Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-08-22
PresidentiaI Letters of Acceptance


Editor Morning NetCS: In reading the
letters of acceptance Of Messrs. Blaine,
| Butler and Cleveland, l am struck with
/ the common sense letter of Gov CleVe-
] land; common sense, because he seems
to understand the relationship he will
/ bear towards the people if elected Presi-
dent. The other candidates write as if
/ they were to be lawmakers, and their
voices would control and shape the policies
of the government. They have drifted
| far away from the duties of an executive
| officer.
1t is time the country should be brought
back to the genius and intentions of the
founders. A President has nc more bust
ness with policy than ne mas Win
the decisions of the Supreme Court. His
business is to execute the laws as passed
| Oy Congress, not to make or attempt to
! make them. The President is only, so TO
speak, the running engineer of an engine.
He has nothing to do with the making Of
it. Mr.. William Rogers or Mr.. Haines
are far more interested in the skill of the
machinists IN the machine shops than in
the skill of the running engineer. Says
the machinisUs-yOu run this engine and If
you find anything wrong run it into the
machine shop and we will make the
necessary alterations. Simply point out
what YOU know needs alteration; we Will
attend to it, not you.
just SO with the President of the United
States. His business is to point out TO
Congress any defect in law alter 1t is
put in operation. His mere opinions are
nothing. His business is with the laws
as they are, not his opinions as man
about the laws. The legislator ranks the
President or Governor, and the people
should be taught that great and important
truth. The people are far more interested
in the views of their legislators than in
the views of an executive officer. one
creates, makes and empowers; the other
is only to execute.
Gov. Cleveland shows his good sense in
his letter of acceptance by telling the peO-
ple he is only an executive officer, and
that they must look to their tdlc makers
Tor the DOIicg Of the government. How SEN
sible. how lust, how in accordance with
the nature of our government. Messrs
Blaine and Butler talk to the people as II
their voice would be supreme, ana all
they had to do was to say 10 congress,
pass this or that law because i say so; 1t
is nv policy; you are TO do my bidding"
Who cares for what Messrs. Blaine,
Rutler or Cleveland may think about the
tariff, or any other subject! Can they
shane the legislation of the cOuntryg Are
members of Congress mere tools IN the
hands of a Presidents Why don't the
people think little mores The Presi-
dent has certain duties; let him see to it
that he has integrity enough to discharge
them without being intimidated by party
influence or bought up with money con-
sideratiOns. Let him see to it that his
integrity is such that he does not make
money from his position. Mr.. Blaine
made money as a legislator, and in that he
displayed the grOssest corruption, If the
charges made against him be true, and
no one has had the temerity to deny the
facts boldly made, and to-day they stand
uncontradicted. His letters damn him
politically. Butler is wanting in that
great thing called principle, without
which man is a bankrupt in all the ele-
ments which 20 to make up the true, the
honorable and the reliable man.
In a word, then, let the people draw the
line clearly between their lawmakers
and an executive officer. The lawmakers
declare the policy of the government, and
the executive officer but enfOrees the
laws and makes such suggestions to Con-
gress as he may think wise. Congress
can lay his suggestions under the table
or act upon them if they feel so disposed.
The President is powerless to do more.
r. III. o.