Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1882-10-04

meeting here didn't amount to much.
He certainly then wasted his powder
in blowing it up. When long effort
s made to show that there is nothing
in nothing, people ask themselves, why
then spend so much time on nothing
Facts continue, however, to speak
louder than words. Holding an office
has a wonderful influence in directing |
the minds of some people these days.
THE Supreme Court of this State
opened its session for Western Penn
sylvania at Pittsburgh last Monday.
The session of the Judges at Pitts
burgh, however, will be very brief this
time from the fact of that unjust order
made by them last fall, transferring
the hearing of all cases to Philadelphia
from all the Western counties OF the
State, except four or FIVE. This is one
of the questions that will enter into the
election of the Supreme Judge to be
voted for next month. Why should
the people of Butler county be ordered
to Philadelphia for hearing of their
appeals?
AMONG the numerous falsehoods
stated in the Eagle last week is the
one which says there was a disagree
ment between the President Judge
and the Associate Judges relative to
holding of Court on.the evening of the
two Republican meetings here, Sept.
goth inst. The Eagle represents that
Judge McJ unkin was overruled by the
Associates. Such is not the fact.
When the matter of holding Court that
evening, as on former ones, was dis
cussed among the Judges it was in the
most friendly spirit, and after full
talk on the matter they all three
agreed to have no session of Court on
that evening, Notwithstanding the
great amount of business pending.
There was no overruling in the matter,
but agreement, and the Eagle only
gives another exhibition of it's malice
towards Judge McJunkin in making
the statements it did last week.
THE charge that Harry Walker, the
Rutler post Office clerk, was dismissed
for his refusal to pay political assess
ments, has been denied by the post miss
tress. In the face of this denial the
clerk sent the following telegram to
Thos M. Marshall, who first made the
charge. Everything you said in your
speech in Butler on the evening OF the
goth, in regard to my removal from the
Butler post Office, is literally true"
Mr.. Marshall makes this text, in his
speech in Allegheny city last week, for
the following comments on the assess
ment nuisance. "Oh, but they say
the assessments are all voluntary. Let
me illustrate | have an old man
working for me who has been with
me for IA years. Suppose / should
address him o note, telling him that
he should not be discharged without
cause, but that present of $6 would
not be objected to by me. He does
not respond and | serve him another
note asking for voluntary contribu-
tion Of ST. Still the money dosn't
come. lie continues to draw his
wages and take them home to his fam
ily. get some ink the color of blood
and send him third circular, demand
ing 81 20, but assuring him again that
it is purely voluntary. He didn't an
swer, and | discharge him. Is that
living up to the principle laid down in
the Republican platform that no COM
petent and faithful officer shall be dis
charged except for causes"
THE following letter written by
Daniel Webster soon after he accepted
the Office of Secretary of State in Presi-
dent Harrison's Cabinet, is of interest
at present:
DEPARTMENT OF STATE, March 20, 1841.
To The Hon. Thomas EDing, Secretary
ofhe Treasury =
SIR-The President is of opinion
that it is great abuse to bring the
patronage of the general government
into conflict with the freedom of elec-
tions, and that this abuse ought to be |
corrected wherever it may have been
permitted to exist, and to be prevented
for the future.
He therefore directs that information
be given to all officers and agents in
your department of the public service
that partisan interference in the popu-
lar elections, whether OF State officers
or of officers of the (federaD govern
ment, and for whomsoever it may be
exercised, or the payment of any con-
tribution or assessment on salaries or
official compensation for party or elec-
ton purposes, will be regarded by him
as q cause for removal
1t is not intended that any officer
shall be restrained in the free and prop
er expression and maintenance of his
opinions respecting public men or pub
llC mCdculCb vi III tuC CAClCioC w LuC
fullest degree of the constitutional
right of suffrage. But persons employ
ed under the government and paid for
their services out of the public Treasury
are not expected to take an active or
ofiicious part in attempts to influence
the minds or votes of others, such con-
duct being deemed inconsistent with
the spirit CT the constitution and the
duties of public agents acting under it;
aDd the President is resolved, so far as
depends upon him, that, while the ex-
ercise Of the elective franchise by the
people shall he free from undue infu-
ence OF official station and authority,
opinion shall also be free among the
officers and agents of the government.
Similar letters have been addressed
10 other heads of departments