Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1882-12-30

SATURDAY EVENING, DEC 30. 1882.
The Attorney Generalship.
The gOvernor-elect thinks that a re-
formed corporation lawyer is the best
sort to make attorney general, since he
is fully posted as to the nature Of the
evil it will be his new duty to battle
with. There is undoubtedly force in the
argument. 1t is of the same character
as that which bids you to set thief to
catch a thief. And if tire governor
keeps a steady rein on his instrument,
no doubt he may make an excellent at
torney general out of an excellent cor
poration lawyer. The governor seems
to feel no diflidence about his ability
to do this thing, and declares
with emphasis that the attor-
new general Of Pennsylvania cannot
at the same time be the attorney of cor.
porations, while he is governor OF the
state. lie does not say who his nominee
for the Office will he, and in this lie
shows very praiseworthy regard for the
prophecies. 1t certainly is test that
he should first make the announcement
of his selection TO The Senate, after he
has taken his place as governor. Mr..
cassidy, however, has not been so reti-
cent, and while declining to say directly
that lie is to be the attorney general, for
tii" ason that he wishes to leave Mr..
Pa 49, ., free ur'i the last moment t"
change :,is mild, he very clearly shows
in Ia. subsequent conversation that he
has ''''n offered and has accepted tn"
place. lie :erventiy asks for All Oppor-
tunity TO show that lie is worthy to ill
it, a thing which he is aware has been
challenged. lie demands trial. lie is
entitled to it. Mr.. PattiSon having Sc.
lccted him for attorney general, every
one else may fitly lie asked to give him
an opportunity to demonstrate his abil-
ity and disposition to ill the office salts
factorily to the people and creditab!y to
himself.
We have not much doubt that he will
do it. lie declares, what is apparent
enough, that it will he kis in
terest, outside Of any question as to
his duty, to serve the state honestly to
the best of his ability. His ability IS
undeniably sufficient :; and if his good
disposition is conceded, there is no room
left to doubt that lie will make 4 credit
able attorney general. lie frankly
avOws that he is q candidate for the
United States Senate, and pertinently
asks whether his best plan to get there
will not he to make his service as attor-
ney general satisfactory to the people.
Certainly it will. Mr.. Cassidy recog-
nizes the force of the reform sentiment
that is abroad. He points out that this
is the sentiment that it will he profitable
for him to cater to, and that, therefore,
he may be expected to do it, even though
he be credited with no other incentive
in his innate disposition to honestly do
his duty.
In the present state OF public senti-
mcnt the force of Mr.. Cassidy's argI-
ment is not to be challenged. Public
men generally are taking upon them
selves in haste the white robes of innO-
cance, and the people cannot tel what
the dirtinesS of the skin beneath may
be; nor does it greatly matter, just now,
since honest action clearly appears to be
the best policy.
Mr.. Cassidy, by his past action and as
sociations, has not been fitted to I've the
most seemly looking standard bearer in
the army of reform; though he points to
Mr.. Pattison rs the good product of his
teaching. and asks to be judged by this
work. We do not, however, know how
fully his claim 10 the credit of Mr.. Patti
sons political rs well rs legal education
will be conceded to be correct by his
student; nor does the argument, which
the governor elect advances to justify
his selection as attorney general, give
Mr.. Cassidy credit for having always
been what he should have been as Il de-
fender of the cause of justice and the
people. If Mr.. Cassidy's strength as an
officer of justice now comes from his
intimate knowledge of the conduct Of
the unjust, it would seem to BE- conce led
that his associations have not always
been of the best kind; which is just what
our own observation has been; but IA, is
all right now.
Our apprehension is, Since it h.:s sot
to be SO popular to be good, that soon
there may not be enough bad people left
Tor our good officers TO protect US against.