New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-05-10
SFvATORTAL SOPHISTEIES.


the Presidents Withdrawal Of nominations has
aroused, comes from every part of the country.
The strongest Republican journals Of every
State Join it, and in this State 10 is swclled log
Journals which have never di,.entcd from Mr.
Conkling before. The cause Is not antrthy
for Mr. Conkling. 1t is hear y rejoicing that
the Republican party has leader just enough
broad enough and fearless enough 90 treat with
fairness all elements of the party. IL Is keen
satisfaction that the iInpudcnt ueWIation.
which threatened 20 rob the President elected
bv the people of his constitutional power, Is
firmly and effectively resisted. President Gar
field may rest assured that the people WHO
elected Will sustain him.
Objections are raised by some wcll-incaning
persons who fail TO understand the point of the
controversy. The fact that, even at this late
day, there are some VITO honestly misrnder-
stand the Presidents course, is a sufficient an
| swer to those who have blamed him because
| he refIaiued 30 long from any act Of resistance
| /. This is a declaration of war, some say.
| With exactly the same reason, ins0lent scccs-
| sioujsts claimed that the Union was making
"an aggressive and uuholy war twenty years
/ ago because il began 60 assert its rightful au-
thority after forts had been bombarded and
captured, arsenals bad been seized, and the flag
had been torn down from hundreds of public
bindings, while armed forces were marshallug
in many States to destroy it. The Union de
| Tended it's existence. The President defends
his right to exercise the power which the Con-
stitution has intristcd TO him. Mr. Conking
and certain other Senators made war, when
they declared their purpose to reject, for indie
! Inv, NAL "A
nation to which no legitimate objection was
| made.
II. "But the President is trying 10 usurp the
"power of confirmation. The senate has the
same right 70 reject that lac has 20 nominate
This sophistry is based upon the false notion
that powers are trusted to public officers for
private ends. The President has no night TO
make an improper nomination. The Senate
has no right to reject proper nomination for
personal and selGsh ends. The legal power of
the President to appoint, aud of the Senate to
confirm or reject, is absolute II Tire question
is one Of legal power, no one can dispute the
right of the President to Withdraw any nomi-
nation The real question Is as to the proper
or improper use of an unquestioned legal
power, by the President in nominating OF
| Withdrawing, and ~ Senators in confirming
or rejecting. When certain Senator'S undertook
| TO defeat proper and creditable nomination
for personal, selfish and unpatriohc ends they
attempted to usurp a power which did not Oi
right belong to them and that usurpation the
President justly resistA
III. "If the men nominated were worthy,
"their names should not have been with
| drawn if they were not worthy they should
"never have been nominated There Is moth
| ing hut shallow trick in this objection.
| For almost every Office, the President has
more than one worthy and competent applicant,
and could find, Unnecessary, a great many persons
| abundanty worthy and qualified to FIJI it. The
right of the President is 10 select, from several
worthy and competent persons, the one in
whom he. az Chief Executive, has most con-
| fdence. or whose selection. in connection with
others to be made, will best satisfy the reason
able desires and interests of different elements
of the Presidents supporters To choose men
| who will efficiently and heartily aid IN carry
ing out his views of public policy is his night,
for the Executive responsibility is placed upon
him. and not upon this or that Senator. To
adjust his selections so as to deal fairly with
different elements Is also his duty. For q
President owes his position TO the confidence
and support of a whole party, while each
Senator owes his position only to the indi-
viduals who may happen to constitute ma
iority in particular Legislature Of particular
State.
Senators find it difficult to understand why
the people are so Disguised with them and
their behavior For it is the truth that ninety
nine voters out of hundred heartily rejoice
at the cOurse of the President. They under
stand, far better than Senators suppose, the
meaning OF " Senatorial courtesy p" and the rule
about uncontested nominations" Both, the
people see clearly, are mere tricks to take from
the President bis rishtful power of selection.