Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-10-28

President Cleveland, so far from reienting TO
wards the office-seeker actually seems TO be
hardening his heart His edict of yesterday,
closing the White House 10 him and his 'sin-
florence" both, is one Of the most painful
snubs which has ever been administered to the
eager patriots who wish to serve the old flag for
a small appropriation.
But TO those who appreciate the duties Of the
President and who know how the performance
OF these duties Is obstructed by the demands of
plaee-hunters, the new rule will commend itself
as eminently just and appropriate. For eight
months, covering his whole term of Office thus
TAR, the President has been besieged by those
who ask the favor of place. 1t Is time, now
That the session Of Congress approaches that
the President be relieved from their importu-
nifty in order that he may be able to prepare
himself for the questions of the winter.
The growth of the country and the modern
systems OF rapid transit make necessary some
limitation of the freedom of approach to the
executive. The President of the United States
Is out OF all comparison the most easily ap-
preached Of the worlds rulers The humblest
citizen can walk into his reception room, unat-
tended and unheralded, introduce himself, and
gain a personal interview. The Presidents
time Is at the disposal of the man whose claim
TO attention IS that he voted for Jackson, or has
machine by which persons can liftthemselves
by their boot straps. Bridal couples call on
him as an essential part OF the honeymoon, and
all politicians of any note insist on making his
personal acquaintance.
II the hours of the day could be multiplied to
keep pace with the population of the country it
might be possible for the executive to keep
open house to all corners. But if President
Cleveland had as many arms as Hindoo god
he could not cope with the mob of sight-seers
and patronage brokers which pours into the
White House, or would pour into it, If all
restraints were removed. The line must be
more and more sharply drawn, not in a spirit
OF exclusiveness as the unthinking may claim,
but in defense of the public interests.
1t is seldom nowadays that the old-fashioned
style OF murder for money is attempted. HON.
icide for pay Is out of date, at least at retail;
the professional soldier still survives as
Wholesale homicide at large. But it is quite
uncommon at the present day to engage a ruff
fan for fixed sum OF money to take life.
Hence the recent attempt of a Baltimore family
To get rid of an obnoxious woman by this means
naturally creates a sensation.
In the good old times" q lord or gentleman
who wanted a disagreeable person knocked on
the head and quietly disposed of, could gener-
ally find q william who would execute such a
commission for q small purse of gold. Shake
speare writes of the "first murderer and the
second murderer" in his plays, as if homicide
in the epochs described was a recognized and
rather crowded and flourishing vocation. In
those days, the really drstclass murderer, who
could turn of a neat job, was, no doubt per-
son Of some distinction,tand the admiration of
all the small boys who were practicing their
skill on flies, or at the furthest, on cats.
But times have changed. The age of chivalry,
with all its humbug, ignorance, vice and bru-
tality, is, happily, past, and, with its other
characteristics, the professional paid assassin
Is no more. Hence, 1t was very risky to open
negotiations even with the vilest and most
desperate scoundrels of great city looking to
murder for pay. The consequence in this case
was that the scoundrels first took the fee for
shedding blood and then told the police all
about the plot,-greatly to the Inconvenience of
their wealthy patrons.