Daily Republican., 1881-05-06
who Runs the Government

Who Runs the Governments
1t has all along been supposed that
the President had the right and the
power to say who should be the subor-
dinate officers which the Constr
tuition gives him the power TO appoln',
but if we are to judge by what Is gong
on at Washington it would appear that
he has only power to appoint the person
to office who somebody else may RECON-
mend. While there can be nothing
wrong and to goa little farther, While
common courtesy might induce the
President to consult Senator or a
Representative in regard to who would
make good officer and who was best
entitled to the office, this should never
be construed into an imperative rule or
maxim to govern all appointments
The Constitution of the nation says the
President has the right to make nomlna-
tionS vet here in the Senate at ASH
ington, we have the spectacle of single
Senator assuming the right to dictate
the nominee and what is more humllla-
ting score of brother Senators OBJ
sequiously assent to do his bidding.
Senator Conkling is above the average
in intellectual ability, but for all that
he is but the peer OF other Senators and
has no more rights than are accorded to
the humblest member of the Senate,
The cause of his opposition to the ap-
pointment of Judge Robertson to the
office of Collector of the Port Of New
York is that the President in making
the nomination did not consult Mr..
Conkling. Mr.. Robertson is one Of the
most honest and upright men in the
State of New York and withal so popu-
lar that time after time he has been
elected to both houses of the State Leg
islature from strong Democratic dis.
trict. He is man of acknowledged
ability and unSullied character. He
did not ask for the appointment, neithe;
did his friends for him. But President
Garfield admiring the man and desirina
TO place him in a position not only o
honor but of the highest trust, unsolic
tied appointed him Collector Of the
Port Of New York. The Legislature OF
New York of which Mr. Robertson is a
member, promptly endorsed the nomina-
tion and the Republican press all over
the country heartily approved it while
the Democratic press had not a word to
say against it,
All the opposition comes alone from
Senator Conkling himself because he
was not consulted as to who should be
appointed. 1t is doubtful if President
Garfield ever Imagined for moment
II that there ctllld be any objections tC
the nomination of Judge Robertson
He may have thought that here is {
nomination al least that will be ap
PIoNtl ny 'N'l y b"IN Anu ~ II Wa
by everybody except the senior Senator
from New York. He appears 10 be tn,
real source from which danger springs
and there is no danger beside what hC
has created. # he withdraws his op,
position all will work along smoothly
as before and there will be- no danger
to Republican success in the Empire
State. 1t is strange that his obsequious
fellow Senators who bow the supple knee
before him did not try to impress him
with the fact that it would be more be.
coming in him to Withdraw his oppoSi.
tion Than for the President to withdraw
a most excellent nomination simply tc
please the whims OF II whimsical Sena
tor. By their course they virtual!
make a fellow Senator their lord ant
master, and dictator in the body o
which he is only single member. No
content with yielding implicit obe
dience, they seek to exact like COmpli
ance from the President. The whole
thing is disgraceful and cannot be jus
tifeG by any well thinking man with
an independent mind. 1t We're better
that Conkling should resign from the
Senate than that the President should
yield an inch to the diCtatiOn of one
man. The nation has President with
backbone. Let it remain rigid in the
maintenance of principle and law, and
only yielding III blending mercy and
judgment.