The Evening critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1881-1885, 1881-06-29

The SOMEWHAT STARTLING ANNOUNCE
MENT Is made simultaneously in all the
organs of the Attorncy-Gcneral that that
officer IL not only not to be removed
from the Cabinet, but is not even to
be requested to resign. Some of the or
gans of the Acknowledgement stop with
the announcement alone; while others,
notably the Philadelphia Times, Louisville
Co,uier-Journdi, and st. Louis Republican,
deem the situation of sufficient gravity to
call for solemn editorial warning to the Pres
idcnt that he had better not attempt to re-
move the Attorney General or even to re-
quest his resignation, unless he wants to
bring down the American press--that is to
saw. the American Democratic prcss-in an
avalanche of indignation upon his unpro-
tected head. The reason why we character
ize this announcement as somewhat start
ling" is because we had not seen any prior
statement or even heard any previous rumor
that the Attorney General was to be re-
moved or even requested to resign. On the
contrary, we were resting blissfully upon an
assurance which the Attorney General him
self recently promulgated in the Star
which is the official organ of the Chief OF
the Attorney Generals Bureau Of Suborna-
tion-that "no member of the Cabinet en-
joyed firmcr tenure of Office than the At
ncy-General."
Not having read or heard any assertion
affirmative of the proposition under discus
sion, we were naturally somewhat startled
to read the vehement dcnials aforesaid, ap-
pcaring with so much evidence of precon-
cert in all the official organs of the Attor.
ncy- -Gencral and we presume that triflc
of well-meaning curiosity to know the
cause of it may be pardoncd in u.s. 1t would
seem that the organs, operating as they dc
upon knowledge professedly derived from
the ground floor and by carefully arranged
preconcert, ought to be consistent will
themselves. But when we read in newi
column the statement that the Presiden
has no intention of removing the Attorney
General or of even requesting him to re
sign, " and then turn to the editorial col
umns of the same organ to find savag
warning served upon the President that III
had better not attempt" anything of tn
. | KlDu, we Unlllk IncIc MOulu DS ho
of the rules of chaste English in saying tina
the performance is at least remarkable.
If there is mo intention etc. what nee
is there of the vehement warning? !
there is need of the vehement warming
why discredit its motive in advance by say
, ing that there is "no intention" ETC.?
/ We submit these conundrums with al
, due respect. For our own part, we say tina
e we have no wish in the premises, bein
. merely an observer. There are some rea
| sons why we should dislike to believe tina
, the President had any "intcntion of remoN
0 ing the Attorney General or even of II
questing him to resign" If the Presider
should find that he had made a mistake /
: his selection of an Attorncy-Gcncral, W
u think his wisest policy would be to Civ
. that individual all the rope he wanted; i
Il other words, give him abundant opport'
y nifty to testify his unfitness to the publ
% beyond cavil, before taking any steps. Hal
y PLY for the President MacVeagh is jul
: the sort of fellow to make the most of sue
= an opportunity. The President need nj
II be precipitate.