The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1883-09-27

pemands Upon Public Oncsrs.

It may appear all right enough for
public men to take some recrcation now
and then, for man needs rest and relict
from the burdens and cares of life, ind
he is no less in need of it because he 5c-
cepts the responsibilities of public of
fee. But while this is true, it is also
true that public Office brings with IT
certain restrictions and sacriIices which
they, who voluntarily assume such o.
fees, must accept and abide by, Pri~
vate employment means Independence
and affords leisure and opportunity
for every qualification which inclination
and means may suggest and permit,
but when man accepts public Sta
tion he must surrender some of tnat
personal and individual independence
and this is generally so understood by
the people. He ceases, for the time be-
ing, to be master of his t me and his pleas
hrable pursuits, and agrees to serve
those who have honored him with pub
lie confidence. The public service is
exacting, and it is right that it should
be so, else the common good would
hs endangered by inatteation and
neglect. The people expect that
men prominent in official statsors
shall set examples of diligence and
strict regard for the faithful discharge
of public duties The induction into
Office and the assumption of the powers
that may pertain to it. does not lift the
person SO selected above the people, nor
make him law unto himself or give
him superior rights or privileges. He
is still servant of The people, RESPONSE
BILE to them for his condhct. and the
higher he is placed the more exactfug
are his duties and the more the people
expect of him. 1t is. therefore. mat
ter of Just criticism, whether the Presi-
dent and his Cabinet should embrace
opportunities, which persons, with q
lively sense of favors to come, offer, for
| protracted leaves of absence from the
seat of Government, thus setting exam
pies of inattention to subordinates, and
making easy the way to the neglect OF
public business. There can be no just
excuse for this growing practice. 1t
was not the custom in the past, and 1t
| ought not to become the custom now.
General Grant was largely responsible
for this violation Of official duty, and i
has steadily grown worse ever since. The
proper place at all times Tor the GUS
todians of public interests is In this
city. 1t is here they are expected te
be found when the citizens have bsisi-
ness to transact with them, and unless
they are called away to other points by
the discharge of official duty, here. is
where they ought to remain. This
squares with the public sense of Official
duties and obligations; it is the rule OF
common sense, and it may be said TO
their great credit. it was the rule whicn
Democratic Presidents lived up to. Old
Hickory SHARPLY rcbuked one Of his
Secretaries for desiring to be absent for
longer period than the President
thought proper; and, as he himse t
practiced what he preached in this
particular, tie Secretary in question
had to admit the force of Jackson 8
objections. This good old custom has
been badly broken into by recent Presi-
dents and their confidential advisers,
but if it shall be the good fortune of
the people to have a Democrat for the
next President, this custom of attend
ing strictly to business will be restored
again, and its good effect win be speedi-
" seen in more faithful public serv-
ice and the more implicit confidence OF
the people.-Americdn Register.