New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-10-09
TIE PRESIDENT RESPONSIBLE.

Glittcring generalitics form no part of the
indictment against the Presidents AdIninlstra-
ton. The charges arc specific ana complete
bill of particulars is furnished.
For example, the Postmaster General Is
arraigned for thwarting the will OF Congress
and declaring war upon American Shipping
An appropriation of 100000 was made fol
foreign mail service Onc-half OF which was
reserved for American steamship lines. What
has the POstmastcr-Gen cral doncT lie has
given the English and other transatlantic lines
$500. 900, but has withheld from the Pacific
Mail and other American lines the remaining
100000 appropriated expressly for them IN
recognition of equitable claims In discrimi-
mating in favor of foreign corporations ana
against American commerce. he has practically
nulliGed an act of Congress- and in addition
he has dsorganizcd the foreign mail service
and subjected the mercantile community to
ANNOYANCE inconvenience and delay in bust
ness correspondence
Now it is impossible to separate the Prcsi-
dent from his chosen adviser. 1t will not do to
say that he is inexperienced i'll National affairs,
that he is to be credited with good intentons,
and that he is not to be condemned on account
of the Postmaster G encral's plumbers. The
President responsible for the general policy
on which eve.y department of the Adminstra-
tion is conducted. If a member of the Cabinet
vetoes an act of Congress, dcfrauds American
steamship lines and harnesses American mer-
chants, the President cannot shirh the respon-
siblity for these acts. He is to be credited
with ordinary intelligence as well as good
intentions. He must now be aware OF the
disastrous results of this policy. Why, then,
does he not order the department to carry the
act of Congress into effect and to abandon this
foolish war fare upon American shipping
Why does he not request the Postmaster Gen
erals resignation Tho plea of inexperiencc
will not Justify his inaction. 1t is plain issue
of fact, and he himself made the discovery even
before he was elected that his Office is essen
TALLY executive.
In like manner, the President is responsible for
all the other blunders made by his Cabinet
advisers for the breaking up Of the Consular
service and the distribution of the patronage of
the State Department in liquidation of political
debts fer the ruinOus campaign against the
ship building industry and for the scandalous
use of the Attorney Generals Office in prOmOt-
ing private speculation i'll telephone stock.
The President is lncXperlencedT Yes;
and tho people knew ii when he was
elected. and were disposed to treat him indul-
gently on that account. The President is try
ing to do his best Well, we hope SO but let
him vndicatc his reputation for good intcn-
tons by rcpudating the action of his coniiden-
tlal advisers, who are antagOnizing the business
interests of the country and bringing his Adj
mnistration into disrepute. These are plain
issues of fact 1t would be an insult to the
Presidents intelligence TO assume that he is in
capable of cOmprehending them Let him act
upon them decisively. Not otherwise can he
escape the responsibility for every one of these
plumbers and public scandals.