vote and to
express their views on public questions,
either orally or through the press, is not de-
MED, etc.
Now it does not seem to us, with due
Difference to the opinion Of the head OF the
nation, possible to prevent party leaders
from having more influence over appoint
ments than other citizens equal to them in
responsibility but lacking the qualities which
make men leaders Of opinion, and 50 leaders
of parties Nor would it be wise to prevent
them, if it were possible. In the Republi-
can party of to-day, no man can be justly
called party leader who is not man OF
force of character, strong will, clear judg-
ment, and strong and in the main honest
convictions, as well as Of power to impress
his convictions on others. How are such
men to be prevented from having more in
fluence on appointments than smaller and
duller and less trustworthy men? Many OF
President Hayes's own appointments have
been and are Influenced BY such men. lie is
himself such man. Such men will neces-
sarily have influence with the appointing
powers, and it is best they should have.
1t seems to us equally unwise TO
absolutely prohibit the influential par
ticipation of Officers in political
caucuses, conventions and campaigns.
Of course We do not question the notorious
fact that there has been far too much Z" man
agement of politics by federal oficehold-
ers. In some States and communities they
have held almost absolute control of prlma-
ries and nominating conventions, and have
exercised dictation in politics, absolute
enough and offensive enough to call for Sc
we're rebuke and repression But the true
remedy for this evil does not seem to US to
be the entire exclusion of officeholders every |
where from the caucuses and conventions, o. |
same to which their individual characters |
and standing would entitle them if they were |
not oficeholders. If the Presidents letter |
referred simply to the New York custom
house We should have little or nothing to |
even there, if Collector Arthur
is man enough to be trusted, as the Presi-
dent trusts him, with the carrying out of his
measures of reform, he is man enough to be |
permitted some small share in directing
the action of political convention but it
seems plainly to 90 further, and to be in
tended to exclude all officers of the govern
ment from prominence in politics. If so,
then we say we cannot conceive ii to be right
or wise TO create a class of citizens who are
to any extent prescribed in their connection
with politics, which are and should be every
mans business to such extent as be chooses to
make them. Nor can it be wise to practi-
cally restrict the holding of Office to men
who are willing for the sake Of the emolu-
ments of the Offices, to Law aside not only
portion of the influence properly attaching
to their offices, but also their own individual
influence and standing. The best men will
not accept Office. on condition that they con-
fine themselves to quiet voting and such
oral expression as shall not influence ap-
pointments or nominations, or guide political
lotion.
Our own community of Vermont is proof
that it is possible to have a body of federal
OF such character that they
can associate on equal terms with their
Iellow citizens in the management of
Any public matter, political matters
not excepted, without damage to the public.
We have no custom house dictation" in
our politics and have not had for twelve
that could be fairly called custom house
control here, since the custom house was
n Democratic hands Our nominating con-
Ientions have not been run by federal Office
we have had conventions
whose work would have been much more
at isfactory, if the bummers who were not
had taken back seats, and the
ederal officials had had more to do with the
Of the conventions.
What is wanted everywhere, is "ofhcers"
% respecting themselves and the interests Of
he government and the public, that their
elbow citizens will be glad to have them
axe part with them in the direction of pub
&c affairs, and of such character that no
dictation'' or offensive interference in
politics need be feared from them And the
government will be better served by such,
han by men, who, in the acceptance OF
'f'ice, pledge themselves to become political
lonentities.